College Letter of Recommendation Questions

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Mar 27, 2017
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I'm a current college freshman thinking about reapplying to USNA as a college sophomore. I realize the application process is a while away, but I'm trying to get my ducks in line ahead of time. My biggest concern right now is what I should do for a letter of recommendation from an English professor. You see, I received AP credit for my college's English requirements, so I don't need to take an English class anywhere in my course of study for my major (engineering). Since I'll be applying as a sophomore, and because I used her in my high school application, I believe I can't reuse my high school English teacher for a recommendation. I did take a required communications class this year, which I'm hoping will be an acceptable substitute for an English class, but this presents its own problem: because this is a large class taught to nearly all freshmen, it isn't taught by actual professors in a lecture, it's taught by graduate teaching assistants in a small classroom. Would my previous communications graduate teaching assistant be an acceptable source for my English letter of recommendation? If not, what should I do? The only other option I can see is to bite the bullet and take an unnecessary English course during the summer and pay out-of-pocket for the additional costs just to secure a letter of recommendation. Any advice or help would be deeply appreciated.
 
agree with ktnatalk - call admissions and I wouldn't retake the English class just to secure a letter of recommendation. It does seem that, as a sophomore, you are limited to college recommendations. From USNA website: "If you are a college applicant who graduated from high school more than one year ago, you need to use your college professor."
 
Agree with calling. Remember you can also use a prof from first semester next year, since USNA won't review your record until January. So, if you're taking a smaller class that involves writing, that might provide an option for you.
 
Just got a reply from USNA admissions. They said that using my communications instructor would likely not be acceptable, and they've advised me to go back to my high school and re-use my high school English teacher again, seemingly in contrast to the policy that a sophomore is required to use a college professor. I may try to get this verified by a second party like a local admissions representative (especially since this is in contrast to a written policy, but also because the person I spoke to on the telephone didn't sound particularly confident in their answer). So that's where I'm at now, I'll be sure to update this post further if anything other information comes to light. Thank you to everyone who replied!
 
Just got a reply from USNA admissions. They said that using my communications instructor would likely not be acceptable, and they've advised me to go back to my high school and re-use my high school English teacher again, seemingly in contrast to the policy that a sophomore is required to use a college professor. I may try to get this verified by a second party like a local admissions representative (especially since this is in contrast to a written policy, but also because the person I spoke to on the telephone didn't sound particularly confident in their answer). So that's where I'm at now, I'll be sure to update this post further if anything other information comes to light. Thank you to everyone who replied!


That does seem strange .... Did you apply this year ? If not, I suspect that you fall into a nebulous area of reapplicant in second year of college. As USNA195 indicated, they don't look at most reapplicants until they first semester grades are in, and they may group you into this even though you will already have completed two semesters. This is a situation where your BGO can help ... ask him /her to confirm with CGO, and then they can make a Note in your file explaining the situation.
 
Just got a reply from USNA admissions. They said that using my communications instructor would likely not be acceptable, and they've advised me to go back to my high school and re-use my high school English teacher again, seemingly in contrast to the policy that a sophomore is required to use a college professor. I may try to get this verified by a second party like a local admissions representative (especially since this is in contrast to a written policy, but also because the person I spoke to on the telephone didn't sound particularly confident in their answer). So that's where I'm at now, I'll be sure to update this post further if anything other information comes to light. Thank you to everyone who replied!


That does seem strange .... Did you apply this year ? If not, I suspect that you fall into a nebulous area of reapplicant in second year of college. As USNA195 indicated, they don't look at most reapplicants until they first semester grades are in, and they may group you into this even though you will already have completed two semesters. This is a situation where your BGO can help ... ask him /her to confirm with CGO, and then they can make a Note in your file explaining the situation.
No, I didn't apply this year. I'm trying to do a little early planning so that I can apply as a sophomore and get my application in as soon as possible. But once I truly start the application process, I'll keep in mind about asking my BGO to for help with this.
 
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