How Many Recommendations Is Recommended For A Good University?

Joseph M
#1. December 10th, 2009, at 4:09 AM.

From personal experience, 3 is fine, anything more than that, you’re overdoing it. To be honest, most admissions offices do not have the time to be reading pages and pages of recommendations for each student because they are pressed for time and there are so many applicants. What matters is the quality of the recommendation, not the quantity. You want someone who you know will really speak highly of you.

cho.alis
#2. December 10th, 2009, at 4:11 AM.

That is too many. They ask for three. Don’t send more than four. Sending too much in your application can backfire. Send two from teachers and one from your internship. If you must, get a fourth from a third teacher or one of the others you mention, but seriously, don’t send seven letters.

Devon S
#3. December 10th, 2009, at 5:02 AM.

I talked with the Yale and Stanford rep and asked them how many to send. This is what they told me:
1. They will read how ever many you send. However if you send too many the overall message will get diluted and it may actually hurt you.
2. They advise: 1 or 2 teachers…max. Most teachers will let you read the letters they write…so choose the strongest. One from your councilor (required). It’s part of the common app. One from someone else.I think that your internship may be better if it relates to whatever major you are applying for.
I sent in two teacher recommendations and one councilor recommendation this year when I got accepted at Washington University in St. Louis.

ooooo
#4. December 10th, 2009, at 5:10 AM.

I would say 4 overall is fine. More than that would proably just turn the atomisation’s officer off. Check out:http://www.enotalone.com/article/18690.h…
Thanks
Bill

Bill
#5. December 10th, 2009, at 6:03 AM.

if you are looking for universities see http://www.indiastudychannel.com/univers…

sobha w
#6. December 10th, 2009, at 6:59 AM.

I applied to Brown and was admitted ED with 3 rec letters. I really wouldn’t recommend going much over that. The key is that you have really strong letters across the board. Write your teachers a letter explaining exactly what you want them to cover–don’t write the letter for them, but let them know what key points they should make. You should try to emphasize these key points throughout your application–that way the admissions officers can get a clear, comprehensive picture of who you are. You don’t want your teachers to just comment on your academic abilities, as your grades and standardized test scores will speak to that, but you also want them to talk about how you are in the classroom, leadership you may display, integrity, intellectual curiosity, etc. Just be sure that you don’t include any letter that doesn’t contribute something new and different to your application. I would say that the one from your pastor would be good, as well as one from the internship (if it’s very very strong) and then 2 from teachers (preferably in diverse subject areas–one math/science, one history/language). The exception to that rule is if you really really really have a particular focus, such as pre-med or IR–then you want to have your teacher recommendations come from instructors in those subjects and specifically talk about your goals and how you’re equipped to meet them.
Hope this helped! I know how stressful this process can be, but just do your best to make sure that your application is a good representation of who you are–I’m sure they’ll love you!