Optional Recommendation Questions

International Students
1

<p>Hi everyone! :smiley: I’m currently a senior mulling over my application and would really appreciate any responses to the following questions. All the best. Thanks!

  • Jin</p>

<ol>
<li><p>How long are optional recommendations usually? In the ballpark of 1/2 page, 1 page, or 2 or 3 pages? Quality > quantity, I know, but would a long, thorough rec be frowned upon?</p></li>
<li><p>I know that the most basic prerequisite is that the one making the rec knows the candidate, but does the identity of the one making the rec himself make even a slight difference? Consider this situation: I have spent two months working alongside my country’s Prime Minister, and in that time he has gotten to know me well enough to write a glowing rec with ample references and anecdotes. Naturally though, someone like my Quiz Bowl coach would know me better to write an even more thorough rec, but only slightly more so.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Would the idea of having a man of the Prime Minister’s stature writing the rec add heavily to the impact of the rec, or at least enough to be better than my Quiz Bowl coach’s rec? The key is that they both know me well, and my coach only somewhat better.</p>

<p>Much appreciated guys!</p>

2

<p>Everyone can do Quiz Bowl. Not so many students get to work alongside their country’s top politicians. I say go with the Prime Minister.</p>

3

<p>honestly i think 3 paragraphs should be more than sufficient. first for the usual intro and how he/she knows you. second for the stuff that he/she has to say about you and lastly for the usual “i would wholeheartedly recommend xxx for admission / he/she has the potential to succeed in your university” etc etc</p>

4

<p>I think about 1 page would be good, but shorter would be okay as well.</p>

<p>Yes, the person writing the recommendation does matter. The PM would be better than the quiz bowl, as long as it is a good reference letter. Not just something like: I know ____ from __<strong><em>. He did _</em></strong>, __<strong><em>, and </em></strong>. I recommend him for your university. In that case the quiz bowl person would be better.</p>