<p>Applying for a transfer, the school I'm applying to says recommendations aren't required. That's what the transfer admissions person said at least. If recommendations aren't required, I shouldn't stress about getting them yes? I feel having them would be good but I don't think I could get a good one from any of the professors here due to the class sizes and them not knowing me whatsoever.</p>
<p>so if they say recommendations aren't required, they won't hold it against me if I don't send them in?</p>
<p>I agree, though I haven't encountered any school on my list that states the recommendation is optional (though that may very well be the case) I would do everything in your power to give those admission officers reason to pick you. Although they tell you a professor is best, it usually doesn't have to be one. I had my employer write me a letter, I've worked with her for years and she was well qualified to write a letter about me. If you have absolutely no options and you can't think of one person at your college (professor, advisor, dean), who can write you a letter, you could always send in one from a high school teacher. Now this I don't recommend but I do think it'd be better than ignoring the option of sending a letter of recommendation altogether.</p>
<p>I applied last year as a senior and got in to the school I am now currently looking to transfer. They hold onto your application for a year including recommendations. I had two recommendations in my portfolio, one from my english teacher and one from my counselor. I can only presume they were both stellar since I was accepted, and even if I wasn't accepted I would think they would be great anyway since they like me a great deal.</p>
<p>I would be re-using those regardless, the main thing I'm wondering is if those won't be worth as much and so whether I really should send a college professor recommendation, or whether those will suffice just fine and I won't need any more recs. Do you see what I'm saying? </p>
<p>mfd3q, which school are you referring to (if you don't mind sharing)? I was told I had to resend everything if I were to apply to Columbia again.</p>
<p>The school I'm referring to is Northwestern. I have to resend high school grades and maybe some other things, but they hold onto recommendations and SAT scores</p>
<p>Some schools admit purely by the numbers, and recommendations aren't part of the process.</p>
<p>Doesn't sound like Northwestern is one of those.</p>
<p>Are you applying to other schools? If so, I think you'd be smart to send the prof recs you're getting to Northwestern as well. Just because college recs do carry more weight than hs recs. And you'd be competing against other applicants with college recs.</p>
<p>However, I understand your reluctance when you don't know profs well. Have you gotten A's in any of your current classes? If so, I think you could probably get a good rec from such a prof, by following suggestions in the Transfer Admissions 101 thread, including one that I just copied there on the subject of getting a good rec when you don't know the prof well.</p>
<p>In the end, if you don't feel you can get a good one, it does appear from their website that they don't emphasize college recs to the same extent that many other schools do.</p>
<p>I do see what you're saying, the high school recs wouldn't be worth as much as a college professor rec, as Andale's Transfer Admissions 101 sticky says, they don't make good substitutes. And I agree with that which is why I wouldn't normally recommend doing that if you can help it. But if Northwestern doesn't place much emphasis on the letters then I wouldn't worry about it so much.</p>
<p>I also agree with asking a professor in which you got an A in the class, that's one thing I did to get a second recommendation. My professor didn't know me too well but I did get an A in his class so he knew I was a good student, he wrote me a half decent and honest essay that I was satisfied with.</p>
<p>I plan on getting good grades in all my classes, but yes there is one teacher I have who I'm positive I can get an A or A+ in his class. It's a small class so he knows me from participating, and I just aced a test he gave so I guess I'll ask him. I sound cocky which is annoying I'm sure, but I'm only a 1st year and so I can only postulate what my grades will be as I haven't really had many tests. </p>
<p>And no I wasn't planning on applying to other schools, but actually if I do get a professor recommendation which it looks like I will be doing, I might just apply as a transfer to other schools. Northwestern is where I really want to go but I'll do some more research for similar places that suit my interests (film, academics, sports). </p>
<p>And Andale I saw your posts, they were extremely helpful, you my boy</p>
<p>Idk about Northwestern. I am applying to U of M and ND. ND requires recs, only one but i had three sent and U of M said none are required, but it also doesn't say not to send them. So i had three sent there, two from profs and 1 from my uncle a grad. So if it says they are not required, send it. If it sends not to send one then dont send it, could be seen as useless paperwork for them to mill over. I guess if it doesn't say send it anyways.</p>
<p>Andale, you're a Ms.?! I don't know why this surprises me. Your writing seems decidedly masculine for some reason. In any case, I speak for everyone when I say you are a huge asset to this forum and to prospective transfers. You deserve a UPenn hoodie or something.</p>
<p>Andale is a super moderator and I really have no idea what that means, but if it means she's on one of the admissions committee's for the schools I'm applying as a transfer to then I think they will have a very interesting discussion about me...</p>