Letters of Recommendation?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>Are letters of recommendation required/encouraged/considered by the naval academy and if so who is the preferred person to write said letters? I would like to know as I have multiple teachers who could write me a letter, a dear friend, essentially my godfather, who is a marine veteran of the battle of Tarawa and was an infantryman part of the initial landing, coaches, a college professor and other individuals who could all vouch for my personal characteristics.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance,</p>

<p>-THQ</p>

2

<p>As is stated elsewhere in CC, your recommendations must (in all but a very few instances) come from your 11 grade English and 11 grade Math teachers. You’ll give their names to the academy and its all done on line. You’ll get notified when they’ve been received.</p>

<p>I suggest you review the application process again to obtain a complete understanding. Like most things Navy, they have a very specific procedure you’re to follow. </p>

<p>[USNA</a> Admissions - Steps for Admission](<a href=“http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/steps.htm]USNA”>http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/steps.htm)</p>

3

<p>Thank you very much</p>

4

<p>Hairy: Those other folks may be able to provide letters or evaluations (our MOC had evaluation forms they wanted filled out) useful in securing a nomination from your MOC’s (Senators and Congressman). USNA wants the math, english teachers. The applicant provides the math, english teacher’s email, USNA emails them a form they fill out. It is not a traditional letter of recommendation. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

5

<p>Can someone point me to where in the application materials it says the letters MUST be from the teachers from 11th grade? I can see why that would generally be preferable,but I don’t see it anywhere on the USNA website or in the “your’e an official candidate” instruction letter. BGO has not answered.</p>

6

<p>mmb5,</p>

<p>I’m a B&G Affiliate (i.e. I haven’t been to the training at USNA to certify me as a BGO but have received my certificate/appointment of a B&G Affiliate). Looking at my BGO Handbook and a copy of what the Candidate letters look like I cannot see anywhere where it states that the letters MUST be from teachers from the 11th grade. As I see from the Candidate Letter it states “both teachers should be from the current or previous year” (i.e. your 12th or 11th grade teacher). It’s obvious why people highly recommend that you get your recommendation from your 11th grade teacher since they have known you longer. So, I think the answer is NO it is not a MUST the letter come from your 11th grade teacher, but highly recommended.</p>

<p>Hope that helps</p>

7

<p>The same discussion is on the Service Academy Forum, with various responses.[Application</a> - teacher recommendations? - United States of America Service Academy Forums](<a href=“http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=8112]Application”>http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=8112)
This is our experience:<br>
The letter stating that my son is an official candidate states, “Evaluation of your candidacy will be based upon the information provided on the application forms; therefore, carefully read the Candidate Instructions for each portion of the application.” As required, he completed the online application (CIS - Candidate Information System). He no longer has access to the instructions, but when he got to the applicable section, it specifically asked for him to enter the name and email addresses of his 11th grade Math and English teachers. At another place you are also asked for your Guidance Counsellor or Principal’s name and email address as they need to confirm your Candidate Activities Record and your Candidate Academic Information. You are able to pause and save your application as you go along, so that you can get the information or make changes before you submit it. My son chose to send an email to the teachers and Guidance Counsellor in advance, to let them know that they would be receiving recommendation requests from the USNA via email and he included a brief summary of his desire to attend the Academy and attached a copy of his resume, for their reference.</p>

8

<p>Excellent, clear counsel.</p>

9

<p>Math and English Teacher recommendations are a must!! And it must be these subjects, because it helps the Admissions Office determine suitability in these two critical subjects.</p>

<p>The candidate will provide the e-mail address of the appropriate teachers, and the teacher will get an e-mail that directs them to a web site where they log in per directions of the e-mail, and they will “fill out the form” on the web. </p>

<p>Now - most candidates who are applying, will be applying in June - Oct time frame of their senior year, and their 11th grade teachers for Math and English will work best, because the 12th grade teacher will not have had much time to give an honest appraisal. However - candidates who have taken Math and English college classes in 11th grade would certainly get those teachers to provide the recommendations. Ditto for AP Math/English taken in 11th grade.</p>

<p>NOW - if you feel that there is a legitimate reason to submit a Letter of Recommendation from someone - consider what the letter provides. Does it provide some valid good points that highlight a candidate’s academic/sports or leadership abilities in a manner that might not otherwise be covered in the normal admissions process - or can’t be used by the Blue and Gold Officer (BGO) when he/she submits Interview Notes? If it is a generic “this person is a great person and should be considered …” don’t waste the time. Is the letter being written by someone of “stature” - or just another teacher, boss, friend, neighbor, etc.? More stature (something that shows up in the Title Block of the signature, like “RADM, USN(ret)”, or “Mayor”, or “CEO, big Company” or similar) means the letter carries more weight, while a letter from a neighbor or generic worker, supervisor at a fast food joint, etc., would be discounted.</p>

<p>But - if the letter could provide special insights into abilities, problems the candidate overcame, etc. …then by all means, have the letter of recommendation submitted to the Admissions Office; ensure that the letter lists the CANDIDATE NAME AND CANDIDATE NUMBER when it is submitted.
Ultimately, it might carry little weight …but if it exposes factors that might otherwise be missed - it won’t hurt to submit a letter. On the other hand - if the Admissions Office were to receive multiple letters that had little substance but lots of hype - it might annoy them. So - ensure any letter to be submitted is meaningful - and get the candidate number/name on it …and get it in early.</p>

<p>If you are not sure …it probably is not worth having a separate letter of recommendation submitted. The candidate should chat with his/her BGO and ask if the points to be covered merit a letter, or could be included in the BGO Interview notes.</p>

10

<p>If you send in additional letters of recommendation, be VERY selective. If the letter highlights a certain part of your character or sheds exceptional light on you then yes, consider submitting one.</p>

<p>I think vineyard has it covered. =)</p>