Letters of Recommendation

AVT

USAFA 2015
10-Year Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
372
Hi, I am a junior applying for the class of 2015. My state, Pennsylvania, seems to be very competitive.
The two senators each want 3 letters of recommendation. Could I give the same letters to each of them?
What letters of recommendation does admissions seek from and could I use the same letters from my MOCs?

Thank you
 
You definitely can use the same one for all your MOC's (senators and rep's).

The academies have different requirements (not sure if you're applying to more than WP). I know for both AF and Navy, you had to have your English and your Math teacher (from 11th or 12th grade) and they had to be submitted online, so those would have to be different (or at least YOU wouldn't be seeing them at all). AF also required a third letter from another teacher of your choice - online again. But also allowed 3 additional letters to be faxed or mailed - from anyone. My son used his soccer coach, principal, and class sponsor (for student government). But Navy didn't ask for/allow any additionals. These may be different from what you want for a MOC if you want to have a better representation - ie one teacher, one sports type, and one leadership type - just to show you're well rounded.

I will strongly recommend that you talk to your teachers before school gets out this year and get a number that you can contact them at and/or a home email so you can get a jump on stuff over the summer. My son had done this with most of his contacts, but listed his AP Chem teacher as his third teacher for AF. Turned out she was pregnant and moving over the summer and he spent forever playing phone tag with the office (who wouldn't give out her contact info) and trying to get her to call him so he could get the right email to AF and she could actually reply to it! Any that you think you can get typed (bosses, coaches, pastor, principal - anyone who won't have to be on the "online" list), you could even ask for before the summer and it would make life easier!

Also be sure to find out your MOC's requirements first - I know some on the boards required them sent directly, sealed, to them. Ours required my son to collect all 3 and mail them together as part of all of his application packet - they wouldn't accept them separately.

Good luck!
 
Yes you can use the same letters for different sources. USMA has an online reccomendation thing for three teachers: one english, one math, one chemistry/physics. I have been told they are form letter type things and not a traditional reccomendation letter, but I don't know because candidates never see any of it.
 
The teacher references on the admissions portal have both check boxes and a place for a short narrative by the teacher.
 
11Bravo - is that for USMA ?

Yes. We asked the teachers what was involved and they stated there were several questions with multiple choice answers and a section for a short narrative about the candidate.
 
Yes. We asked the teachers what was involved and they stated there were several questions with multiple choice answers and a section for a short narrative about the candidate.

There are more spaces if you like on the USMA SOE's form at the bottom of that section. DS is at USMAPS and he has 3 more in the list filled out by his USMAPS teachers and TACs now for a total of 6, the more the merrier.

It looks like 11 BRAVO is prior service so he also has the option of adding more SOE's. There are buttons for:
Team/ Squad LDR
PLT SGT/LDR
1SG/CSM/TAC OFF

at the bottom of this:

School Official Evaluations (Minimum 3 Required)
The following SOEs are required (for prior applicants as well):
ENGLISH, MATH, PHYSICS/CHEMISTRY

Math XXX
Eng XXX
Chem XXX

add new SOE and Contact:
 
Yo can use the same letters, but as someone who just went through the PA nomination process, I know the two senators ask for different types of recs. If you use the same three for both, make sure one is from a councilor or principal (to satisfy Specter's requirements) and one is from a mathematics or science teacher (to satisfy Casey's requirements). The third rec. is up to you (or your representative, depending on what they require). If you have any more questions regarding the PA nomination process, PM me.
 
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