<p>Here's a new edition of Phoenix Tips, this time focusing on letters of recommendation!</p>
<p>See here for the original blog posting: <a href="https://blogs.uchicago.edu/collegeadmissions/2011/09/phoenix_tip_2_letters_of_recom.html%5B/url%5D">https://blogs.uchicago.edu/collegeadmissions/2011/09/phoenix_tip_2_letters_of_recom.html</a></p>
<p>One of the common questions I hear when I'm on the road is, "Can I submit additional recommendation letters?" The answer is yes, but before you go tracking down an email address for your 6th grade soccer coach, keep these recommendations in mind:</p>
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<li><p>It's about context. We understand that your transcript doesn't tell the full story of your high school career; that's why we ask for 2 recommendation letters from your academic teachers. These letters help us better contextualize you as a student in the classroom. I often hear students fixate about grades, but what are equally important are questions such as: Are you passionate about learning? Can you engage with teachers outside of class? UChicago is known for its small, Socratic-style classroom environment, and we look for early evidence of these curiosities in our applicants.</p></li>
<li><p>Ask politely in advance. Teachers are pretty incredible people and they write fantastic letters of recommendation for their students. But you have to remember to be respectful of their time and energy.</p></li>
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<p>-- You should ask well in advance (at least a month before the deadline, generally).
-- You should not be afraid to have a short conversation about what types of schools you're applying to (and WHY you're applying there); don't just hand them a resume.
-- Give them a thank you note - in advance! Oftentimes teachers write these letters in their free time out of the goodness of their hearts. Let them know you appreciate their efforts!</p>
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<li>Which teachers should you ask?</li>
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<p>-- Most students get recs from their Junior-year teachers, but if a sophomore or senior year teacher knows you best, go for it!
-- We are a liberal arts intuition, so we'd like to hear from a math/science as well as a humanities/social science teacher. This is pretty standard among selective institutions. However, this isn't always possible. Just do your best to ensure your application as a whole addresses your various strengths.
-- Teachers who gave you an "A" do not necessarily write better recs than those who gave you a lower grade. Students mature academically at different rates, and many Colleges (including ours) are looking for students who are passionate about learning a tough subject, not necessarily those who are merely naturally talented.</p>
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<li>More does not equal better. The same reason we encourage page limits for our essays (generally less than 2), we recommend you send us two rec letters. While we do allow an additional "supplemental" rec letter (which can be from a coach, religious leader, or other mentor who knows you well) you shouldn't feel compelled to produce anything that doesn't add something UNIQUE to your application. Remember--we read each and every application (multiple times) and extraneous information can be distracting. And yes--I've actually read a recommendation from a 6th grade soccer coach about how this student was a great "team player." Unless your 6th grade soccer coach was Carlos Bocanegra, this kind of letter probably doesn't belong in your college application.</li>
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