<p>Which is most important(to colleges) in a letter of recommendation (esp. the common app):</p>
<p>A). The letter itself
or
B). The ratings/rankings on the rec.
or
C). who the recommender is, How long the recommender has known you, which subject...etc.</p>
<p>letter by far</p>
<p>so even if you received all "one of the best i've ever encountered" on the ratings but a short and impersonal letter, it is not as good as a long and personal letter but all only "excellent" ?</p>
<p>ratings dont mean anything. A letter can show what kind of student you are and present yourself as a unique person for the college.</p>
<p>^^^ If ratings don't mean a thing, why do the colleges ask for it? I think the ratings help them quantify the recommendation, and then use it for comparing the applicants.</p>
<p>its pretty much expected everyone who applies to ivy type schools is going to get excellent/one of the unique few... the letter sets the recommendations apart</p>
<p>It depends, If there is something spectacular or really bad said in either the latter or the ratings, then that's the one that becomes more important. Generally this tends to be the letter, b/c it goes into details</p>