<p>Background info:
My son attended a charter "college prep" school from 6th grade through his junior year, then transferred to a charter school that specializes in the performing arts this year, for his senior year. This may seem like a strange move since he is planning to study engineering in college. However he felt like he was stagnating at the other school and was very frustrated with the completely worthless arts electives at his original school as well as the lack of extracurricular and/or social activities. We all feel that he made the right decision.
However, due to scheduling, etc., he is taking Calculus at a community college this semester and is taking Physics online with plans to take Physics at community college next semester, so he does not have any math or science teachers at his current school.
For most of the colleges/engineering programs he is applying to he needs at least one recommendation from a math or science teacher.
He can choose from:
1) His current community college professor for calculus. He is doing very, very well in the class, but doesn't know the teacher well since he only spends a few hours a week in class and just started there at the end of August.
2) His calculus teacher from his former school. He did well in his class and this teacher did skip my son out of Precalculus into "Senior Calculus" during his junior year, but my son didn't do exceptionally well in his class and I also worry that this teacher will give better recommendations to students who are currently at the school rather than to someone who transferred out.
3) His 10th grade Biology and 11th grade Chemistry teacher. My son did exceptionally well in both these classes, but I have the same concerns about the teacher giving preference to those who are still at the school. Also my son has said that last year the teacher often made mistakes and my son frequently "corrected" him, so I'm not sure how that might have affected this teacher's opinion of my son.</p>
<p>I'm confident that my son can get a fantastic recommendation from his piano teacher at his current school, who we've known for years, and his Govt/Economics teacher gushed about him at parent conferences yesterday and volunteered to write recommendations for him. I know we'll have to figure this out ourselves, but if anyone can offer any insight on the math/science teacher recommendation, we would really appreciate it. Thanks!</p>
<p>The piano teacher recommendation would not carry weight on behalf of a student planning to major in engineering. He needs one from the math prof. He should introduce himself to the prof, ask for a recommendation and have on hand a resume and a copy of all his problem sets to give to the prof. He should also have stamped and address envelopes. It’s not difficult for a prof to write a single rec, make copies on letterhead and sign individual copies.</p>
<p>I’m assuming that your son is applying RD, so there’s plenty of time to ask the prof for recs.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies.
marite, I know he needs a recommendation from a math/science teacher. The piano teacher and the govt/economics teacher would be in addition, not in place. Most of the colleges want one rec. from a math or science teacher and one from a humanities teacher.
Thanks to both of you for the input.</p>
<p>The piano teacher would not count as a humanities teacher. I doubt very much that his rec would count at all. But there is no harm in his providing an extra rec as long as the college is willing to accept more than two.</p>
<p>Really? You don’t think the piano teacher would count at all? He is a teacher at my son’s current school, teaching piano classes as part of the school’s regular curriculum, and my son is currently a student in one of these classes. Does that make any difference?? (Various members of our family including my son have also taken private lessons from him, so he has known my son since he was about 10.) I appreciate your advice.</p>
<p>Marite has it right. the piano teachers rec would be an excellent third recommendation for your son, but would not take the place of a Humanities teacher’s rec. Don’t try to fight what the colleges specifically ask for. the college prof should be asked to write the math rec, the Govt/ Economics teacher who gushed about your son should be asked to write the Humanites rec. and ask the piano teacher to write a glowing “I really know this kid” recommendation as topping on the cake.</p>
<p>Even if the student is applying as a music major, if the college says it wants recommendations from a math/science teacher and a humanities teacher, the music teacher still doesn’t count as one of those. Of course, the music teacher will have some unique insights into the student and her letter can certainly be sent as an additional , third reference. Many colleges are happy to see science/math students with strong interests and talents in other areas.</p>
<p>Thanks again for all the input. I probably worded my original question poorly. What I was really looking for was advice as to which of my son’s math or science teachers would be the best choice for a recommendation from a math or science teacher. Does everyone agree that his current community college Calculus prof would probably be the best choice?
Thanks.</p>