Three questions concerning MIT’s teacher evaluation/recommendation

[GYKhasin]

<p>I have two questions concerning MIT’s teacher evaluation/recommendation. MIT requires two specific teacher evaluations; one ("Evaluation A") from a math or science teacher and one ("Evaluation B") from a humanities teacher. </p>

<p>You see, although I am applying to MIT as an international applicant, I spent my senior and junior years in the US. Two years ago, when I visited Israel, I received one, hand written recommendation + 10 copies, from my Israeli Literature teacher. </p>

<p>My question is- can I submit this recommendation to MIT instead of the special evaluation form? I am asking because my teacher is now retired and I am afraid it will be near impossible to find her and ask her to reproduce her recommendation on the MIT’s evaluation form. </p>

<p>My second and third questions are more straightforward- will a recommendation from an experimental psychologist professor be considered a “science teacher” recommendation? :)</p>

<p>And my third question- is it better to have 3 excellent recommendation alone or 3 excellent recommendation+ two standard, average ones? Or, in other words, will more recommendation increase my chances?</p>

<p>thank you very much!</p>

[molliebatmit]

<p>

My question is- can I submit this recommendation to MIT instead of the special evaluation form?

Yes, absolutely. It’s most useful for the admissions officers if your teacher’s letter addresses the types of questions the form has – that’s why they have the checkboxes, after all – but if you feel it’s a letter that will be most helpful to you, that’s much more important than using MIT’s form or answering all of the checkboxes.</p>

<p>

My second and third questions are more straightforward- will a recommendation from an experimental psychologist professor be considered a “science teacher” recommendation?

Yes – Matt McGann has said before that anything that would be taught in the School of Science, if it were taught at MIT, counts as “science”. Experimental psychology would be taught in course 9 (brain and cognitive sciences), which is in the School of Science. :)</p>

<p>

And my third question- is it better to have 3 excellent recommendation alone or 3 excellent recommendation+ two standard, average ones? Or, in other words, will more recommendation increase my chances?

Three excellent recommendations, no question. Or, to put it another way, higher average quality beats higher quantity. If you send supplemental recommendations, they should be from people who can show a different side of you from your other letters, and of course they should be as outstanding as possible.</p>