November 27, 2011 Office of Undergraduate Admissions Re: CAra McCreas Recommendation To Whom It May Concern: This letter

is intended to serve as a college recommendation for CAra McCrea. I had the pleasure of teaching CAra during her junior year as a student in my precalculus class. CAra was one of my top students and, due to her efforts, I successfully recommended her to the Advanced Placement Calculus AB course, in which she is currently thriving. I am delighted to explain why CAra would be a valued asset to any university. CAra is one of the best analytical thinkers that I have encountered. She is technically very sound and was able to understand complex topics in my class with minimal effort. She is very organized in her work and presents it impeccably. She is always engaged in the subject matter and strives for perfection. Even in the rare instances that she makes errors in her work, CAra systematically dissects the information and her process to adjust. CAra has the skill of editing her problem-solving process, which is an impressive trait that many students have yet to master. I have no doubt that her critical thinking abilities will take her far. CAra also possesses proven leadership and social skills. As a sophomore, she was selected by her coach to be the captain of the Varsity Girls Track Team. This is an amazing feat that is normally reserved for upperclassmen, however CAras undeniable drive and tenacity, coupled with her ability to motivate her peers, made her a natural choice. Even in my class, when students were engaged in group work, CAra always made contributions to her group to steer them in the right direction and also was able to assist students that had trouble with the content. She was able to explain complex technical content in a clear, concise manner that made the information more palatable to her peers. Even during class presentations, she would demonstrate this skill and confidently field questions from her classmates. Her leadership skills and natural social abilities will serve her well in college. It came to my knowledge, in recent weeks, that throughout the time that I knew CAra, she was dealing with some very challenging personal issues that would bring many adults to their knees. It is a testament to her character that she never let on that these issues were taking place, and she never let her efforts falter. Not many students exhibit this level of maturity at this age, and it made me realize that CAras resiliency and commitment to strive for excellence will make her successful in any arena.

2581 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, New York, NY 10039

Tel: 212-491-4107 Fax: 212-491-4414 E-mail: ghodge@nycboe.net Website: www.FDA1.org Gregory M. Hodge, Ph.D., Principal Thomas T. Ajibola and Jenifer Hodge, Assistant Principals

I would expect CAra to bring these same qualities to any university. Her strong analytical skills and quest for perfection will enable her to compete and excel and remain academically competitive. Her unparalleled determination, resiliency and motivation ensure that she will always put forth only her best effort. Her leadership abilities and social skills will make her a standout, and her maturity will allow her to contribute to any environment in which she belongs. All these qualities, coupled with her current academic accomplishments, allow me to enthusiastically recommend CAra McCrea to the university of her choice. Feel free to contact me during school hours at (212) 491-4107, or anytime via e-mail at mslouis@att.net. Very truly yours,

Ms. Sendy S. Louis Precalculus Teacher Frederick Douglass Academy

2581 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, New York, NY 10039

Tel: 212-491-4107 Fax: 212-491-4414 E-mail: ghodge@nycboe.net Website: www.FDA1.org Gregory M. Hodge, Ph.D., Principal Thomas T. Ajibola and Jenifer Hodge, Assistant Principals