The Application Process

If a school allows submitting an additional recommendation after being waitlisted, is there any thought as to whether it should come from a professional or personal reference? I know professional recommendations are generally used in the application process (which I did), but now I'm wondering whether a personal reference would be appropriate?

In my case, it would be from a family friend who happens to be a professor in another department at the university. Also, is it inappropriate to submit TWO additional recommendations, if I also have another solid professional reference I can use?

Thanks ggibson... If your application cycle did not return the results you expected, and you are considering an improved recommendation strategy for the next cycle, perhaps taking on a leadership role in an extracurricular activity could be a strategy worth considering. This strategy could enhance your resume and potentially gain an improved letter of recommendation from a compelling organization.

To find such a leadership role, try joining a Board of a local non-profit. Or, consider volunteer business consulting for a non-profit or small business in need. Organizations such as SCORE, Net Impact, USALC, or Taproot could help match you with a social entrepreneur who is passionate about their business goals, but is struggling to achieve them.

Thanks and good luck,

Maxwell Roper
Outreach Director
USA Leadership Corps (USALC)

that previous answer about leadership position was a "spammed" response - fyi.

1. you should not submit 2 recommendations
2. like previously stated, it's your call as to who you use.

Think hard about your application - look over your essays - and then determine which recommender can speak on behalf of you about a side of you that is NOT portrayed in your essays and the things you spoke about in your interview (if you interviewed)

Well, according to this page on extra recommendations https://www.aringo.com/emails/emailExtraRecs.htm:
"Your extra recommender should shed light on achievements, characteristics or experiences that were not covered in the mandatory recommendations.
For example, good extra recommenders could be:
* A parliament member whom you voluntarily helped during his primary elections campaign.
* A CEO for whom you did some voluntary/paid research a couple years ago.
* A university professor that you worked for as a teaching or research assistant.
* Your boss from a workplace which was not covered in the mandatory recommendations."