Recommendation Letters from a Couple?

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
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Hello!

My biology teacher was impressed with my work in class and she put me in touch with her husband, who is a professor at a local university. This summer, I worked in his lab as a student intern.

The dilemma is that I want a college recommendation letter from both of them. What do you think about this? Would colleges care if two of my letters are from a couple? I told my biology teacher to include in her letter how she saw my potential and efforts in class so she talked about me to her husband. I figured that this would be alright, and might even be a positive to colleges?

I just wanted your thoughts.

Thank you so much!

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A couple of things…

  1. Most colleges want one STEM recommendation and one humanities recommendation. The ones you list are both STEM.
  2. Most colleges also want recommendations from teachers who have had you on their classes.

I think the recommendation from the husband would be a good supplemental recommendation if your colleges allow those (some don’t, and some do).

My opinion.

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Agree (mostly) with @thumper1. Your primary letters should be from teachers. Generally the rule of thumb is: both from core classes, one STEM, one humanities or social sciences. If you’ve got that, great. But if the two teachers who know you best are both from the same area, that’s okay, too. You want people who will give you a strong recommendation.

As to the professor (same last name or no?), that would be a great supplemental recommendation, which most colleges allow as part of your file. It’s fine if he says he got to know you because his wife made the introduction. That speaks to how much she thinks of you as a student who would benefit from this internship.

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Actually, ‘most’ colleges don’t have that requirement — implicit or explicit.

But yes, the husband’s rec would only be appropriate as a supplemental rec, where allowed

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You can check with admissions on whether a supplemental letter will be accepted. It sounds like the professor’s letter would be a helpful addition. If his letter is not allowed at a school, his wife/your teacher could maybe say something in her letter.

When you call admissions don’t talk to a student who is on the phones :slight_smile:

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