Should I send multiple letters of recommendation to competitive schools?

Applying to College
1

I just got an exceptional letter of recommendation from my math teacher. It is 2 pages however it covers everything I would wish for a letter to and breaks the boring formula that most teachers use. It covers achievements she feels are important, the kind of thinker I am, how I work with others, my personality, and some achievements.

I have some other letters I could use, however they are a bit less amazing. The teachers all like me and have some good bits inside of their letters however for the most part it sounds like a general LOR. These letters would work just fine but I would definitely like to draw attention to the one from my math teacher.

Again the other letters aren’t bad, they just aren’t “glowing”. They are probably along the lines of what they see for most applicants.

For schools with low acceptance rates, that also accept multiple LOR’s, should I just submit the one from my math teacher? Or that one and acouple others?

The only advantage I can see from sending the others is that the reader might have to spend more time getting to know me, and would perhaps realise that I am liked by most of my teachers.

Also if you are wondering why I have seen my letters that is a bit complicated. I am West coast and at a public school where few people go to prestigious universities, plus in my state most schools don’t require letters of recommendation. As a result the teachers don’t really know a whole lot about the general practices for letters of recommendations. One of my teachers actually asked me to proofread her letter. I feel bad reading them before they go in but my teachers wouldn’t have it any other way.

2

Don’t send more than 2 recommendations. If you have a solid recommendation from a humanities teacher it could help to show that you are a well rounded student.

And don’t feel badly about reading a LOR that a teacher gave you to look over. You cannot insist on seeing the LORs but teachers are free to share them with students. That is just the way it is set up.

3

Don’t do it. It only waters down your application. An old adage: The thicker the file, the thicker the kid.

4

Annoying to have to slog through more than asked for, because a kid who feels qualified for “schools with low acceptance rates” couldn’t somehow work his way through their admissions pages to see what they want.

Why send so-so letters? The last thing they want is “to (have to) spend more time getting to know you.” They’d likely question your knowledge of the school and your judgment. The stakes are high.

One math-sci and one from another core, unless they ask for 3.

5

Send as many as they require. If they want two, send two (obviously one from the math teacher). Don’t send more and don’t send less.