sorry for the corny thread title
Im currently a junior, and I am an intern at my local senator’s office. I’ve been planning to get the person I work with to send a supplemental letter of reccommendation for me next year when I apply to college. However, I have recently been told that it is not a very good idea to get prominent members of authority to send letters for you because it seems like you are just trying to “drop names.” Don’t get me wrong, the people I work with know me fairly well and are aware of my interests, but they aren’t as close to me as say, my teachers or coaches. They themselves offered to write me letters next year, but I am hesitant to take them up on their offers. What should I do?
<p>If they can add to the admissions committee something that a teacher/coach cannot, then yes do it. But dont have them, as you said, write a letter just because they can, and have an influencial name/title. If you want to be in political science (im guessing, since you are an intern), then it definately cant hurt. At worse, it wont help you, but im sure they wont count it against you.</p>
<p>You think that a State Senator is a "prominent member of authority" ? Firstly, I don't know what that means, but man no one is going to know who this guy is hes just some state legislator. Dropping names lol...</p>
<p>brenner, i just said that to emphasize my point. I was asking if sending a rec from someone in government would seem too pretentious. Sorry if my wording threw you off, but I thought people on this board were intelligent enough to decipher its meaning. I guess I was wrong</p>
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You think that a State Senator is a "prominent member of authority" ? Firstly, I don't know what that means, but man no one is going to know who this guy is hes just some state legislator. Dropping names lol...
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<p>If she's applying to colleges in California, then I'm sure everyone will know who this guy is.</p>
<p>You don't think state senators are prominent members of authority? There's only 100 of em nationwide, last I checked you had to be pretty qualified/prominent to get elected. (Except in Oklahoma, where you can sterilize women against their will and still get elected)</p>
<p>NJPitcher, you obviously have no clue what you are talking about. A state senator is a member of the state legislature, not the US Senate...</p>
<p>Juzam: normally, effective language does not require deciphering, as you suggest we should be doing. BTW, can you tell me where I can get an application to "authority" ? I want to join the group if I could.</p>
<p>OOO, misread that there. I know what a state senator is thank you, I'm about two weeks from being an intern for one myself. Sorry for the misreading, and yea, a state senator is not a prominent member of society.</p>
<p>harsh words folks. To answer the OP's question, I'd say if the person knows you and can relate qualities about you that a teacher can't, then absolutely.</p>
<p>Leaving aside all the BS from the idiots on this thread....</p>
<p>Use it if it adds value. If you are just doing office work, leave it off and use someone who does know you better. After all, it will be on your EC's. If you contribute to the office in a meaningful way, perhaps use it. If the person thinks you provide an intellectual or energetic addition beyond simply being in the office, and will write something personal and meaningful I do think it can be a stong supplement.</p>
<p>So in the end, it's a judgement call. Don't forget to evaluate the school's tolerence on supplemental material. Yale, for instance, strongly advises not to send supplements.</p>
<p>k thanks bettina</p>