I have started as a Mage several times before, but have always ended up weak before completing the Recommendations. I was wondering if there is an optimal order to completing recommendations? 1. Chorrol - basic spells, 2.Skingrad - Destruction (more damage), 3.Cheydinhal - Shield (protect myself)....

For me there is not really an optimal order to complete them. My current character started in Bruma because she had to pick up a companion there. Next she went to Chorrol to deliver the Amulet of Kings. I usually combine something else I need to do with the recommendation quests. I guess you could go by the spells you want first for the recommendation quest order but I never bothered thinking that hard about it. I'm pretty sure my other characters did them in a different order.

This is just my opinion but someone else might have more insight into this matter.