<p>Hi! For Duke it says that they require two letters of recommendation from teachers and one from the guidance counselor, but on the common app it shows that three teacher recommendations are allowed... what is the third one for? Also, does the guidance counselor recommendation get included in the section where you assign your guidance counselor in the section above it? Thanks!</p>
<p>The third letter spot may be an effort to streamline the submission of what Duke calls the entirely optional “Personal Recommenation,” but I would call and ask Duke to be sure.</p>
<p>The guidance counselor report, I believe, is a part of the school report section and is assigned separately from the teacher rec.</p>
<p>In addition, I believe a third letter of recommendation is permitted if the candidate was not interviewed – probably, not offered an interview – by a Duke Alumni Admissions Committee member.</p>
<p>How do you know whether to submit a third letter or not?</p>
<p>wait so just to confirm, all the recommendation letters are only through commonapp? i only saw a spot for my counselor to do the school report, in’t that just grades? its not an actual rec right?</p>
<p>llsec04-- you can submit a third letter if you want, especially if you are not offered an interview.</p>
<p>Tidumattud–the two teacher recs and the counselor rec are through CommonApp-- typically under school forms? I’m not in this new version of CA. Your counselor has the option of writing a letter in the school report, which does report grades. Your counselor might use this to highlight ECs, explain any special circumstances you may have, or may elect not to do one at all.</p>