<p>How important are the ticks that are at the Ratings section of the recommendation form? Does it really hurt not to get 'Best of my career' ticks? I'm not saying that I've seen my teacher's recs (he keeps it strictly confidential) but I think those ticks are really relative, depending on how many students have the teachers taught and the caliber of those students. Personally, my teacher have taught downright geniuses. One was offered to do her masters degree in her freshman year. Anyone?</p>
<p>Everything matters. Personally though the teacher recommendation “rating” check-marks matter very little because there is no consistency on how teachers use the ratings. </p>
<p>It amazes me at how many students receive the best check-marks and then the letter of recommendation is bland and average. And vice versa. The actual letter of recommendation matters much, much, much more. </p>
<p>One exception though … there are some teachers and counselors who we have experience with over the years and we know they are using the “ratings” in a legitimate and calculated manner. In those cases the ratings will matter a bit more, which is why I started this post saying that EVERYTHING MATTERS.</p>
<p>I really think it’s the essay that matters more, unless you have a few ‘below average’ checkmarks and you’re applying say top 30.</p>
<p>It’s sounding like the checkboxes have more potential to hurt you than to help you, whereas the letter will probably only help.</p>
<p>Question: How important are recs anyway? </p>
<p>Are they as influential as to change admission decisions? Can they raise the dead?</p>
<p>Recommendations are very important … as are all of the required parts of one’s application. Yes recommendations can make or break an application. That is how a comprehensive, holistic approach to evaluating applications works - everything matters.</p>
<p>Do admissions officers look at who wrote the letter as being important?
A teacher at school v A proff at the university your applying to…</p>
<p>It all depends. Obviously the letter of recommendation is reviewed in the context of who is writing it. I feel it is less important who the person is, as to what relationship the student has built with the recommendation provider and how much is revealed in the letter.</p>
<p><em>Question:</em></p>
<p>If a person were to go into International Studies, should the letters come from mainly language/history/social studies teachers, or should they come from teachers who can show well roundedness ie chemistry, calculus, chorus etc?</p>
<p>As always, it is your choice of which teacher(s) you want to choose to write your letter(s) of recommendation. We do not have a stated preference nor do we require a social science interested major to get a rec. from a social science teacher, or a natural science interested major to get a rec. from a natural science teacher, etc. </p>
<p>The choice of which teacher(s) you choose to write your recommendation(s) can offer some information about you when the Admissions Committee reviews your application.</p>