<p>I am wondering whether I can and whether I should submit a recommendation from a person who is not from my school.
I have one academic teacher who truly appreciates how intelligent I am and will write a very informed academic recommendation about me. Hopefully, I can find a second academic teacher who can write an at least above average recommendation for me.
None of my teachers, however, can truly say much about my personal qualities. I tend to stay quiet and focus on learning during the school day, but I have a drama instructor who I have known for many years and who I feel can truly comment on my sense of humor, social interactions, etc. in order to paint a fuller picture of me as a person.
Will colleges accept and/or appreciate an additional recommendation?
I am asking this as a general question, but more specifically, the reach schools that I am most seriously considering right now are MIT, Harvard, and Princeton, and I am planning on majoring in mathematics.</p>
<p>Some give you space to do it, some don’t. I think Stanford requires a recommendations from a person that know you from a non-academic viewpoint. But otherwise, I wouldn’t send them anything they don’t specifically give space for. These guys read tens of thousands of applications a year. I’m sure they’re incredibly annoyed when people send them things they don’t ask for. </p>
<p>But honestly, I doubt most colleges care about how well you can tell jokes, or how popular and social you are. They’re academic institutions, and they probably care a lot more about your academic abilities and goals than your “entire person.” Think about it, they’re interested in you as an academic candidate. It doesn’t matter how social and funny you are, if they’re not impressed with your passion, abilities, motivation and achievements you’re not just getting in. So if you do send in this rec, tell you teacher to focus on who your personality, beliefs or something that can make you more appealing academically, rather than how you fare in social situations.</p>
<p>“They’re academic institutions, and they probably care a lot more about your academic abilities and goals than your ‘entire person.’”</p>
<p>Then why do they have such a heavy emphasis on extracurriculars?
Why does everyone say that colleges are searching for a well-rounded student?
Why do they allow you to submit an Arts Supplement?</p>
<p>Extracurriculars show your academic passion, motivation and so much more. Maintaining a sport shows you have leadership/team-building skills, doing science Olympiad shows you have passion and talent in science, doing music shows you have commitment and perseverance, and etc etc. They all relate to your abilities.</p>
<p>They want a well-rounded STUDENT. As in a student in an academic setting. They want people who are bright, motivated, intellectual, diverse and such, and can excel in a variety of relevant activities. When I mean an entire person, I mean they do not care how much video games you play, how much TV you watch, how much you like puppies and certainly not how you would act in a party setting or when hanging out with friends. It has absolutely no relevance to anything they’re looking for.</p>
<p>And they allow you to send in an arts supplement because you might want to show your talent. Arts is an academic discipline, so of course they might be interested, especially if your application has an emphasis on art. Good art samples might demonstrate creativity, intellect and so on. Like I said, well-rounded STUDENT. </p>
<p>I mean come on, do you really think they will like your application better because they found out your funny from a rec? If they haven’t gotten a hint of your humor from your essay already I doubt they would care very much.</p>
<p>First of all, studies have shown that humor has a strong correlation with intelligence - but that is somewhat beside the point.</p>
<p>“how much video games you play, how much TV you watch, how much you like puppies and certainly not how you would act in a party setting or when hanging out with friends.”</p>
<p>I never said anything about video games, TV, puppies, or parties. But I would think that schools would want positive interactions among their students. I would think that they would want a positive social setting. And you don’t have to continually shoot down the idea of a sense of humor. That was an example; I am talking about social skills in general.</p>
<p>Glancing at Harvard’s application, they ask teachers for a rating of the student’s “personal qualities and character” and the counselor for a rating of the student’s “warmth of personality,” “sense of humor,” “concern for others,” and “energy” (none of this is part of the common application; it is part of the supplement). My counselor cannot possibly rate me accurately - I have only met him once briefly.</p>
<p>Anyways, I can see that you will probably never agree with me, so I will wait to see who else replies and hope that there is eventually somewhat of a consensus. Maybe I will e-mail someone from one of these schools to get a more authoritative opinion. Maybe you’re right - that’s why I asked - but I’ve always been told that personal qualities are very important for admissions.</p>
<p>well there is proof that laughing induces neuron stimulation, thus using more percentage of your brain to conduct the multitude of activities needed daily… on average, a human uses about 10% of their brain… however… researchers have found the the key to intelligence is unlocked by how much of the brain you can use to figure out something… thus having people becoming geniuses at such a young age in certain subjects… so, yes, laughing increases stimulation… also exercising produces endorphins which in turn are another source of neuron stimulation…</p>
<p>I say, find someone who you’ve interacted outside of school, who has seen you develop a passion or hobby etc, and this will show you character with society… since school is kind of a isolated environment interacting with same people daily. Get a Rec outside of school… its worth it i say.</p>
<p>Twiz, you said that your drama instructor will comment on your “sense of humor, social interactions, etc.” I think that’s where Ray192 is coming from–don’t get a rec from someone who will just say that. They don’t need someone to tell you that you’re funny in a rec–they ask that in the supplement. Your teachers really should know you well enough that you would be fine by just asking them, without needing a third one. If you’re going to use a third recommendation, make sure that it includes stuff that isn’t apparent in the other recommendations or in the rest of the application.</p>