<p>I am the editor-in-chief of my high school's newspaper, plus I am the main competitor of the journalism team.</p>
<p>One of the schools I am applying to allows you to submit no more than two supplemental recommendations. Would it be a good idea to get a letter from the journalism adviser at my school? </p>
<p>The school's website has a few examples of people to get recommendations from- an employer, coach, or pastor. Would the journalism adviser be the equivalent of, say a coach?</p>
<p>Also, could I get a letter from the president-equivalent of my outside of school volunteer organization (I am an officer)?</p>
<p>Yes, but a supplemental recommendation is useful only if they illustrate some aspect of your personality or abilities that is not already presented in your other letters of recommendation. One more accolade that says the same thing that the others say is just superfluous, so put some thought into what this extra letter could show about you that the others can’t or don’t and ask your journalism teacher to highlight that aspect in his or her letter.</p>
<p>Well, the two teachers I have writing recommendations know me solely on an academic basis. One of them was the co-sponsor of one of my ECs, but she mainly knows me from my performance in class. </p>
<p>My journalism adviser has really seen my growth as a leader and my maturation over the past year. She (like the other teachers) knows I am responsible and hard-working, but I think she could kind of emphasize my leadership, maturity, etc…</p>
<p>As for the “president” of my outside-of-school volunteer organization, she has been around me since I was very young (about 7 or 8), and I think she could show that I’ve always loved helping others (I’ve been working with the organization for years, but couldn’t join until I was 16).</p>
<p>If she has known you for a long time and has seen you grow as a person, I think it would be wise to have her write a recommendation. These colleges probably get thousands of recs saying so and so is a genius and top of the class blah blah , but if a teacher writes about your growth as a person, and not just grades, then that sounds like it would be helpful on your part.</p>
<p>I would not recommend getting two supplemental recs. It seems that your volunteer advisor might be able to offer a more unique rec than could your journalism advisor.</p>