<p>I applied ED as a prospective theatre major… I have taken the equivalent of 5 years of science (2 APs) and also 5 years worth of math. I had my Chem I/AP Chem teacher write my recommendation because I worked really hard in her class and I wanted NU to see that even though I want to be a professional actress/singer, I still challenge myself in other subjects and that I take academics very seriously. But now I’m starting to worry, even though I’ve done vocal music and theatre since I was in elementary school and my ECs are dominated by musical/dramatic activities and have awards in these areas, will it hurt me to not have a recommendation from a drama or choir teacher? Or will my ECs and music/drama course load compensate?</p>
<p>Why didn’t you get one of your reccomendations from a Drama or Choir teacher? It certainly raises some questions if I’m an ad-com. You could probably still send it in, though best to ask first- cutting it a little close and they’ve probably already made your decision. I wouldn’t be too concerned. Try to be calm!</p>
<p>I just got an academic recommendation because it would only allow me to select one recommender so I chose the teacher who I had for multiple years…</p>
<p>“It”? You almost universally are told to send two… What is “it” here?</p>
<p>Common Application. Both of my recommenders chose to submit recommendations online and my second recommender submitted the recommendation one day before the deadline. The Common Application only allowed me to send one of the recommendation letters because Northwestern requires one.</p>
<p>I don’t think it will necessarily hurt you. For getting into NU, at least. I think they want recommendations from teachers who truly know you and can show that - if your drama teachers couldn’t do that as well as your Chem teacher, and your Chem teacher did a good job, then I would relax about it.</p>
<p>It’s probably too late to send in that second rec, but if you have one ready, it would be worth a call to the admissions office to see if it might be acceptable. I had the same problem as you did with the Common App form. My upper school director e-mailed one of the admissions reps, and she seemed to imply that they definitely only required one, but would accept additional recommendations IF they effectively offered a different point of view and insight. It definitely read like they didn’t mind just having the one.</p>
<p>I logged into CommonApp last night and sent in the second academic recommendation(from an English teacher) I had because for some reason it let me send it in. Whether or not it will make a difference, I don’t know but I don’t think it will hurt me. Thank you both for your insight!</p>
<p>YOU sent it in? Schools generally prefer when a student has waived the right even to see the recommendation. The preferred method, I thought, was to have it mailed in by the teacher.</p>
<p>Teachers upload their recommendation letters to the Common App website, where the student can pick which ones go to which school (but not read the actual letter).</p>
<p>Yes, I waived my rights but CommonApp allowed me to select another recommender. I cannot see the actual letter, but I sent it via the internet.</p>