Application Tips (1)

Letters of Recommendation


Strong recommendations can definitely enhance your chance of admission. Through these we will get a better understanding of how others view your academic performance, creativity, ability to express yourself and scholarly potential. We require three recommendations, and while it is certainly not the case that more is better, you may choose to submit a fourth. This is generally only advisable if this fourth recommendation comes from a different perspective than the others and therefore can add a new component to your application. An example might include getting a recommendation from an employer who can offer insight on a particular talent or skill you might hold, but is not able to describe all the areas the recommendation form asks. (If the latter is the case it might therefore be a good primary recommendation.)
It is always a good idea to ask for a reference from someone who knows you and your work well. A famous visiting critic who has seen your work once is a less desirable reference than your studio critic who is familiar with your current skills and future potential. One or two references from your college instructors are strongly recommended. They generally are most familiar with your creativity, motivation and ability to express yourself in an academic setting. Applicants who have been out of school for several years may find it more fitting to submit letters of recommendation from employers or others in a position to evaluate their professional/creative abilities and academic potential.Be sure to ask your recommenders for references well in advance. If you haven’t communicated with them for awhile, you might want to update them on what you’ve been doing since you last met. Sending recent work, be it visual or written, is helpful as is an updated resume and a copy of your personal statement.
In addition to recommendations, there are other important criteria upon which candidates are admitted into PennDesign programs. These include GPA, GRE scores, the personal statement, and for those programs who require them, the writing sample and/or portfolio. The picture that emerges of an applicant based on these combined areas is what drives the evaluation process.

Source: http://blog.design.upenn.edu/blogs/