<p>At first I thought I’d just print multiple copies of the form out and give them to teachers. But at the Caltech preview day, the admissions officers kept saying things like “Well that would be a great supplemental, but you’ll want a different one for your main recommendation.” So am I supposed to write secondary at the top of one form? This seems kind of awkward to me, asking a teacher to write the best possible rec. they can, while clearing indicating that they’re your second choice.</p>
<p>I think very few teachers would take the label on the application personally. In any case, there is one rec from a math/science teacher (recommendation A), one from a humanities/social science teacher (recommendation B – maybe this is what they call the supplementary one now that we are doing CommonApp) and you can have someone send an additional one if you would like.</p>
<p>So, just to clarify, what is the worry? Are they really different forms for the various recommendations you submit?</p>
<p>No, there aren’t different forms- that’s the problem. I’m talking about giving more recommendations than the required two, say a science teacher, a research mentor, and a english teacher. I was told this was great as long as the main recommendation in each category(math/science and humanities) was a teacher that actually taught in the classroom. The thing is, if the forms are the same, how do I indicate which teacher is giving the “main” rec? It seems like I should just give each teacher the same form and let the adcom figure out which rec. is the primary one, but I was specifically told to differentiate between the two types(supplemental vs. primary). My question is, how am I supposed to do this: indicate on the forms, send a separate letter, email?</p>
<p>Ohhh. I am fairly sure there is a spot for that on your part of the application, but if not, you can certainly indicate it in a separate letter to Admissions.</p>
<p>zeta, my son had a third recommendation…the professor did not use the recommendation form, she just wrote a letter & mailed it. So that may be a solution that would work for you as well…have the research mentor just write a letter of recommendation rather than use the forms.</p>
<p>By the way, my ignorance about the application is not a result of extreme forgetfulness – we are switching to Common App + Supplement, so everything is different this coming year.</p>
<p>That’s a good idea oaklandmom, I’ll just ask the one prof. to write a letter. </p>
<p>While we’re on the topic, 1 extra rec. is probably the max, right?
If this is the case, any opinions about the following choices for the main math/science rec?</p>
<p>Physics prof. at JC: I’ve had him for 1 semester, currently taking another class with him, top of class in the first one. I’ve been to his office a good deal, we talk about ideas I have-he seems to think highly of me. </p>
<p>Math prof at uni: I had him for a quarter of real analysis, only one to get an A(out of maybe 30). He was definitely impressed with me- unprovoked, he actually came to me and offered to write a recommendation. I had him(and myself) convinced that I had a closed form for zeta(3) for a whole weekend (hence the screen name). </p>
<p>Prof 1 knows me better, but I get the feeling he won’t spend much time on the recommendation. Prof 2 doesnt know me as well, but is excited to do it for me.</p>
<p>Once again, thanks everybody for your input.</p>
<p>Prof 2 – no doubt. More serious course, more concrete achievements.</p>
<p>zeta,
my son’s experience - he had a prof at a california state university offer to write him a letter…I’d suggested he ask her but he thought she didn’t know him well enough…but when she offered he provided her with the addresses of the schools he was applying…she wrote a great letter & he was accepted to all the schools he applied to. I’m sure it wasn’t the only thing that got him in, but I’m sure it helped push him over the top. So my hunch is go with Prof 2. & of course, Ben knows all so you really didn’t need me to say anything!</p>