Poorly written letter of rec. from coach?

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

<p>Hi! I am having a difficult time deciding on who to choose as my recommenders for the Common App. </p>

<p>My dad tells me to ask my coach since he knows about my achievements outside of class (breaking school record, leadership, awards and trophies) the best. However, I'm hesitant to ask him because he's not a good writer. </p>

<p>Throughout the years I've received countless emails from him littered with basic grammatical errors and he doesn't express himself well in speech. Should I still ask him??? Thanks for your time.</p>

2

<p>You don’t use him at all unless he teaches an academic class. Your 2 letters should be from teachers. If you want to use him for a 3rd rec, that’s your call, but they will see awards and such on your application, right?</p>

3

<p>Brown P is exactly right. Pick teachers from core subject areas as your primary recommenders. Only ask for the coach as an “other” recommender if you’re being recruited for the sport.</p>

4

<p>My son’s coach wrote his “other” recommendation. He allowed me to edit it. He knew he wasn’t a great writer and was glad to have an outside edit. Try bringing up the idea of writing the letter to the coach and offer to edit–can’t hurt.</p>

5

<p>I got a LoR from my swim coach that was barely literate. Didn’t seem to hurt me (successful Ivy app). Just make sure you’ve got at least one more by someone who can write.</p>

6

<p>Don’t worry about the grammar. What’s important is what the letter says about you.</p>

<p>From Harvard’s Dean of Admissions:</p>

<p>The value of an additional letter or two depends on how well the person knows you, not the person’s profession or who he or she might be.</p>

<p>One of the best letters we ever received over the years was written by the school’s custodian who supervised the student in the school’s work program under very difficult circumstances, when everyone was tired at the end of the school day. The letter supported the other positive information in the application about how the student always made everyone around him better — and it made up for sparse recommendations from the over-worked teachers and counselors at that school. The strong personal qualities and character noted by the custodian were confirmed by the remarkable difference the student made to others during his college career and the difference he continues to make today.</p>

<p><a href=“Guidance Office: Answers From Harvard's Dean, Part 3 - The New York Times”>Guidance Office: Answers From Harvard's Dean, Part 3 - The New York Times;

7

<p>Thanks everyone!</p>