Non-teacher recommendation?

[myau]

<p>When looking at FAQ section of Stanford web-site, I came accross the following Q&A:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/applying/1_8_faqs.html#additional_recommendations%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/applying/1_8_faqs.html#additional_recommendations&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"*Can I submit additional letters of recommendation?
Yes, you may submit one additional letter of recommendation if you have another person, not a teacher or counselor, who knows you well and will provide us with information about you that your other recommenders will not. *"</p>

<p>Could anybody, please, comment on their "not a teacher"? Must that extra-recommender be not a teacher at all (music, art, dance teachers included? what about sport coaches?) They require recommendations from school councelor and 2 different academic subjects teachers. Certainly, a choir or piano teacher or youth orchestra conductor (who doesn't have a formal title of a teacher, but surely IS teaching the young musicians) could provide the university with information about the student "other recommenders will not" (the English or math teachers can't give much information about the applicant's music skills level or passion for music;)), but they are still teachers. Does Stanford allow to send recs from them? Or, if not, what kind of people ARE eligible to give those additional recommendations?</p>

[justchecking]

<p>I am pretty sure they mean anyone who can add additional, valuable information about you who is not an academic teacher. A music teacher or sport coach is perfectly fine.</p>

[druu]

<p>Having talked with the director of admissions, they essentially said that this supplemental recommendation is not mandatory, but optional. It can be anyone who knows you, hopefully really well. Doesn't matter if they're a teacher, who hasn't taught you, a music coach, or a "mentor". The whole purpose of this recommendation is to allow them to get to know your personality better. Hope this helps,</p>