<p>I'm wondering if I should send in a 3rd recommendation with my apps - in addition to one from my Physics and English teachers. The 3rd rec would be coming from my History teacher last year; I only think about sending in an additional rec because I did really, really well in that class. He said I was one of the best kids he ever had, used notes I typed up [for myself] for other kids [with my permission], both semesters I had something like a 105-110 average [unweighted, in a class where the average was maybe an 88 or so], etc.</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm not trying to brag about accomplishments in one class, but my parents think that a class that I really did well in and the teacher liked me in is a recommendation worth sending. I asked a lot of questions in and after class, since History's one of my favorite subjects, so I think he knows I'm a pretty curious kid. My other recommendations will probably be good, though not great.</p>
<p>I didnt read everything but. Most schools only WANT 2 teacher recs and a counselor rec. Remember how many they have to read, and if 30k students all submit 1 extra rec, thats 30k more letters to read.</p>
<p>If it will truly help, then its your choice. It might hurt more than it helps.</p>
<p>All of the core academic subjects are on essentially equal footing when it comes to recommendations. Send the recommendation if you are sure that it will add something new and special to a school’s perception of you that absolutely does not appear in either of your other recommendations.</p>
<p>Here’s what I would do if I were in your situation:</p>
<p>Use your Physics and History teachers as your two recommendations. One is in a science and the other is in a humanities (good balance). Also get a recommendation from your English teacher, but don’t automatically send it to schools.</p>
<p>Stanford, for example, only allows TWO (and no more!) recommendations in addition to the counselor’s recommendation. Other schools are more lenient, others not.</p>
<p>I would check with the school before sending your third recommendation (i.e., your English teacher’s). If they allow it, send it. If not, then leave it.</p>
<p>If you have questions about specific school’s requirements, go to the website or if you can’t find the info, inquire with the admissions committee.</p>
<p>“Stanford, for example, only allows TWO (and no more!) recommendations in addition to the counselor’s recommendation. Other schools are more lenient, others not.”</p>
<p>Just in response to that, Stanford allows one additional rec, meaning it allows 4 total recs (2 teachers, 1 counselor, 1 extra from someone who knows you well – most likely a teacher). Actually most schools will generally allow you to send an extra rec in. In fact, at a Princeton info session, the admissions officer mentioned, quite sourly, that he read an application with 8 recommendation letters last year – they get the point after 2 or 3.</p>
<p>And 10char means 10 characters. Your reply must have at least 10 characters to be posted.</p>
<p>When I was applying to colleges, I asked each school whether or not I could send extra recs. Almost every school said they would accept it, as long as I made sure to order the recs based on which I would like read first. That way if they were on the fence about me they had some more resources about me.</p>