I also have questions about the recommendation letters. My son is unclear whom to ask for his personal recommendation. One of the schools requires it, so we will obtain and submit to all. Is this an outside of school person? Like a neighbor or pastor? Or is it another school contact? I don’t see any guidance on what they are looking for or what kinds of questions are asked.
He already used the Special Interest Rec for Art & Design, as that is an area of meaningful talent/accomplishment. Was he supposed to send that to his sport coach instead? He is in touch with the coaches at the schools to which he is applying and they haven’t asked for one. They seem happy to just connect with him and ask questions. HIs primary sport begins later in middle school/high school. They are more interested in his height (flat out asked him over zoom) than anything else.
If others can give a few examples of a who (i.e. relationship to student) wrote their personal recommendation, we would really appreciate it.
Hi! In regards to your personal recommendation question, they want to see someone who knows the applicant very well, and I know most people choose an outside of school person for this. This can be a trusted adult, maybe someone you mentor/volunteer under, or also an instructor unaffiliated with the school who’s known your child for many years. For example, my personal recommendation is my foreign language instructor who has known me from a young age, but I’m also submitting a special interest recommendation from my violin teacher of many years, since music is something I’ve highlighted the most on my application. Neither are affiliated with my school, but are teachers nonetheless.
You do not have to submit your special interest recommendation to your sports coach, but if sports is your hook, or maybe something that you’ve mentioned or plan to in your essays, I would suggest sending it to them. However, since you’ve said that Art and Design is a major interest, it will be great to send that in!
My younger son was at junior boarding school and had a faculty member that he was close with personally and who oversaw the club of which my son was the head, write his personal rec. My older son had the coach of his outside sport (who had coached him for 5+ years) write it.
They want to see as many sides of an applicant as possible. Who a student is in the classroom may not be the same as who he is as an athlete, actor, musician, artist, volunteer, student council member, etc. It’s about who will say something about the applicant that the other recs don’t say.
