If a high school principal has offered to write a recommendation for a student, would that rec be submitted in lieu of the counselor rec, a teacher rec, or in addition to the typical recs? Also, would you say a recommendation from a principal is meaningful in general, or just extra paper that a college may not necessarily want? (I’ve seen some colleges state that they absolutely do not want more than the required number of recommendations.)
Thanks!
An offer of a recommendation will be a strong one especially from someone high on the ladder.
I think it depends. If the principal letter is something that notes significant knowledge and involvement with the student, then yes…it can be submitted. If not, no.
Also, some schools are very specific about who they require for letters of recommendation, and some do not want any extras. So, check each college carefully as YMMV depending on the school.
As an example…my son was a music performance major. some schools were very specific…they wanted his private instrument teacher and one or two academic teachers from his HS. We asked at one school if his band director could be used…and we were politely told…no. And his schools were very clear…they wanted no extra references…at all.
Is there anyone else who can share feedback on this question? I have two different opinions on this! Thank you!
DS2 had a LOR written by an assistant principal and used it as one of his primary two LORs. This was for a couple of reasons. One, there had been some turnover/changes in the way classes were staffed and the guy he thought could write his humanities-side rec no longer was the best choice. The AP taught a first-time humanities-side class fall of ds2’s senior year that was so up ds2’s alley. Not a core class, but absolutely reflected ds2’s interests and aptitudes. Two, this AP was the disciplinarian AP and ds, as student body pres as well as head of a couple of other organizations, had a lot of very close dealings with him. He knew that the AP really trusted him and would likely write a sterling LOR and that few kids would have the nerve to ask him (whereas some teachers at his school write dozens).
So, in our case, the administrator WAS a teacher. In that sense, ds followed the rules. But he wasn’t a core teacher, so in that sense he broke the rules. He got into six of the eight schools to which he applied (one no and one WL) so I don’t think it was held against him.
Unless the principal taught a class you took IMO it should be an additional recommendation rather than replacing a teacher’s recommendation as it cannot speak to your performance in the classroom. It is fine to send in one additional recommendation, particularly if it says something different about you than your guidance counselor or teacher recommendations (for example people may send one from an employer, head of a group he/she volunteers with etc.).
If you have a good guidance counselor pose the question to him/her.
Unless the principal has taught your child and/or knows your child, their back ground strengths and areas of opportunities, the letter is not going to help your child’s cause. IF your principal was a GC or AP guidance and has dealt with your child in that capacity, I definitely would not swap out the the the recommendation for a teacher’s rec and/or a GC rec. Can your principal add anything extra that is not covered by the GC or teacher or is s/he writing merely as the principal? If s/he is simply writing as the principal without adding any thing, I would pass.
I have worked with a principal who teaches one class a semester (non-core class) and leads an 15 student advisory (even then he collaborates with the GC). He has had his advisees for 4 years and does write recommendations in his role as their advisor. I worked with another principal who started out as a GC and has a small caseload, ~ 25 high risk students, that he works with in order to stay in the loop and abreast of what is going on with those kids.