Ask Me Help Desk - Written recommendations?

The last college I applied to did not require recommendations, so I'm not too sure how it works.

When they say "written recommendations", do they actually mean handwritten or will typed suffice? (If you can answer without knowing the college.)

Do recommendations for college need to be from past teachers, or can they be from employers or family friends or something as well? Obviously my friend can't write me a recommendation and have it hold water, but it doesn't seem like someone who has been out of school ten years for example would return to their school and track down old teachers for recommendations if they decided to go to college.

Thanks in advance.

Written means typed. When I went to grad school in my 40s, most of my high school and college teachers were long gone. I asked people who knew my work habits and character -- to show I would be a good student and would follow through. Ask a pastor, boss/coworker or former boss/coworker, former teacher, or a friend only if he knows a lot about you and can write a passionate letter about your dedication.

Hi, give2me1lemons!

I would just like to add, that the higher the position that a person is in, the more that the recommendation is likely to hold some weight and worth to the entity that is requiring the recommendation.

For instance, if I was to go into teaching again, I wouldn't just ask for a recommendation from a Principal or Administrator with whom I worked, but would also ask for one from the Superintendent of Schools.

Thanks!

Thank you, Clough. I definitely took that into consideration when I asked people. I have more questions now, though..

I'm applying to a few different colleges, but the one I am most interested in does not require an essay or recommendations. They consider them but are more concerned about SAT/ACT scores, grades, and class rank. However, the other colleges do require applications and essays, and since I have to get them anyway, should I hold off on applying until I can send them an essay and recommendations? I don't know if it would be better to get everything in as soon as possible as it's rolling admissions, or if I should wait and provide them with more credentials. The school has a 69% acceptance rate, which I guess is high by most people's standards, but then I heard that because it is such a good school and because it is trying to maintain relatively small class sizes, it is actually hard to get into. I just want to do what's best for my chances.

Then I am giving the people who are writing my recommendations approximately two weeks to write them, despite how much I just want to get everything in immediately. I thought that was a reasonable amount of time, but my mom thinks it's too generous. She said that it only ever took her a couple days to write a recommendation since being asked. I just know that the one person's work often carries on after he goes home for the day and that he has to travel a lot for work and to visit his kids every other weekend. I didn't want to amp up his workload too much. Also, he happens to be my sister's boyfriend, so I already feel weird about asking him to do this for me (no one else seems to think it's an issue, though). Then the other person I've asked is a former teacher of mine and probably has current students who already asked her to write recommendations for them and who have deadlines to meet. Plus don't teachers have lesson plans and homework and things they have to do after school gets out? Or am I being overly considerate at my expense?

Hi again, give2me1lemons!

I do think that it's good of you to be giving people individual consideration as to the amount of time that you would like for them to do something for you, based upon their individual responsibilities and schedules. I see no problem with that. You're being courteous and considerate to them. I'm sure that is and would be appreciated by them.

I also would be prepared in advance with anything that a college might require, even if it's a college that you haven't yet considered attending.

You're planning in advance, and that's good!

It can be very much the same way in the job world when someone already has a job. The might practice applying for another job; even going so far as to interview for it, even if they are already secure in the job that they already have.

Thanks!

Ok, thank you.

Another question.. I attended a university for a week (two weeks if you count a school trip prior to the commencement of regular classes). Because I dropped out so early, the university gave us a full refund, and as far as they are concerned, I was never there. At least, this is what my mom tells me. However, every university I am applying to has something like this in their applications:

Quote:

1.You must list in chronological order every post-secondary institution (including dual enrollment) you have attended or will attend prior to entering ***. You must include schools even if you did not complete a term. Include *** if you attended previously. For multi-campus institutions, indicate the specific campus. Failure to list all institutions could result in your application being denied or your admission being rescinded.

This prevents me from sending in any applications as I am not sure whether I should tell them about the school I attended or not as it was for such a short time, and they supposedly don't recognize me as having ever been a student. Should I tell them or not?

Sorry, I have a lot of questions.