<p>This summer, I am working for a very well known engineering company. I was hoping to get a rec from my employer in addition to the required recs. Apparantly, Columbia generally discourages extra recs and only recommends subbmitting them if the writer has worked with the applicant in a research or college course capacity. However, I think my job goes somewhat beyond a college course...</p>
<p>My question is, would it be a detriment to my application to submit the supplementary rec i had in mind?</p>
<p>Go for it. I submitted a supplementary rec from my boss (a violin luthier…) and got into SEAS, so I can’t imagine that an actual engineering rec would put you at a disadvantage for admissions. I think they discourage additional recs because they don’t want people sending in 3+ recs from random teachers they had at school. Two of those is plenty…</p>
<p>I also sent in an additional one from my boss. If it’s an additional perspective that gives them a different view of you, it can be helpful. if it’s just going to reinforce what the other teacher recs said, it’s less useful.</p>
<p>If you are working for the prestigious firm JUST during the summer, then I don’t think you should send. Additional recs should serve the purpose of shedding light on someone’s character that the adcom would otherwise not have known. For example, say you devote a great part of the high school life to working for this engineering company, and your boss knows you very well. Then you should submit this supplementary letter of recommendation, because it may show a side of you that the other recommenders are not exposed to.</p>
<p>These letters are useful insofar as they tell something about you from someone who knows you well. They serve little purpose when the writer, albeit wellknown and authoritative, is little acquainted with you. </p>