<p>I’m in a bit of a dilemma. You can only send four recommendations to college, one from your guidance counselor, two teachers, and an outside reference. I’m debating whether to send a recommendation from the head of my research division at a local pharmaceutical company or to send a recommendation from the conductor of the Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra. My applicaton is very strong in the science area. I was the first individual junior from my county ever to enter Intel’s International Science and Engineering Fair (3rd out of 172 people at county science competition and 4th place in my category at ISEF). I’m publishing a paper about my research and have a very strong recommendation from my science research teacher. Should I strengthen this aspect of my resume more by a strong recommendation from my research advisor, or instead include a musical recommendation from the conductor of a philharmonic orchestra?</p>
<p>If u r submitting ur research paper u could just have ur philharmonic orchestra conductor write u the rec. (i’m not sure which field is ur research paper in but it says the same thing as the science personel’s rec if admissions might ask faculty for comments). however, if i were u i wouldn’t submit both letters, unless i were sure that my rec writer would say that i’m the top among all others (cos that’s the only thing in the rec that would catch harvard adcom’s eyes).</p>
<p>My question is whether Harvard actually prefers a balanced person to a superstar in one field or not. International scientific recognition may be a pretty good hook for Harvard, but whether I should complement that with a scientist referral or go for a more “balanced” resume by including a rec. from the conductor of a professional orchestra is debatable. Does Harvard value the arts more than the sciences?</p>
<p>By the way, my research focused developing a DNA vector-based post-transcriptional technology for the potential curation of multiple cancers (inc. Lung, Cervical, and Brain) through downregulation of a common oncogene. My paper should come out this summer in BioTechnologies’ Online Journal and several others.</p>
<p>Well, in the same position, I’d probably have the orchestra conductor write the recommendation. Since you’re already so strong in the sciences, I think the arts rec would compliment the rest of your achievements nicely.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that Harvard values either the arts or the sciences more… just be urself and show ur passionate about something.</p>
<p>you should send both. as long as everything you send adds something significant to your application and gives them more insight into who you are, it will all be considered and most likely appreciated by the admissions officers; they just want to avoid additional recommendations that restate what they already know.</p>
<p>I was in a similar situation, torn between an additional recommendation for music or sciency type stuff. In the end, I didn’t send an outside reference at all.</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, do you HAVE to have a rec from your teacher or guidance counselor?</p>
<p>You have to have two teachers.
Then, there’s a school report that a school official has to fill out. Usually it’s the guidance counselor, sometimes the principal if she/he knows you well.</p>
<p>You should start asking teachers for recommendations now, before the summer, so they have time to think about it. In the fall, some teachers will be bogged down with 20 recommendations, and they can only spend like 20 minutes on yours.</p>
<p>I sent in 2 outside recommendations. Harvard didn’t mind…</p>
<p>As another poster noted, it doesn’t matter how many you send as long as each one provides something new, good and/or interesting. If you think the rec from the professor will add something that the HS teacher/guidance teacher recs won’t have, then by all means send both.</p>