<p>I didn’t want to ressurect the post about the negligent teacher and the non-existent rec, so I thought I’d just finish it up this way. The AP English teacher who jumped in and quickly replaced the negligent teacher’s rec wrote one that I couldn’t have done myself even for this, my only child. It is beautifully written, specific and more glowing than we ever would have had from the person our son originally asked.</p>
<p>As others have noted when they said that our kids end up at the schools they should attend, things really do happen the way they are supposed to happen when we do the best we can. That’s always been true for my son. I should trust that more. </p>
<p>I am glad you followed up and told us what happened. It all worked out and who knew? It was meant to be. </p>
<p>I have to say I have almost cried when reading a few recs, particularly the guidance counselor ones. I think there is something about reading and not realizing someone else thought this way about your child, know what I mean? </p>
<p>I think there is GREAT variation in how folks write these recs and I am not talking so much about to what degree they admire your kid but more that some put a lot of effort into it and it really shows. </p>
<p>Last year when my older D was deferred at Yale, she had an additional teacher rec sent along. This was not a rec that was written with the original app or with any of her other apps but just for this purpose. When I read that one, I was in awe of what it said overall but including that my D was the best student she had ever had in 25 years as well as highest grade ever achieved in that course there (had no idea). The original recs also were wonderful but I kept thinking, wow, this is so lovely (had lots of personal admirationt type comments in it) and no colleges are going to see it! (other then Yale which is the only school that rejected her, lol)</p>
<p>I am so happy for your son but even more for you in this case because this last minute “hitch” was irritating and a bit stressful for you and in the end, there is a shining moment even better than it might have been without the glitch in the process. </p>
<p>Momsdream took the words out of my mouth. Of course now I’m jealous of everyone who gets to see the recs written for their children, but oh well.</p>
<p>I saw one of my son’s letters last year as the teacher asked me to proof read it. It is touching to see what others think of your progeny, and what your children show to the world when you’re not around. </p>
<p>Oh, I’m so happy for you (as a fellow Chicago EA mom waiting on pins and needles!). I have a really good feeling about Chicago for your S! </p>
<p>I was fortunate (and surprised) to be able to read the rec that S’s guidance counselor wrote for him and I did cry. I never expected to see it, but S brought it home with directions from the counselor to show it to us and have us proof read it. I was reading it out loud to my husband, in front of our son (who had already seen it) and I got so choked up when it said “xxxx is and will continue to be the best and smartest student I have ever known…” and then it went on in detail about him. Like Soozie said, there is something so wonderful hearing/seeing admiration for your kid from adults at school.</p>
<p>We did catch a pretty big factual error in the letter, about his math sequence (his coursework was very unsual in our district). We also caught a mistake in the official transcript, but we were able to get all that straightened out.</p>
I’m happy for your D.</p>