<p>Did anyone else receive a letter inviting parents to write a recommendation for their daughter? Is this standard procedure at Smith for all applicants?</p>
<p>Yes, it is standard procedure for Smith (I think some other schools do it too…). It’s nice, though not all parents choose to do it. My mom did it secretly. I thought it was SO LAME back then and I’m sure I gave some extra big sighs of teenage discontent to underscore that, but she did it anyway. Mom knows best!</p>
<p>The parent rec can be helpful but, imho, it’s tricky to write…risk of provoking eye-rolling notwithstanding. </p>
<p>The parent should not gush about their daughter. The letter should not be rah-rah or sugary. The letter should be factual and reveal an aspect of the applicant that other parts of the package—essays & other letters of recommendations—have not revealed. </p>
<p>I don’t recall the exact details, though I have mine archived somewhere in my correspondence, but I used the parent rec as a tool to describe some of D’s habits of mind which no one else would be as familiar with and which I though would be seen as interesting addition to the Smith community.</p>
<p>Like S&P’s sighs, I think D’s eye rolls would be much less these days were she to read it. Just recently she was mulling over my degree of involvement in her app process (mainly “project manager”) and had an ambivalent opinion in retrospect, pride pulling in one direction, appreciation for competence and results pulling in the other.</p>
<p>I did not want for my mom to write me a recommendation, and I’m happy that she respected my preference. So at least not all applicants submit one. I doubt even most do. All parents are open to, though.</p>
<p>We did it. Our daughter had certain strengths that were not highlighted in the academic portfolio, so we used the letter to highlight those.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I did this, too. I also used it to describe an event which my D refused to mention but which I felt explained other aspects of her application. (Don’t worry – it wasn’t anything embarrassing. 
)</p>
<p>I am preparing a letter for D. I think it is a great way to tell Smith about some interesting things about D that can’t be highlighted in her app. She has asked to read it before I send it, and I will let her.</p>
<p>My mom wrote one. She offered to have me read it before she sent it in, but I opted not to. I trust her completely, and I’m sure what she wrote will only make my app stronger. I’ll probably read it at some point, though, since she’s still offering to let me see it. She gave me a vague sense of what she wrote and it sounded like something I’d be happy to have in my file.</p>
<p>I recall thinking it was a great idea! I spent so much time fashioning the letter in my mind that I never did write it (ultimate procrastinator). She still got accepted!</p>
<p>I also wouldn’t worry if your parents don’t write one–or if it isn’t super polished. Lots of Smithies come from families where parents who don’t speak or write English well, who aren’t college-educated, or there are other guardians (foster parents, grandparents, etc.).</p>
<p>I don’t think I ever saw my parents’ recommendation, but I’m pretty sure it didn’t discuss my “habits or mind” or anything as fancy as that (no offense to you TD, I’m sure it was a great rec!). It probably was something along the lines of “Stacy loves learning and we don’t push her to do extracurriculars–we are usually surprised with what she comes up with. We love her and she loves Smith.”</p>
<p>My father actually wrote one in the fall for my application and I am sure what he wrote will only strengthen my chances. I think it is nice to have a perspective of someone outside school whether it be a peer or a parent recommendation.</p>
<p>I was pleasantly surprised to receive this letter yesterday. After attending a Smith reception during the Xmas break, I fell in love with the school and its alumni (yea I know it is ultimately my daughter’s decision), and I am honored to have a chance to speak on my daughter’s behalf.</p>
<p>What is interesting, however, is that my daughter applied to a few other Seven Sister Schools and I haven’t seen the sort of extra mile outreach from them that I have from Smith. Am I the only one?</p>
<p>D applied to, and was accepted by, Wellesley and Barnard. Smith was special and “extra mile” in multiple dimensions.</p>
<p>My D applied to Mt. Holyoke and Barnard in addition to Smith. She was accepted to MH and Smith - waitlisted at Barnard.</p>
<p>MH and Smith both reached out to us. She ultimately selected Smith.</p>
<p>I don’t recall whether it was even an option for ED applicants, but I never really liked the idea; I think it favors applicants with well-educated, native English-speaking parents.</p>
<p>
True. Otoh, virtually anything favors somebody and I think Smith does a good job at reaching out as witnessed by Pell Grants, first-generation-in-college, etc.</p>
<p>My daughter was accepted at Smith, Wellesley, Mount Holyoke and Bryn Mawr, and she chose Smith. Each women’s college reached out in some way, but my impression is that Bryn Mawr was the most consistent in little ways throughout the process. The personal touch was one of the things that distinguished the women’s colleges from the co-ed. They work hard to create sisterhood from the very beginning!</p>
<p>I think the only way it could favor students with well-educated, English-speaking parents would be if the letter were required, which it’s not, and just like with any other non-required application element (I’m thinking interviews as a comparison) it doesn’t hurt you in any way if you don’t do it (or at least that’s what they say, and I like to think I can trust them, particularly a school like Smith). Anyway, I still don’t think the opportunity for a parent letter creates any sort of bias. It’s not like they’re evaluating the parent on their writing skills the way they’re evaluating the applicant; they’re just looking for something extra they might not get from the application. Either they’ll get something extra from the letter or they won’t, and if they don’t then no harm done. If the parent has something meaningful to say, they’ll likely be able to communicate it regardless of their education; as an extreme example, haven’t you ever read anything that an elementary schooler has written that was moving despite the errors in grammar and whatnot? Same goes for adults with limited education and/or English-speaking skills. </p>
<p>Sorry for the long response, just thought I’d put in my two cents :)</p>
<p>“If the parent has something meaningful to say, they’ll likely be able to communicate it regardless of their education”</p>
<p>Those parents certainly have the oppty to write something, but I suspect most of them don’t. And while agree that, like the interview, the parent statement is not a significant factor, the absence of something that “can help” an application would put an applicant at a comparative disadvantage.</p>
<p>I never heard about this parent recommendation thing and I already applied and was accepted Early Decision. How did you find out about this option (just out of curiosity)?</p>