Letters of Recommendation

[Peeki_the_chicken]

Hello! I have a question regarding letters of recommendation.

1.) Last year, my Math and English teachers both submitted letters of recommendation for me, and they did allow me to read them after they were submitted. However, I was not impressed by my English professor's letter. Ironically, there were mistakes and the flow of the sentences really made no sense. The letter reflected how I acted in the classroom, but it worried me how seriously admissions would take the recommendation with the mistakes. I clearly stressed the importance of the letters to the point that I feel there was nothing else I could have said. I want to waive my right to read the letters before submission this year, but how can I make sure that my recommendations accurately describe me AND are well written? Are the recommendations even as important as I am making them out to be?

2.) During a live online chat on the USNA website there was a question asking if you can submit other letters of recommendation along with the Math and English? The answer was yes. Unfortunately, my English professor was probably the most scattered of my 7 professors, and I think that my other professors would have good things to say about my behavior in the classroom and would be capable of writing a better letter. If I send admissions additional letters of recommendation from my other professors, will they be read AND taken into account?

 

[MidCakePa]

They are not letters of recommendation, but targeted evaluations. USNA stipulates clearly who can/should do them, i.e. junior-year English and math teachers. They complete a prescribed template. There’s not a lot of room for written statements.

In any case, it would behoove you to speak with your teachers, ask them if they’re willing to share what they might say, and perhaps try to influence them. However, do so carefully and tactfully, as it could backfire if they have any reason to give you a less-than-glowing review.

 

[Heatherg21]

I cannot speak to what admissions will do. However, in our son's case, we did not see the evaluations, with the exception of 1. I have no idea how they were valued or interpreted.
The reality is you have to follow the rules and procedures and use the teachers that the SA and ROTC scholarship applications require.
For USNA, our son did ask his admissions poc and they did say he could have other letters submitted in ADDITION to the required, not in lieu of the required. He could not send them, her instructions to him said to have the author of the letter email or mail it directly. Shouldn't come from the applicant. He Also, bear in mind it is not just a traditional letter of recommendation. When they get into the portal, via the link sent to their email, it is also a questionnaire asking them to rate/evaluate you.
The best thing you can do is to be accountable in your classes, be a pleasure to have in class, be diligent, be honest, express to your instructors how important this is to you. Ask them early and give them a reason to want to give you a positive evaluation.

The rest, is out of your control.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

[QUOTE="Peeki_the_chicken, post: 741873, member: 50142" I was not impressed by my English professor's letter.......The letter reflected how I acted in the classroom, but it worried me how seriously admissions would take the recommendation with the mistakes. ....... I want to waive my right to read the letters before submission this year, but how can I make sure that my recommendations accurately describe me AND are well written? Are the recommendations even as important as I am making them out to be?[/QUOTE]

Yes the recommendations are important, but keep in mind ..Admissions is evaluating you, not the teacher and their writing style. You acknowledge that the teacher's write up reflected how you acted in the Classroom, leave it at that. Everybody has their own writing style, and it is really not your position to to evaluate or critique the teacher. Perhaps the teacher didn't think enough of you to put the effort in . HeatherG's last comment is 100% spot on --its up to you to impress your teachers so they want to go the extra mile to help you !


The comment about "waiving your right to read the letters." puzzles me . I thought the Teacher Evaluations were supposed to be candid and confidential. Sure, many teachers give their students a courtesy copy, but having the "right" to see an evaluation chills the exchange of information, and could explain a lukewarm evaluation.

 

[THParent]

I agree with not being able to read letters of recommendation. As a candidate, you pick and choose who writes these. You should already know that they are going to write something good about you. If they don't have to show them to you, they can be perfectly candid. Nobody who ever applied for admission to any service academy has been the "perfect candidate". Everyone should have a few dents in their armor.

In Scouting, we ask for three (3) letters of recommendation from Eagle Scout candidates. The candidates never see these, as we give instruction to the writers to mail them to the Scout office for inclusion in the Eagle binder (that the Scout has already handed in). We make it easy on the writers, by supplying a pre-printed form with a few questions to answer about the candidate. Some of the questions are in the "what are things that the candidate still needs to work on" category. Those are my favorite ones - because I read what they say - and then often ask the candidate in their Eagle Board of Review what they think they need to improve upon. I ask, just to find out if they can look at themselves objectively.

 

[usna1985]

My thoughts echo those of OldNavyBGO. USNA will not penalize you for having teachers/professors who are terrible writers. It's what they say and the passion with which they say it. I've seen people with at best a grade-school education who write beautifully from the heart.

I've read many LORs in many forms in my life, including fitreps, personnel evolution, letters, etc. It is IMMEDIATELY apparently whether then writer had so much good to say he/she couldn't fit it on the page (figuratively) or whether they are struggling to say much at all. It's difficult to describe how you can tell -- you just can. One thing that makes a letter stronger is the use of specific examples, not just hyperbole. IOW, "Mary helps other students," vs. "Mary took it upon herself to help classmates who were struggling with the material. She set up her own tutoring session after school for an hour a day three days per week, which was attended by 10 of her classmates. As a result, I saw a definite improvement in how well the other students understood the material and their class preparation. By the end of the semester, 8 of the 10 students that attended the tutoring had their grades rise at least one level (B- to B)." USNA reads A LOT of teacher recs so they have perspective. I've also heard that, if they have a question, they will contact the teacher.

I suggest you speak with your teachers/professors and make clear how important an appointment is to you and how heavily USNA weighs teacher recs (which is true). Ask if there is anything they need from you to help them complete the form (i.e., do they need data such as your activities or things you've done in the classroom). I would waive the right to read the LORs as they will carry more weight.