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I just read on Yale's FAQ that they "strongly discourage" extra letters of recommendation! Meanwhile, I already asked the scientist who I work with and the music director to each send supplemental recs. I feel that my two academic teachers don't know me that well, and recs from the areas where I shine (science and music) will tell so much more about me than two obligatory academic recs. I don't believe that any of these recs. will overlap either.

Should I tell these people to forget writing my recs? Has anyone dared to send in two extra recs?

By Celebrian23 (Celebrian23) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 09:51 am: Edit

if they strongly discourage it, i wouldn't send them in

By Helicoptermom (Helicoptermom) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 10:39 am: Edit

My daughter is a freshman there now, and I'm convinced that two extra letters of recommendations really helped, because they were from people (a theatre director and a dance teacher) who had national reputations--although I'm not sure the adcom necessarily knew those fields--and, more important, could speak knowledgeably (and enthusiastically) about her in ways that neither her academic teachers nor her guidance counselor could.

I remember that Yale has a fairly forbidding admissions website, and we hesitated about this too--someone suggested that the guidance counselor summarize the acting and dance recommendations in her general report. But when the counselor didn't really see the value of that, my daughter decided to send the extra letters anyway--and we're absolutely sure it helped: When we went to the reception for admitted students, the admissions director remembered those letters very clearly, and had even noticed a review of one of the letter-writers' work in the NY Times.

I think the key things to avoid in extra letters are (a) more letters from academic teachers that keep repeating the same points about what a great student you are; and (b) perfunctory letters from supposedly influential people who don't really know you or your work.

By Rhkid005 (Rhkid005) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 09:37 pm: Edit

The comment that "Yale has a fairly forbidding website" is spot on! Yale seems to harshly discourage a lot of things (sending in additional letters, or CDs that aren't amazing, or going a tad over 500 words in the essay). However, I'd imagine that this is mainly because Yale wants to discourage people from going overboard. They know that people will always bend the rules a little, but if they make the rules strict, then people will have less bending room (I don't know if this makes sense to anyone besides me).

By H0peful (H0peful) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 11:40 pm: Edit

I sent in three teacher recs and two were from 10th grade teachers...Well, I don't know if it was a problem but I'm at Yale now. lol.

By Iska (Iska) on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 01:01 pm: Edit

OP, mention this privately to your area rep. He/she'll give you a wink and a nod if you make your case.