<p>I've had a strong understanding of the admissions process so far this summer, but this aspect is going to drive me crazy.</p>
<p>I want to submit three recommendations (one teacher, one co-curricular adviser, one superintendent). I am applying to a school early decision using the Common App. The superintendent will only be writing a physical letter, so I should just worry about inviting the teacher and adviser via the Common App, right? Is it okay to mix online and offline recs when applying to a school?</p>
<p>Also, how do I approach these people? I obviously know how to approach them socially, but do I provide an "abbreviated application" or postage? Bottom line: I need help. Thanks.</p>
<p>Yes, you can mix online/paper recommendations.</p>
<p>I don’t know what you mean by an “abbreviated application,” but if a teacher is writing a recommendation be sure to give him the list of colleges you need recommendations for and their due dates. For the superintendent who is not submitting online, you’ll also want to give him one copy of the common app recommendation form, and stamped and addressed envelopes to all of the colleges you’re applying to.</p>
<p>This system may vary from school to school (or even teacher to teacher), but the above should be adequate in most cases.</p>
<p>And should I really give the Common App evaluation to the superintendent? I mean, we have a healthy relationship, but I doubt he could make a fair call on my “reaction to setbacks” and those other categories?</p>
<p>If you want to give a teacher your resume feel free. Some might ask you for one, others might not care or find it necessary. Ask your teachers to see what they’ll want from you.</p>
<p>As absent says, it depends on the person writing the rec as to how much info they need to prompt them. The colleges will already be getting all your scores, etc. So the recs are not about that stuff, they’re about another dimension of you that the teachers can write about. However, a short synopsis might be helpful as they try to remember how many classes you ended up taking from them or what that project was that you worked so hard on.</p>
<p>If you are going to see these folks in person, I suggest preparing a small folder for them. In it, put a note from you thanking them for agreeing to write your recs and then telling them what schools need those recs. You can include here an abbreviated resume if you think they’d like it. Then, list each school, date the rec is due, and where to mail it. Then, prepare a large 8 x 10 envelope for each school with the address on it of where the rec is to be sent, put a $1 stamp on it and your school’s return address (not yours).
Obviously you don’t do the envelopes for those writing recs online.</p>
<p>For your advisor, it’s not critical to use the Common App form if you have others who are. Just be sure to get the Common App number off your form and put that on your note to him and ask him to include it in his letter. Otherwise that letter will never make it into your file.</p>
<p>Also make sure that you know what the school requires. If the school requires two TEACHER recommendations, then what you are submitting does not fulfill that requirement.</p>
<p>This is something I’ll never, ever understand with students going through the process of asking for recommendations.</p>
<p>Either the person knows you or they don’t. If the person was your teacher, don’t you think the teacher will go back into his/her grade book to see what kind of student you were, grade-wise? Or do you think that if you write up your resume showing you got all As in history, that your history teacher (whom you asked to write you a rec) won’t check that?</p>
<p>Recommendations should be asked from teachers whose classes you did well in, and with whom you have a close enough relationship such that the teacher’s positive feelings will shine through on the rec.</p>
<p>Would you prefer that a teacher who barely knows you write: “He received an A in my history class, and I understand he volunteers at the library” just because the teacher saw that on your “resume”?</p>
<p>Or might you prefer that a teacher who *really knows you *write: “his test scores and class participation earned him a solid A, my top grade in that class, and he solicited my help in getting a volunteer job at the library, researching the history archives for their upcoming Civil War exhibit. I knew that not only would he be good at this volunteer position, but based on his enthusiasm in my class, I knew he’d have fun with it.”</p>
<p>Get recommendations from people who know you. What’s a school superintendent going to be able to say about you? “Looking at his transcript, you can see he’s a wonderful student.”</p>
<p>Adcoms know how to read a transcript. Your best recommendations will come from people who don’t need your resume.</p>
<p>ABSOLUTELY agree with heyalb; do NOT ask your superintendent to submit a recommendation if he can’t personally attest to who you are as a student and a person.</p>
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<p>While that sentiment may be true, it is pretty standard practice for a teacher to ask a student for their resume before writing a recommendation. Every teacher at my school asks students for their resume or to fill out some kind of information sheet, if only to get a more complete understanding of what goes on outside the classroom. Most of my teachers, at least, said that they generally don’t directly make much use of the resume, but that it is nice to see before writing the recommendation.</p>
<p>I think you misunderstood my statement. I am confused whether I should have the superintendent fill out a Teacher Evaluation form or not. He is, after all, not a teacher. Plus, how do I indicate his rec on my Common App section since he is neither a teacher nor counselor?</p>