Tough Decisions...

Applying to College
1

<p>My principal extended a recommendation offer to me since she knows me well from an organization she leads. The problem is, I already have three teacher recommendations pending. Obviously, I can mix and match, so I will probably accept her offer, but the question is, if I should use a principal recommendation for my top schools (which are somewhat competitive for admissions, and highly competitive for merit aid). My principal doesn't know me as well as my teachers. She is aware of my involvement in various organizations, and the quality of worker I am, however, it's not like it's a teacher who I interact with everyday. I do think a letter from a principal might carry more weight than a teacher recommendation. I'm not sure if for my top schools I should go with the purely teacher recommendations, which will most likely be more personal, or if I should throw in the principal recommendation which might help me stand out from other student applicants (the maximum number of recommendations they want is two). What do you think? </p>

<p>On the subject of recommendations, my one teacher wrote a recommendation focusing in-depth on my involvement in a specific extra-curricular. My admissions essay also happens to be about this same activity. Should I submit the two together or change my essay to a different topic to show another side of me? Is it redundant to have a recommendation and an essay explaining my passion for an activity, or do the two validate each other?</p>

2

<p>Bump…</p>

3

<p>That is a good question. I have the same issue with a different teacher (not a principal). I’d just say thank you and add hers to the pile. If you don’t want to send it, don’t. I don’t know that it means anything more than a teacher’s, if she doesn’t know you that well it will come across that way, too.</p>

<p>Our guidance counselor has us send a form for every application we make, and we list the recommendations we want sent where. I have five written recommendations from my teachers, and I have mixed and matched them. One I am not going to use at all; not that it was bad, but it mentioned one of the services I get and I don’t like that. Have you been able to see the recommendations? I’d mix and match them that way, depending on the way the applications read. Like if you have a school (like American) that is very service-oriented, and you have a rec that leans that way, go with that.</p>