References: Age and Gender

[nadler20]

I have the majority of the application done and I've nailed down my references, however, as I look at the sheet I realize that they are all 20-21 y.o. males, except one female and an advisor. I just feel like I should diversify my references as the trend I have so far leads me to believe that, primarily the age factor, invalidates them as quality references. But then again, these are the people I have grown up with for the last 15 years and know me the best. I have very good relationships with my friends' parents, but my friends naturally know me better. The same goes with the gender of my references. They are pretty much all males, who know me better than most of my female friends.

So, should I be concerned with the age and gender of my references? Will the BG investigator look at the refs. negatively, or will he understand?

And on a side, it asks "Relationship". I've put Friend down but it seems a little weak, if that makes sense. Is there a synonym better suited that has the same effect? Colleague maybe?

[txinvestigator1]

So, should I be concerned with the age and gender of my references?

No, as long as they are all adults. If you are male, having ALL female references would be odd, IMO, and if you are a woman having ALL male references would be odd. Again, just my opinion

And on a side, it asks "Relationship". I've put Friend down but it seems a little weak, if that makes sense. Is there a synonym better suited that has the same effect? Colleague maybe?

Friend is find, unless they ARE a colleague;




colleague

Main Entry: col·league
Pronunciation: \ˈkä-(ˌ)lēg\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French collegue, from Latin collega, from com- + legare to depute — more at legate
Date: circa 1533
: an associate in a profession or in a civil or ecclesiastical office

[retdetsgt]

Don't worry about it. They often use the references to locate people to talk to that you didn't list anyway.

[Roger Dat]

They will prob be more concerned with people you didnt list.

[DeltaV]

If you're in your early twenties, I would expect all of your personal references to be others in their early twenties. Those are the people who know you the best, not some advisor, teacher, or friend of the family who is 10 years older.

[nadler20]

Thanks for the responses guys. You've cleared the air