Senator Nomination Recommendation Letters

[abeastlybeast]

I have letters from a few different sources and I was wondering which should be top-priority. I have a letter from a retired LTC of the Army that is also an assistant coach of my wrestling team. I have a letter from a reverend whom my family has known for a long time. I also have a letter from a principal of a different school, who has also been associated with my family for a number of years.

Which of these sources would be viewed as most impressive by Senators? I'm not sure if anyone here knows the answer but I thought I'd give it a try.

Thanks for any input

 

[usna1985]

The person who knows you best. Seriously. Most nom committees are less concerned about the title or stature of the person who writes the letter as they are with what it says.

I'm not naive enough to say that a "big name" recommender who really knows you won't help. However, if a big name recommender barely knows you, it will come across in his/her letter and not help you very much, if at all.

Conversely, someone who has known you for a long time, has worked with you in a job, school, or volunteer setting, and can highlight for the committee things about you that they didn't otherwise know . . . priceless (to quote a famous commercial).

Consider how the recommender knows you, what he/she can say about you, and how that will add to your packet. Someone saying you're a nice guy (or gal) who was always pleasant and a great neighbor . . . whatever. Someone who (using church volunteerism as my example here) discusses how you pitched in at the last moment and worked all weekend to make a church fundraiser successful, how you mentor young kids who have no fathers and spend weekends doing activities with them, how you reinvigorated the church youth group and increased membership from 5 to 25 . . . that will be impressive.

 

[abeastlybeast]

Very in-depth explanation. I appreciate your help and I agree with what you said. I was originally intending to include the letters that indicated a familiarity with my character rather than just accomplishments. I will do that now - thanks again.