Prospective applicant

<p>i was wondering how many recommendations i need. most schools require 2 i believe, but i think penn requires 3. seems a little odd. just need that cleared up.</p>

<p>2 from academic teachers 1 from ur counselor</p>

<p>for the application, do the rec teachers have to answer the questions? that would seem a little odd also. whats the point of answering the questions if the teacher is writing a rec already?</p>

<p>They might want to know if you are honest (in case the question asks for facts), or if you and your teachers agree/disagree (in case the question ask for opinions).</p>

<p>One function of the questions is the element of standard comparable student to student. Perhaps not all recommendation letters will address the qualities Penn is looking for. Many teachers have not written recommendations of this sort while others write more than 100 every year. The letter allows for free discourse the questions/answers give info that the adcoms can use to compare students. In addition to these three informations each school will send a profile sheet with information about the school and your class. These profiles are quite sophisticated from the prep schools.....stats, curriculum, etc. etc.</p>

<p>so do i give my rec teachers the penn app after they have written the original rec?</p>

<p>What I did was purchase several folders. I labeled them, put the instructions and rec form and envelopes with tracking form with postage....or FedEx envelope and a note of request. I handed them out and made a date to follow up. This makes it easy for each teacher to carry it around or put in their briefcase and not forget. I bought a bright color......the folders were closed on three sides, open on top. This worked well for me. If you wish you can enclose a data sheet or prefill in the pertinent info such as your name, ID numbers etc. I handed all information and mailing materials to each teacher in a packet.</p>

<p>did u ask your teachers to see the rec?</p>

<p>Asking to see the rec would be inappropriate. In some cases they may offer you a look or a copy but in general you provide the envelope with postage for the convenience and confidentiality.</p>

<p>ok, it's just that through high school I've sat in classes where the teacher has been working on recs and actually enlisting help from the class! for example, "hey guys, what's another word for 'nice'"? i've also heard "oops! i forgot to send in Bob's rec. oh well." i would hope that my teachers have a better opinion of me than to do that, but just in case, i kinda want to see.</p>

<p>The reason you give them a trakable mailing envelope is to find out if they did send it. Be sure you ask the teacher writing the rec if they feel they can write one for you.....many people tell them and it gives no option for the teacher to tell you they won't write a good one. It is a courtesy to ask for a recommendation.....an important point.</p>

<p>Can I give teachers the envelope and once they finish, they put letters in and seal?? Then Give to me and I go to send recs>?????</p>

<p>Yes you can do it that way. I just know how most folks I know did it. Even if you send it I would use traking....USPS has a couple of options and you can buy it ahead of time.....you know have the envelope ready and when you get the sealed envelope from your recommender put it into the post. It is very comforting and useful to be able to track the stuff online so you know it arrived at the college.</p>

<p>Isn't there also a peer evaluation?</p>

<p>Where is the counselor Rec??</p>

<p>Is it the secondary school report??</p>

<p>i know they only ask for 3, but would it be bad to send in 5? i heard of this kid who sent in 63 recs to johns hopkins---he didn't get in. but 5 isn't 63.</p>

<p>5 is too many....</p>

<p>He didn't get in! How embarrassing that must have been. He had sixty-three different people coming up to him asking if he was accepted to JHU and he had to tell every single one of them "no". That could ruin someone's week.</p>