<p>There are plenty of ways to show your interest. Write a better essay. Do well in school. Have great ECs. Soliciting a LoR isn't commitment. At all.</p>
<p>I sent mine through the appropriate channels and to the people who asked for them. SCA.</p>
<p>And it's their job! They do it once year and are contractually bound to read applications. They are not however, explicitly obligated to read or view anything beyond that.</p>
<p>They care about the yield and admit rate, and the extent of them caring about you is that you're qualified to fit in. Whether you, specifically, fall into "accept" or "reject" they don't care. The acceptees are all great, and those turned away will be reminded of their accomplishments.</p>
<p>You are addressing me as if I'm arguing that LORs are make-or-break components of the application. See post #1792 before pursuing that tone. Obviously we all wrote the best essays we could, have high GPAs, and do something on the side... but that's all of us. Optional means optional. End of story. If they didn't want us to send in LORs, we wouldn't be given an option. They would be prohibited, as is the case for the UCs.</p>
<p>And yes, it's a job to which they are contractually bound, but they chose to be contractually bound. Are you implying that they arbitrarily signed up for something and were surprised to find out that they are to read applications once a year?</p>
<p>as for the letter of recommendations, i sent in two. we can make a case study of those who get accepted with LOR's and those without. it should make for an interesting study.</p>
<p>ok this is messed up. i emailed them a few days ago and i did get a reply.. and it says we have ur application. what is going on! i am SO CONFUSED!!!!</p>
<p>and i've sent in high school transcripts and college and they said they dont have it.</p>
<p>I'm not arguing that LoRs are make/break. I'm arguing that now they don't have the bang for the effort someone else is putting into it, and as zamela said, the adcoms are really gonna be like, "That's nice." It is completely optional, but don't count on it having a huge effect on admissions.</p>
<p>The original asker posed the situation between having an employer send one or a internship professor. My advice was that that person pursue a LoR from neither.</p>
<p>And adcom is a stepping stone in educational administration. They want to move on up. It's not like they hate their job or something, (in fact, most probably get some kind of (sometimes sick) kick out of it), but it is what it is. The typical USC applicant should be moderately amusing. They just have so many. And I seriously doubt the kids who send in LoRs stick out so much more.</p>
<p>we know it will not be the decisive factor in making or breaking a student okay trojantransfer. we get it. but seriously, it will still help even if not a lot so what is your problem. we aren't banking on our letters of rec to get us in, we sent them in knowing they would only be minor aspects, GEEZ. why are you so adamant in saying it's not worth it. anything that helps us in our prospects is worth it. </p>
<p>so everyone just forget it. and look at peppamint's problem. it is horrible.</p>
<p>Pep instead of emailing call them to find out direct. As for your transcripts, how long ago did you send them? I had the same issue with mine, which was drama. It took two tries and a trip (which I am not complaining about) to make sure everything was in.</p>
<p>You were suggesting to uscASAP8 that he should just do it anyway. I was suggesting that he shouldn't because it would've been more work than what it was worth.</p>
<p>Sending them with the app at least would've made a more meaningful impression because everything's together.</p>
<p>TrojanTransfer, i see your point, but maybe he will just feel better and more relaxed for the next few months by sending some LOR. just let him do it for the sake of being more confident...</p>
<p>yeah can we drop this whole LoR argument now? if you sent them, great. If you didn't, oh well. Whatever helps helps and whatever doesn't, doesn't. Unfortunately we're not gonna be sitting at that admissions decision-making table so we won't be able to know what is going thru everyones heads and thats all there is to it. K? K.</p>
<p>anyways we shouldn't be biting each other's heads off either way cuz we r all in this together and need to all get in so we can have our PIZZA PARTY!</p>
<p>Dude! I love anchovies on my pizza! Ya, and the LoR is over, good arguments from both sides, grey, yours was very strong, and zircushio- lmfao. Trojantransfer- get your point, but we can all agree to disagree, its a minor topic. we really should, as aaam90 pointed out, drop it, and look at what is happening to peppamint and support (im gonna go for) her. </p>
<p>Oh, and my religion major? Don't really know. :)</p>
<p>Peppamint, if there is anything we can do, just throw it on this thread. If you need help finding resources, or writing persuasive emails (if it comes to that), or what not, just toss it on here. I am so sorry that is happening, it really sucks, but if you have proof through that email, that should be good enough. If you live close by, it may just be worth it to go down and visit them (and you can tour the campus). I am sure you will be fine and that this will all be straightened out.</p>
<p>Wow, all the stuff i posted i think got deleted, cause i cant see it- so short overcap....</p>
<p>we can all agree to disagree on the lor</p>
<p>peppamint, if you need any help for anythin (resources, writing an email etc...) throw it up on this thread, or message one of us privately. Everything should work out</p>
<p>oh, and my religion major, i dont know where that is going to take me, but i know it will be awesome..</p>
<p>im just gonna call them back on monday and ask wth is going on, cause this just seems ridiculous for me. i've never heard of anything like this happening ever myself.</p>
<p>its kind of turning me against the school but i love usc.</p>