<p>As many of you know from my chances thread (below) I've worked extensively in politics.</p>
<p>Yale seems to have a particularly strict policy regarding supplemental letters of recommendation, but I was hoping to submit 2-3 additional letters from jobs I've held. It's such a huge part of my life, that it seems odd to not include as much information as I can about it. They would be from previous bosses of mine, not letters from the Governor or someone with a nice title who barely knows me. </p>
<p>Would this be frowned upon? </p>
<p>I feel like there's not a good way otherwise to include as much information as I'd like to about this. These are activities where I would spent 80-100 hrs/wk during the summer and 40 hrs/wk during the school year, so it's a massive part of my life.</p>
<p>“that it seems odd to not include as much information as I can about it.”</p>
<p>But you’re under the assumption that your desire to include as much info is more important than your readers’ desire to have pithy but precise info about you. That’s why they request only one supplemental letter. Three bosses’ letters, saying the same glowing things – is exactly what Yale does not want to see.</p>
<p>While this is not the end-all of Yale’s policy towards supplemental recs, I’ll try to summarize what my regional rep told me when she visited my school a few weeks back:</p>
<p>The Yale site is a bit too dramatic when it comes to warning against unnecessary recs. If a rec can offer a new and insightful view of you as a complete person, then Yale would be more than willing to receive it and review it. If, however, the rec doesn’t offer enough of a new perspective, she suggested thinking twice about sending it.</p>
<p>For your case, I would think sending one additional rec from the most influential job post you’ve had would be a very good choice. Choosing to send one or two MORE recs from similar settings would most likely not offer new insight. In this case, I would think long and hard before sending another politically themed rec in to Yale. Of course, if the rec undeniably sheds some new light on your personality and accomplishments, then feel free to follow your gut.</p>
<p>I’m leaning toward two. Each shows a different part of what I’ve done, and each is written by a person with a very very different perspective on the process.</p>
<p>They’ll say different enough things. My gut tells me that three would be overboard (as two would say similar things), but two is necessary to fully illustrate my experiences. </p>
<p>I think, though, that since I get to see them ahead of time, I’ll look at the letters and see how similar they are before I make a final decision.</p>
<p>Thanks for the insight Concerto, I appreciate it. Yeah, their website freaked me out a little. I was already wondering if three would be overboard, and then they just pushed me over the crazy edge a bit.</p>
<p>I’d recommend you send 1 supplemental with your application and hold on to the other, in case you’re deferred or WLed you’ll have something to send them later.</p>
<p>My advice is to follow directions, you want the admissions committee to think that you’re special, NOT for them to think that you think of yourself as special and therefore don’t have to follow the rules like everyone else. IMO sending more than what they specifically state sends the latter message, no matter how strong or different the LORs.</p>
<p>I agree with entomom’s advice. When I applied two years ago (gosh how time flies), I sent in one supplemental rec with my SCEA application. I was deferred and sent another letter from a very different recommender around late January or early February. I don’t know whether the extra letter made any difference, but I ended up getting accepted so I guess it didn’t hurt. I wouldn’t send both letters right now though.</p>
<p>I’m not applying SCEA. I need more time to get my application together. </p>
<p>Also, silly as this sounds, I almost feel like the recommendation letters are necessary to show that, no, I’m not making stuff up on my activities list… I mean, really, who lets a 16 year-old manage a campaign? It just sounds like I’m exaggerating without something to back it up… At least that’s what everyone keeps telling me. </p>
<p>My guidance counselor told me she thought I was making stuff up until I showed her the letters…</p>
<p>I agree with entomom. The website is clear: one supplemental recommendation. Even if you’re not applying EA, you could be waitlisted RD. That would be a good time to trot out the second recommendation. Nothing to lose then.</p>
<p>There is an adage in college admissions: “The thicker the file, the thicker the applicant.”</p>
<p>eb: Probably in your context, and without being coy, there may not be a high achieving a teen as you. However, in the context of Yale applicants, you’re fairly standard. It’s a difficult concept to grab on to but you must try to see it from Yale’s perspective. Follow the rules, I’d say. Try to stand out-- but for the right reasons.</p>
<p>Can’t agree more with Concerto: “If a rec can offer a new and insightful view of you as a complete person, then Yale would be more than willing to receive it and review it.” - As I’ve replied similarly to a similar question on H’s admission process, based on real past cases.</p>
<p>I know, I know - Y sounds a lot more strict than H. But, my S did just it a few years ago. He sent several supplemental rec’s in: one for his significant community services, one for his extensive course studies in a local state university, and at least another one for his more than 10 years of music studies and performances (with a CD of selected life recordings). None of them would otherwise be adequately reflected in his regular school reports and/or teacher rec’s. He was accepted by Y in SCEA and then by H and P later in RD. He’s a senior at H now. I do know a few more similar cases as well.</p>
<p>So, the KEY is that each and any additional material you would send in has to provide something new and significant… Nobody wants to read repeated info, but HYP will take additional meaningful info into their considerations as needed and appropriate. </p>
<p>It’s your application after all, and it’s your call. Be the best of yourself and believe in yourself, meanwhile also remember that no single factor, no matter how unbelievably good it is, could/would do it. You need a very solid and well-rounded whole package for getting into Y or any other top schools. Good luck!</p>
<p>Hmmm. I think I’ll see what they say and then deal with it. If they’re absurdly similar, I’ll submit one and hold back the other in case I get waitlisted. If they really do discuss different aspects and I think that they’re both invaluable, I’ll submit two. Definitely not three.</p>
<p>Or as “standard” as Yale applicants can be When you’re looking at a pool of kids who have done cancer research, spoke at the UN, etc. I don’t think you can call anyone “standard”.</p>
<p>I want to straddle the line between following the rules and making sure my application includes all pertinent information. </p>
<p>I can already say that none of this information will be reflected in teacher rec’s or regular school reports, the question just becomes whether or not the supplemental rec’s will be too similar. We’ll have to see what they end up saying.</p>
When you’re looking at a pool of kids who have done cancer research, spoke at the UN, etc. I don’t think you can call anyone “standard”.</p>