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SCubb

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Jan 18, 2019
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I love teachers. My wife is a teacher. Both my parents were teachers. Many of my friends are teachers. Their job is thankless and yet tremendously important. What we ask them to do in writing all these LORs is ridiculous to ask of anyone.
But I really wish they would get my DSs done in a more timely fashion. :)
 
SCubb said:
I love teachers. My wife is a teacher. Both my parents were teachers. Many of my friends are teachers. Their job is thankless and yet tremendously important. What we ask them to do in writing all these LORs is ridiculous to ask of anyone.
But I really wish they would get my DSs done in a more timely fashion. :)
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I was just having this conversation. It's an incredible burden for them for all colleges, but when you throw in the vagaries of MOC's, that really puts it over the top for the service academies. In my district, the 2 senators and congressman all want the recs delivered in a slightly different way, which impacts what the teachers have to do.
I think the entire LOR process for all colleges, and CERTAINLY within the Academies / MOCs, should be completely standardized. Why not? It wouldn't be difficult to set up from a system perspective and they could all agree on a format just like they've done for the CFA. One portal for SA recs across all of Congress. So simple. Because really, the way it is set up now is just not ok for the teachers.
I realize that systems like Naviance (which my DS's high school has) already make it easier for most regular colleges, so for many teachers/schools, it's not as much of an issue.
But the SA / MOC process would be very easy to solve if they spent a little bit of thought and money on it.
 
And a shout out to all guidance counselors and other recommenders out there!

DD has a total of 8 recommenders, and that is probably the average given 2 x GCs (former, current between jr/sr yr), E, M, Sci, coach, volunteer manager, JROTC. Super heavy on GC, E, M - they are doing recs/SOEs for everything, and then some with civilian colleges.

No opinion on process or LORs. I do appreciate that it separates the tire kickers from those truly serious and willing to go the distance.
 
Our DS is applying to 4 SA's, NROTC and civilian colleges. His poor math teacher switched to being his guidance counselor mid spring. It is a relatively small school. She has had to do ALL of his math evaluations, activities review, transcripts, and guidance counselor reviews. That poor woman. And as of now, we are only waiting on one LOR for USAFA and one science eval for USMA (which is holding up app according to his USMA adivsor). It is a necessary evil, I get that, but man it is tough for teachers and for counselors. And with small schools, the same poor staff get hammered for every app.
 
A box of chocolate and some flowers did the trick for us. Just anything to let the recommender know that they are appreciated. And of course thank you notes from the student. I had three of my kids apply for multiple service academies as well as ROTC and civilian colleges. Several of the recommenders expressed relief when our youngest daughter's application was completed.
 
I heard that some teachers/counselors have a template-like format for their rec letters. I hope my recommenders aren't like that though!
 
I wish there was a standardized scholarship application that covered all SAs and ROTC programs.
It really is ridiculous to harass all these busy teachers and guidance counselors.
DS completed 6 applications last year and they are all very similar.
 
Overwhelmed said:
I wish there was a standardized scholarship application that covered all SAs and ROTC programs.
It really is ridiculous to harass all these busy teachers and guidance counselors.
DS completed 6 applications last year and they are all very similar.
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Interesting idea! Haven’t thought of that. But makes sense to streamline that from our (user) end. Not sure there is any incentive from the ROTC/SA end though [emoji848]
 
Yes to the idea of standardizing to make it easier for school officials. Have been waiting on English teacher since July for some of them. It is frustrating for us but I feel for her.

My son has 29 teacher/employer recommendations underway from 8 teachers and 2 employers. I second the idea that they are all very similar and should be standardized. Completing 3 academy, 2 ROTC, and 4 nomination applications is truly grueling. My son is a little over halfway done overall. He said yesterday he feels like he is trying to qualify as a Navy SEAL of applications and paperwork. I think it will ease up at the end of October then he can whip out his plan B app (auto-admission but still get to do those essays!), National Merit finalist app and Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program thing.

Please PM me if anyone has received the National Merit finalist application instructions because he hasn't gotten anything from the school though we have asked twice but his name was on the public/press announcements.

Only good news - after reading some horror stories on the forum about AWOL or inept NROTC scholarship coordinators, my son's has been very engaged and responds usually same day to every question and submission.
 
For USNA , its not a Teacher "recommendation", but rather a Teacher "evaluation." The teacher (specifically the Junior Year math and english teacher) is asked to evaluate specific characteristics including classroom performance, aptitude, leadership, etc) not just write a letter that "Little Timmy is a good boy...." Yes, its a burden on the teacher ....but its a critical part of the application. My experience (from talking to teachers and guidance counselors (BGO's don't see the teacher evaluation) is that the teachers are happy to do this for really good candidates they want to succeed, and go through the motion for those that are mediocre or a pain ).

kpmom2013 said:
A box of chocolate and some flowers did the trick for us.
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. While that may work for some, the real key to anyone interested in USNA is to establish the rapport with your teacher during the school year ..don't be the kid that sits in the back of the room and is too cool to participate in class. Treat the teacher with respect, and be eager to learn from them. When the time comes to ask for that evaluation (or actually tell them that USNA will be sending them an email with the evaluation), they will reciprocate and make the effort to do the USNA evaluation right !
 
I was talking more about counselors. At our school, most kids never meet their counselor unless they are failing classes or are extremely troubled. After a whole year in class with a teacher, there should definitely be a rapport. Nevertheless, no matter how good the relationship, not all teachers are as conscientious as we would like them to be. We found that these types of small gestures can nudge the procrastinators.
 
I agree with the above: teachers have $10 for chocolates if they really want some. What is hard to find are interested, engaged students that make coming to work each morning a worthwhile investment of their many, many hours. They'll make time for LoRs for the students that are a joy to teach and honor their commitment to the class with participation and positive contributions.
 
At a general meeting for all seniors, the counseling department was discussing LOR’s in general. My son came home and told me about it and the high point for him was that there was a student who applied to FORTY (40) colleges last year. Cannot imagine.

I do know that teachers eventually accumulate a nice bank of letters they can cut and paste from. And most are on a program...they don’t even have to print them. It’s part of the job!

It’s interesting to think about the teacher asked to write a LOR, who doesn’t think of the student as outstanding. They probably produce a pretty generic letter.

Obviously, ROTC/SA’s are a different thing than standard college app’s.
 
We are still waiting on one LOR for USAFA from a teacher. All of the others are done. Our DS has a great rapport with all involved (small school) and it was not something they were opposed to doing, just something they had to fit into their schedule. His science eval. was completed by one of my favorite teachers, I enjoy working with him and subbing for his class. He has Azberger's and is very detailed and tends to get very focused on a task. He drove an hour one way, twice, to observe our DS teaching Taekwondo before he would complete his eval. And then he asked for copies of prior labs, met with our DS after school twice before he completed it. He clearly put a lot of thought into it which is much appreciated. He is also the only teacher so far to share the evaluation with our DS. I absolutely loved reading it and put a copy in my hope chest. Really great evaluation and very in depth. Teachers by and large are under appreciated and underpaid. Those that go above and beyond are priceless.
 
justdoit19 said:
At a general meeting for all seniors, the counseling department was discussing LOR’s in general. My son came home and told me about it and the high point for him was that there was a student who applied to FORTY (40) colleges last year. Cannot imagine.

I do know that teachers eventually accumulate a nice bank of letters they can cut and paste from. And most are on a program...they don’t even have to print them. It’s part of the job!

It’s interesting to think about the teacher asked to write a LOR, who doesn’t think of the student as outstanding. They probably produce a pretty generic letter.

Obviously, ROTC/SA’s are a different thing than standard college app’s.
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Good grief!! I sure hope that kiddo used the Common App, even then I cannot fathom it.
 
Heatherg21 said:
Good grief!! I sure hope that kiddo used the Common App, even then I cannot fathom it.
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2o on Common App, 20 on Coalition!
oops, wait, make that 18 Coalition, 2 Apply Texas
Just kidding!

One more shout out - to that person at USMA SLE for sending DD's CFA results to all the other Academies and uploading the CFA worksheet for USMMA! I can only imagine many candidates asking for scores sent to some or all other SAs from the 3 x 500 SLE attendees.
 
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