<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>I have been lurking on CC for about 2 months, and it has been a Godsend doing my applications and just helping me feel that we're all in the same boat. I finally registered and this is my FIRST posting so be gentle please.</p>
<p>I have a question that I have not noticed come up, and could not find in a search of the forums, and I am hoping that somebody in the know -- like DanAdmiss@Tufts or someone similar -- can give me some guidance. </p>
<p>I applied RD to Tufts (I cannot WAIT for April 1st - yeah!). Of course, whenever I meet people around town they ask about my plans. At my church there is a woman who graduated from Tufts a number of years ago, and she was happy to hear that I had applied there and that I consider it one of my top choices. </p>
<p>Here's my issue: She is a friend of my Mom and has known me since i was a babby, and she has INSISTED on writing me an unsolicited recommendation -- which I truly appreciate -- but I am concerned that it would not be appreciated by the adcomms at Tufts. I suspect she can add some additional 'character' angles that may fill in some blanks from my academic recommendations, but it is not like she will say anything earth-shattering. She is insistent and I am fearful that Tufts will view this not as something unsolicited, but as a sign from me that I think my application is weak. I think i am a strong applicant without anything additional. I am almost considering calling Tufts and asking them to disregard it. But that seems kind of random too.</p>
<p>Help! I don't want to hurt this lady's feelings, but if I hear from someone who knows that it is a bad idea (or even just a neutral idea) then I can feel confident in telling her so and maybe she'll get the message.</p>
<p>And please don't say just tell her to back off. She is a family friend and that's what is causing a good [part of my angst. My mom is part of the problem here, but like i said she will likely abide by whatever i can find out here.</p>
<p>Many appreciations to anyone who responds.</p>
<p>I think you worry too much! </p>
<p>When somebody like you’re describing offers to do something nice like that, you say “Thank you very much, I really appreciate it.” There’s really no other possible response.</p>
<p>Then you trust the people in the admissions office simply to appreciate a little input from a valued alum, not to second guess motives. They are not jerks.</p>
<p>A little edit, as I see you were looking for some kind of “official” response:
As alumni interviewers, Tufts asks that we do not interview students who we know but does say that we are welcomed to write separate letters in support of those students’ applications. Your family friend would fall into the same category.</p>
<p>Thank you for the quick reply, Seashore. I guess I do worry too much. I have said “Thank you very much”, and based on what you say it seems like it can only help. I did find the folowing thread after I posted mine, in which DanAdmiss@Tufts says extra peer recommendations are a bad idea, but since she is an alum it may be different.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/tufts-university/621344-what-about-sending-peer-rec.html?highlight=peer+recommendation[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/tufts-university/621344-what-about-sending-peer-rec.html?highlight=peer+recommendation</a></p>
<p>Anyway, I have to sleep on this and see what I decide to do. As long as I am not wasting people’s time in admissions, I am ok with the extra rec.</p>
<p>Thank you!!</p>
<p>I sent in an additionally recommendation from an alumni who offered.
My SATs were kind of weak so I wanted to make sure the adcoms got a full picture of what I had to offer. If they don’t like the fact that I sent in an additional rec thats too bad, I’m just trying to advocate for myself! I really want to get in haha, and im sure sending in one more rec isnt going to break my chances in any way. I mean if they are really that annoyed they just dont have to read it! :)</p>
<p>Hey! I went abroad to a camp in France last summer and my prof was a Tufts alum and she too insisted on writing a rec for me when she knew how keen
I was on attending. I didn’t think she would actually send it but she skyped me yesterday and told me that the admissions office emailed her thanking her for her “valued opinion on *******'s candidacy which will be very useful in review”. See?!? Additional recs can only help! Apart from my tufts prof, my editor at the paper here I work sent one too and they thanked her as well. Don’t worry, they’re totally cool.</p>
<p>I think that my inquiry about a peer rec is a bit different than one from an alum.</p>
<p>If someone opens a door like this, you graciously walk thru it. If someone wants to see you succeed, you say thank you and write a note expressing it. If she truly knows you, she has probably also recognized your humility. Plus… I think people just like holding out a hand for someone they like. Consider yourself fortunate in this regard.</p>
<p>Thank you ALL for the comforting words. I will cease being a spaz and learn to accept good things that come my way as just that. Best of luck to all fellow applicants and let’s hope we meet each other in the Fall. I’ll be the non-spazzy one with the Starbucks cup in my hand.</p>
<p>Go Jumbos !</p>