lyl926

Let me just try to get things clear:
1 counselor recommendation
2 teacher recommendations (in core subjects)
1 optional additional recommendation

1 art teacher recommendation (for arts supplement)

so...that would be 5 recs in total?

Also.. for optional.. I'm thinking of getting one from a Stanford graduate student.
Do you think that'll be ok?

rachel909

yes that would be five recommendations, all of which are fine. for the optional one, it's okay to have a Stanford graduate student write it. for additional info on optional letters of recommendation: FAQ : Stanford University
(it's question #5).

lyl926

thanks a lot!

tomjonesistheman

Are we required to mail all recs to Stanford using their special labels? Or can teachers do it electronically through Common App?

shinespark

I've sent an email to Stanford's Undergraduate Office on this, but it hasn't gotten back to me;

Would it be ok to have a debate coach write one of the letters of recommendation? (Debate falls under Visual and Performing Arts in our school, which isn't a field listed as ok for the rec. letters). If so, would it also be ok to pick up a recommendation from an English teacher (since Stanford asks for two different fields, and English/debate might be too similar for their tastes).

rachel909

your English recommendation can be one of your two required teacher recommendations. even though debate/English might be similar they're not both core academic subjects. if you believe that your debate coach can give some new insights to you as a person then go for it. the admissions office is probably not going to have a problem with it. just be sure that it's not just another paper they have to read that tells them what they already know.

puregenius_91

wait. I thought there wasn't an optional recommendation anymore?
I looked through the whole common app and there was nothing to do with optional recommendations!

so how does it work out?
how do you invite someone to give you an optional recommendation?

rachel909

an optional recommendation doesn't have a standard form (i.e. teacher recs). that's why you can't find it lol. if you want an optional recommendation just ask someone to write one that addresses the admission commitee (i.e. Dear Stanford University Office of Undergraduate Admissions), states its purpose (i.e. I am writing a recommendation for (insert name)), mentions the relationship between you and the writer (i.e. ballet instructor), and gives reasons as to why they are recommending you. then mail it to the office of undergrad admissions. that's all really. there's no standard format. think of it like the last section of the teacher rec where it's more of a free response type thing. make sure to have your common app ID on the letter a well.

puregenius_91

hey, thanks rachel.
But I'm living in Singapore. So do i still have to postal-mail it? or can i email it or upload it somewhere so they can access it?

rachel909

no problem! i don't think that you can email any of your required documents. as far as uploading goes, i'm not sure how that would work either since there's no where on the common app or supplement that would allow you to do it. i would recommend sending it post-mail but before you do, you should call the admissions office and see what they say first.

indianmonster

wait a minute. cant you just ask the three teachers to upload their recommendations onto the commonap system and send it to Stanford, while clearly stating in the letter whose the core and whose the additional?

rachel909

no. you can only upload two teacher recs. their purpose is solely for core academic subjects so you can't specify which is which. that's just how the form is. since the optional recommendation has no actual form and isn't on the common app you cannot upload it.

indianmonster

* You must select at least 2 teacher(s) below whose recommendations will be submitted to this institution on your behalf. This institution will accept up to a total of 4 letters of recommendation. If you wish to have additional recommendations submitted, click the 'Add Recommendation' button and select additional teachers.

This is what the common app says. Why I cant I just say the 3rd teacher to state that he is the optional evaluator and upload it? Sorry for the trouble but I just want to clarify.

Regards

rachel909

just to be sure i would recommend calling Stanford and asking them.

indianmonster

gah I guess I am going to do both: send them with my academic transcripts and also send online!