who should write Letter of Rec?

Applying to College
1

<p>SUMMARY OF QUESTION: Alma mater or current position? Is the position/role of a person or their connection to the applying institution more important for a good letter of recommendation (assuming both can write the same, eloquent, strong, and rave report of my skills and passions, EC and in class)?</p>

<p>I have trouble finding relevant information regarding this problem, so I apologize as yet another thread about Letters of Rec is started.</p>

<p>My problem is in choosing who to ask for Letters of Recommendation. I am going to be applying to UCs, U Chicago, Northwestern, and some Ivys, etc. Top schools.</p>

<p>My AP English Lang teacher has her masters' (two) from UCLA and undergrad from Berkeley, which I feel will be very useful as it shows she is credible and has relevant information about the colleges I am applying to, yet I can get an equally accurate and supportive letter from the Dean of Students and Activities Director (sole position of 3000 students) at my school.
Although my Dean knows me very well, is a good writer, and may even give me a slightly better recommendation, she has a (relatively) worthless undergrad degree (I think just associates') and a generic MA Ed degree like all the other 'credentialed' teachers (phoenix).
Further, my AP US History teacher graduated from Pepperdine and LMU (AND is THE announcer for an MLB, NFL, and NBA team, a widely recognized name). My AP Spanish teacher has an undergrad in BIO (she is diverse) from LMU and two grad degrees from Davis.</p>

<p>ALL ARE VERY 'QUALIFIED', except the Dean. I know they all will write me great letters of recommendation since they know about all of my passions and have seen them in action.</p>

<p>The only decision I really need to make is on whose background is most important and relevant. </p>

<p>Alma mater or current position?</p>

<p>Thank you</p>

2

<p>Person’s background is irrelevant. An enthusiastic 2nd year teacher who knows your work and scholarship and can write convincingly is better than someone with a bunch of letters after her name but writes a bland rec letter.</p>

<p>It’s about YOU, not the writer. You’re mistaken in your evaluation criteria of potential rec writers.</p>

<p>And your nasty bias about “worthless” degrees will surely come back to bite you. You’re rather immature and condescending and it’s blinded you to the best choice. Clearly and by miles, it’s your Dean.</p>

<p>Hint for you: no where on the rec letter does the writer state his/her degrees or alma mater.</p>

3

<p>Pick the one that knows you the best. Don’t worry about their past–there is usually one (or two) teacher that you have a deeper relationship with. Pick that teacher. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Pick the one who will make you look the best. It’s very immature/uninformed to assume a degree is worthless in my opinion. Maybe do some more research about degrees before applying.</p>

<p>A college degree does not determine your value in life. LOL</p>

5

<p>Honestly, it’s not like the schools go and look up the recommender’s history. </p>

<p>If you are applying to UCLA, have the UCLA teacher do one specifically mentioning UCLA and another one to submit to other schools.</p>