C. OTHER RECOMMENDERS
A few college applications will ask for an optional recommendation, beyond the school counselor and teachers forms, while others discourage additional recommendations. However, most applications say nothing about additional recommendations; they leave that up to the individual student.

Often it is useful for a student to ask one (or at the most two) people who have special knowledge about them (or their accomplishments, talents or activities) to write a letter of recommendation. The people to ask might include 1) a special art or drama teacher, 2) a music, chess or athletic coach, 3) someone for whom you have worked, 4) a teacher or professor you had in a summer program, 5) a religious leader, 6) or the head of a community service agency for whom you have volunteered.

When it comes to extra letters of recommendation, colleges often say that “less is more.” Additional letters of recommendation should come from people who know you very, very well and provide a unique, in-depth, perspective about you, some work you have done, some talent you have, life challenges you have faced or an unusual experience you have had.

What To Provide Other Recommenders

1. Activities Resume
2. Your college list organized by the dates when the applications are due.
3. Any information that you provided your counselor or teachers that will help the person write a very positive, revealing letter about you.
4. Stamped, college addressed envelopes.

As with the counselor and teachers, be sure to thank the recommenders and let them know how much you appreciate their taking the time to write on your behalf.

FAQ #3: Who should I NOT ask to write an extra letter of recommendation for me?

ANSWER: A simple answer to this question is anyone who doesn’t really know you or who is not going to rave about you.

Anyone who writes an extra letter of recommendation for you must know you very, very well and like you a lot. Many parents are under the impression that if they ask their prestigious, high visibility, famous, or college-connected friend--a senator, governor, CEO, NFL football player, movie star, or well-connected college alumni or trustee--to write a letter on your behalf, this will impress the admissions staff. Unless one of those people knows you very well, IT WON’T. In fact, it could even work against you.