<p>Hi, I am applying to Caltech and a few other schools as a high school junior this year. Is it necessary to have my parents send in a letter supporting my decision (to apply early)? </p>
<p>If yes, what should they write in the letter? can they say stuff that recommends me such as some achievements not listed on the application, why they think I am a good fit for the school and why I think I am a good fit for the school (which I tell them a lot)? that way it almost sounds like an additional recommendation…would that be okay? or a bit pushy?</p>
<p>Thanks but I already submitted my application…in my application I explained why I decided to apply early but those are all platitudes and I couldn’t really get so specific as to recommend myself because that would be weird. is there anything that I can do now to make the point “why you think you’re a good fit for us” (which is a little different from “why you decided to apply early”) come across more strongly?</p>
<p>Your parents don’t need to send a letter approving your decision. It would be pretty unusual if they did. And it’s not mandatory for you to give a specific reason, though in some cases it may help. If you want to say anything you feel you didn’t get a chance to say in the application, you can address a letter (make sure it’s clearly marked with your name and birthdate) to the admissions office on a plain piece of paper and explain whatever else you need to explain. </p>
<p>Just make sure if you’re going to give reasons to give “good reasons”. And good luck!</p>
<p>My S applied as a junior. He sent an additional essay about how he had maxed out the available HS courses. Within the regular application, he wrote why he wanted to attend Caltech. I would never have thought to have sent a parent letter. There seems to be many others who applied as a junior.</p>
<p>Coincidentally, a parent posted that he/she had sent a recom letter to Caltech for 15 yo S.</p>
<p>Quote:
Inverse responded:</p>
<p>I recall that I did ask someone at Caltech about whether I could contribute a recommendation for my son. I was told it depended on whether I could provide useful insight or not. Not just cheerleading. I began my letter with something like this: “I believe that it may be necessary for me to write for DS because of his young age. I believe he is specially gifted and will make useful contributions to science given the opportunity. I will share with you my observations from which my belief is based.”</p>
<p>Note that “inverse” prefaced the first mention of this with the fact that this was 11 years ago. Things may or may not have changed in the meantime.</p>
<p>I think they have changed, but not a huge amount. If a parent can provide unique, useful insight with the appropriate degree of humility, then it is still okay to send a letter. In my personal opinion, it is not so frequent that parents can say something that teachers haven’t already said, and teachers (since they aren’t ancestors of the person in question) can be more forthright in their praise. But there are exceptions. As always, doing something won’t always have a positive effect, so it makes sense to think about whether the input will help or turn someone off. But admissions tends to appreciate whatever useful information it can have about an applicant, especially if for some reason it doesn’t fit nicely into the existing application.</p>
<p>Yes, yes, how interesting. I wonder if I might be related to this “inverse” person…hmm. Certainly we do look alike, and have similar taste in Chinese food. :D</p>
