Non-teacher recommendations?

[truenorth]

DS has his Math, English, and Guidance recommendations squared away, with those email addresses loaded in his portal. Are other recommendation letters allowed? Such letters can't be loaded via the portal. If allowed, are they just sent straight to Admissions?

 

[brovol]

If I recall correctly, two are allowed, and are sent directly to admissions.

 

[usnabgo08]

USNA Admission's Guidance on Additional LORs:

Additional letters of recommendation are not required for admission to the United States Naval Academy. Our application for admission already includes the requirement for written input from your math and English teachers, counselor and Blue & Gold Officer. This input provides us with more than enough information to make a determination on behalf of each candidate. Additional letters of recommendation will only be meaningful if they are provided by someone who has observed you for a long period of time and can provide information about your overall qualities that is not already provided in other parts of the application file. For example, a letter from an official who has had direct observation of your participation in an activity and/or performance in a leadership position may be helpful to the Admissions Board.

If you do ask someone to write a letter on your behalf, please have them include your name and candidate number on the letter. Letters should be mailed to the following address:

Office of Admissions
52 King George StreetAnnapolis, MD 21402

Additional LORs need to be the exception and not the rule. If the additional LOR does not add anything not already covered by the teacher LORs, the guidance counselor/school official's input, or the BGO write-up, then it should NOT be submitted. Basically, additional LORs need to shine new light, that the Admissions Board isn't already aware of. Another LOR saying how Johnnie or Mary is a great leader, does well in the classroom, or sports field...isn't going to help.