<p>How much of a difference do you think it would make by having 3 recs, but only one from a college professor (the others from a doctor and a high school counselor/teacher) in comparison to receiving recs from 2 college professors and a high school counselor/teacher or doctor?</p>
<p>I ask because I've already asked 2 of my professors for recommendation letters pertaining to a scholarship. I'm considering asking one of the professors for another recommendation but I'd feel awkward. Anyone have any tips as to how I can get through this process as professionally as possible?</p>
<p>You may only need one recommendation, and I would think that recs from professors are more valuable in transfer admissions than ones from high school teachers. </p>
<p>It might not be a bad idea to just ask one of the professors again because chances are they still have the recommendation they wrote for you and they can just modify that.</p>
<p>I asked this question because I feel that one of my high school teachers would write me a much better rec than my professors. Not to mention, the class I took with this professor awarded me credit for English 101 and 102, so technically she did teach a college course. What are your thoughts?</p>
<p>They probably could write your a more informed rec because they would have spent more time with you and probably had more interaction with you, but they’re still high school teachers and admissions counselors are more interested in your college performance.</p>
<p>And AP or college level course taught in high school is not really the same as a college course even if the material is the same.</p>
<p>Agree with benellis. It’s kind of a red flag if an applicant has to go back to a HS teacher to get a good rec.</p>
<p>It might depend on what school(s) you are applying to. Schools like Stanford - hs rec instead of college rec… real problem. Other, easier to get into schools, maybe not so much.</p>
<p>I still think it is a poor idea to use anything other than college recs. And I am not sure where a doctor rec comes in at all. This is your personal physician?</p>
<p>^The doctor is a good friend of mine and an alum of a top 12 school in the country. His rec would be in addition to the 2 professor recs (One of the schools I’m applying to is his former school).</p>
<p>Another question: what do I tell my professor when asking for a rec? My primary reason for transferring is because I’d like to major in econ/math and my current school specializes in business (the reason I’m currently at this institution). Should I say something along the lines of “my interests have changed and x university would be a better fit for me in terms of econ/math”? Obviously it would be a little longer and contain more information, but is that a good foundation for what I should be asking? I don’t think it would be necessary to say, “I want to transfer to this school because they’re better in this department.” It would seem a little rude in my opinion.</p>
<p>Getting a rec from someone other than a professor can’t hurt, but it’s usually better if you’ve worked for them in the past or they attended the school you’re applying to (I’m asking my cousin who writes for SNL for a recommendation to send to NYU because she went there). It seems kind of weird to get a rec from a guy just because he knows you and went to a good school. “My Uncle Bill went to Harvard and he says I’m a great guy. That’s why you should accept me, Stanford University.”</p>
<p>As for what to say to your professor, just tell them that you enjoyed their class, you were proud of the work you did for them, or you liked them for some other reason. You don’t need to say that you think X University would be a better fit because I assume you’re applying to more than one school and you’re going to need them to send a recommendation to all of them. </p>
<p>You should just say that your interests have changed and you would like a less business focused education and you’re interested math and econ. Just try to make it seem like you’re not saying that you think that the schools you’re applying to are better than your current school and instead just say they are better suited for your specific interests. If you’re transferring, that should be the truth.</p>
<p>The truth is, your professor probably doesn’t care what you write, they just need to know who you are, what class you took, your grades, and where they should sent the letters. The response I got from my professor made it seem like he just saw that the email subject was “Recommendation” and then he asked for all of that information automatically :P</p>
<p>^Hopefully my professors will do the same. Regarding the doctor’s rec, he’s a graduate of one of the schools that I will be applying to. Do you believe it would be irrelevant if he wrote me a rec for the other school I’m applying to?</p>