<p>I was wondering about the Common App recs, I'm going to ask my English and Romanian teachers to write them for me, because they know me the best. The only problem is my Romanian teacher doesn't speak English at all. What should I do? Have her write it in romanian and then get it translated and notarized? Translate it myself and just send it along with the original (without it being notarized)</p>
<p>Also, what should I tell them to write? I don't think they've ever written recs, or at least nothing as important as a US college application rec. In Romania, we don't use these types of letters, or letters in general (I'm talking about specialized letters like recs, complaints and so on). DO you guys know where I could find some good letter examples I could show them? Or do you guys have any that you could share? PM me for that.</p>
Have your Romanian teacher write the letter in the language she is comfortable with and then get someone (not you) to translate it e.g. your English teacher. Then you should send both the original version and the translated version. This is what I have read on some universities’ websites.
The first way could be a bit of a hassle especially if you’re applying online. You could also just translate the letter yourself and then have your English teacher look over it and have your Romanian teacher sign it and then send it in. It’s perfectly acceptable and much easier.</p>
<p>As to your other question - if you search this forum you’ll find a ton of info on what is good to include in recommendation letters. You could also find a lot of examples of letters and “how-to:s” by searching the net. MIT has an awesome “guide” for teachers and school counselors (very good even if you’re not applying to MIT): [MIT</a> Admissions | Info For Schools & Counselors: Writing Evaluations](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/schools/writing_evaluations/index.shtml]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/schools/writing_evaluations/index.shtml)
What is important though is that your recommenders are detailed and give a lot of examples to support whatever they say about you.</p>
<p>Ah, thank you soo much! I’m so glad I can skip on the notarizing letters, it’s so damn expensive here haha.
I’m going to forward the link to my English teacher so she gets a clear idea of what I need! Thanks a lot again!</p>
<p>I have no idea how accurate it is , but why don’t you try uploading something written in Romanian, and see what kind of a job Google translator does?
[Translate</a> text on iGoogle](<a href=“Google”>Google)</p>
<p>Thanks! But I have learned not to trust google translate anymore, hahaha. I have gotten some REALLY awkward translations off of it, I wouldn’t risk it on a college rec.</p>
<p>I was only wondering if it had to be officially translated, like by an agency, or I myself can do it, or my English teacher can do it.</p>
<p>Yeah, I strongly recommend against Google translate. However, I would suggest having it notarized. You’d hate for them to come back and ask for that later. I know it’s a pain, but I think it shows thoroughness and thoughtfulness that a plain translation doesn’t. Especially for a language like Romanian, which is relatively rare. It’s not like Spanish or French, which one might assume that at least one person in a given department could read, if not speak.</p>