Lets talk letters of recommendation

ActingDad
Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:29:37 +0000

Continuing on the theme of important subjects as the Class of 13 starts (and parents!) try to work their way through this, lets talk letters of recommendation.

First question, does anyone think they factor in much at all in the decision for actors?

I ask this question first since it doesn’t seem at all clear to me how one even gets letters of recommendation from people who would seemingly have something useful to say with respect to passion, dedication and ability with respect to the arts. I have not made my way completely through the common app. but it looks to me like letters of recommendation flow out of the selection of teachers at the high school. Is there way in the common app. to select a letter of recommendation from anyone other than a high school teacher? My daughter is basically an unknown entity among her teachers. She gets Bs and As mostly and does nothing to call attention to herself as a matter of design. I think a couple teachers know she’s the kid who has been in a couple of TV shows and few commercials but that is about it. What could they possibly say about her that would have any bearing on her application?

On the other hand, she’s at CMU this summer and has a couple of full time faculty who have commented favorably on her work and passion for the field. She has a couple faculty from last summer at Stella Adler who would give her favorable recommendations. She has a director from a TV show who would give her a good review. She has a couple of community theater directors she could get reviews from. She has a local acting teacher she’s worked with for over 5 years. What should I do with this? I am inclined to just have her get one from a CMU teacher as being the best bet. But how do you work this? Ask them to separately send in letters of recommendation in addition to the common application?

I know this a subject that has been discussed before and I could go search what people have previously said (which I don’t rememember). But given this is a timely issue for the class of 13, it seems worth a new discussion.