Recommendations

academyhopefull

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2011
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38
Hey guys Im starting to get my ducks in a row for admissions for the class of 2016. I already started asking for recommendations for my congressmen and the academy from teachers.

Im getting recommendations from my philosophy, economics, and math teachers.

My philosophy teacher is going to write a recommendation based on my strong academic potential..
My economics and math teachers said they would write favorable recommendations too.

But what should I tell them to focus on?
Should I just tell my math and economics teacher focus on my performance in class? What else should be in the recommendations? if you have any idea.

Thanks

And in case your wondering I got As in economics and college algebra. B in philosophy though.
 
LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP, AND LEADERSHIP! :thumb:

they already know about your academics from your transcript
 
Leadership is key!! Also start training for the CFA, and DO Not forget about DODMERB. Attend any and all Academy nights and info sessions.
Keep posting any questions on the boards and do not forget to breath!!!
 
Specific Recommenders Required

Make sure you read the requirements for your members of congress carefully. You are not likely to be able to select the recommenders you want to use. My DS had to have different recommenders for each MOC as well as specific
recommenders for each service academy to which he applied. I would suggest making sure what the requirements are before you ask anyone for a letter.
 
kpmom2013, The only specific guidelines that I have for the USMMA and my MOC are that I have a : •Minimum of three letters of recommendation, including one from a math or science teacher. The only other requirements I've seen for USMMA is that I must have at least (2) of my recommendations come from professors, since Im in college. And that (1) of my recommendations accompany part 3 of my application from my highschool.
I've read over everything in my applications again and I dont see anything that says I cant select the recommenders I want to use.The only required recommendation from the academy and MOCs that I've seen is from a math or science teacher
 
...including one from a math or science teacher.

I know that we went to the open house last August Captain Robert E. Johnson, the USMMA Admission's Director, was very clear. The recommendations were to be from your guidance counselor, your math teacher and your science teacher. He said you could submit others if you want but those 3 are required. Unless you've heard it has changed, directly from admission's staff I would stick with these 3. Now maybe since your in college, the guidance counselor would change, but the Captain was very specific he wanted recommendations from you math and science teachers.
 
kpdad2015,

Noted. I'll make sure to give my science teacher a heads up for a recommendation to USMMA.
 
I know that we went to the open house last August Captain Robert E. Johnson, the USMMA Admission's Director, was very clear. The recommendations were to be from your guidance counselor, your math teacher and your science teacher. He said you could submit others if you want but those 3 are required. Unless you've heard it has changed, directly from admission's staff I would stick with these 3. Now maybe since your in college, the guidance counselor would change, but the Captain was very specific he wanted recommendations from you math and science teachers.

Interesting, I've heard Capt. Johnson talk on this item several times and never heard him be that specific, but perhaps the admissions review board has gotten more specific as to what they are looking for as the competition for the available spots pick up.

For my 2 cents on the matter of recommendation letters, as an admissions field rep for over 20 years a couple of points, which I'd suggest are additive - not contradictory to the above:

1) Letters of recommendation from people who do not know you personally but have a lofty title/position etc and say without any specifics that you are a great candidate and will make a great asset to the Academy really do not help you discriminate yourself from your competition here because: a) Every candidate has that in one way or another already, since they have a nomination from a Member of Congress (Congressman or Senator) and that usually means they went in front of a review board and were interviewed by 3 of those kinds of folks, etc. - so basically all this does is says you and/or your parents know how to ask their friends in higher places how to write a letter for you - Capt. J and the others basically see 1200 - 1700 of these kinds of folks a year and these types of letters do NOT turn you from one of the ~1500 into one of the ~450 with an appointment. B) Quality over Quantity - three GOOD letters of recommendation are much, much better than 5 or more that don't i) demonstrate a personal connection, relationship and insight from writer of the letter into a) you the PC and b) what the USMMA (and any other SA is looking for: integrity, perseverance, drive and an understanding of what it takes to lead by example - the basic core qualities of a leader, etc.). My point a letter that says I've known George for X years and he is a great kid who never told a lie, etc. is better than nothing but letter that says something like:

"I've known George for 5 years since he began attending Patriot Middle and High School where I am the guidance counselor. George has talked about how much he's wanted to attend a Service Academy and serve his country almost since the first day I met him.

He's always looked to find out more about the various options available to him in that regard and actively sought to gain exposure to opportunities to be a leader in our school. He has been a key club member all four years at the school and has worked tirelessly running the annual three-legged race which is a big fund-raiser for the local "kids-who-want-to-read-well-and-do-other-stuff-better-too" charity. In fact each year he and his mate Johnny Dangerously have been able to increase the amount of money the event generates and donates to the cause by innovative means that had made the event something the entire school supports and enjoys getting donations from local businesses in addition to the entire Doe and Dangerously family trees (which are quite large thanks to the boundless energies and infective personalities of both George and Johnny's fathers.)

As his guidance counselor it's been great to see George become more and more responsible as he has matured, but the young man's integrity has always been an honest hard working young man. Even when he's made mistakes, he never, ever thought of taking the "easy way out" and not taking responsibility for his actions. For example once in tenth grade, as part of the key club's spring fund-raising mulch sale, the club found themselves short of mulch. George's neighbors, the Fairfaxs had ordered a tree-load of hardwood mulch and there just wasn't going to be enough to go around. While the rest of the club members were sitting around fretting about upsetting the Fairfaxs, "somehow" George showed up with a pick-up truck load of fresh hardwood (cherry) mulch. Everyone was ecstatic and George was the hero of the day. However when it turned out that to get the mulch, George had actually chopped down one of the oldest, biggest cherry tree's in front of his own house, and his father was NOT amused, George didn't flinch and deny doing the deed. No sirree bob, according to the note I (as the key club faculty advisor) received from his father, George looked him square in the eye when he told his father: "I cannot tell a lie, I chopped down the cherry tree Dad, but it looked like it had a disease anyway."

So yes - 1) basically leadership; 2) personal details that show the person knows you and provides some details that help discriminate you from the others applying and if possible demonstrates HOW and WHAT you did/do that make you a leader; and 3) I'd avoid the "filler" letters altogether, they take away from the time people reviewing your package have/will take to look at the stuff that has "real meat" in it.

By the way George got accepted and was in the Class of 1955; he sailed for a while, then returned home to the family farm in Virginia, he was then asked to serve on Active Duty in the 1970-s in the Pittsburgh area, after that it was back to the farm, until he was asked to lead a rag-tag group of militia in 1974 - it was a task that Kings Point prepared him well for and as they say the rest is history....:biggrin:
 
jasperdog, I appreciate your insightful response. Just for a little background, I've been out of high school for two years. The teachers that I asked for recommendations are teachers that can comment on the specific instances in which Ive shown academic potential. I don't believe that my high school guidance counselor or teachers will even remember what I accomplished in high school. The college teachers I asked for recommendations from are the teachers that know me best and can comment on my current academic abilities. I have 3 recommenders who are enthusiastic to recommend me. I only considered a 4th because it was recommended on this forum. The recommendations I asked for are nothing like filler recommendations, there the teachers I believed would describe me best.
 
jasperdog, I appreciate your insightful response. Just for a little background, I've been out of high school for two years. ... The college teachers I asked for recommendations from are the teachers that know me best and can comment on my current academic abilities. I have 3 recommenders who are enthusiastic to recommend me. I only considered a 4th because it was recommended on this forum. ....

Sounds like a perfect approach/plan to me. Good Luck and Godspeed in your quest.
 
academyhopefull,

I would call the Admissions office and ask your question to them directly about what they want from your old High School. I'm saying this because NMMI has two different types of college Preps here. Like you they are college students. The first group is the cadets sponsored by KP and sent to us from the Admissions office. This group requires math and science professor letters. I fill the role as the guidance counselor/academic advisor and complete the third letter. This group is NOT required to send in any high school data (since it is already on file with them)

The second group is "free agents" or Self Preps. They are not sponsored and come here on their own. My guidance to them (via the USMMA Admissions Office) is to turn in a Part 3 from their old high school. These folks have the same response as you, "I don't believe that my high school guidance counselor or teachers will even remember what I accomplished in high school." Even so, they do it.

I just got off the phone with LCDR Johnsen in Admissions, and explained your situation. He said that you still need a High School Part 3, letters from your math and "science" instructors, and complete high school and college transcripts. You need to call your Admissions Rep for guidance.
.
 
Sorry, I re-read my original reply and was not clear. The science/math letters are from COLLEGE professors. If you have taken numerous science courses my advice, in order of preference would be: Physics, Chemistry, any others.
 
nmmi prep director,

Thanks for the response and putting the time in to clear that up for me. Im going to get in touch with a field rep immediately. You cleared up everything I was unsure about.
 
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