<p>Is it appropriate or even considered good to ask a teacher to include certain things in a recommendation? One of my teachers showed me her rec, and it's good, but a few things can be added/changed. Should I talk to her about it? If so, how?</p>
<p>just say, "i really appreciated you writing this for me ms. smith. it really expresses me well, but i just wanted to clarify a slight point with you. i actually read this book AND wrote an extra analytical essay on it. and i was just wondering if you remembered the personal essay of mine you read in front of the class? it'd be great if you could just mention it. thanks again ms. smith"</p>
<p>Recs can be a really sensitive subject. For me, both my teachers approached me for help, and then expressed resentment when I gave them advice.</p>
<p>I would shy away from this unless it's absolutely necessary. What are the changes you would like made? If they would make the recommendation dramatically better then you might have to do it. If it would improve it only slightly, though, then it's probably better to take what you've got.</p>
<p>If you do decide to speak to them about it, approach the topic carefully and watch their reaction to what you're saying. In future, give them some kind of document that guides them through what you want - a resume, SHORT essay describing what you want to do in college, print-out of the university website that tells what qualities they're looking for in applicants, etc. It's a lot easier to ask them to include specific items before they have written the letter.</p>
<p>If the change would be to a statement that is factually incorrect, though, then it should be easy to request the change (for example, they wrote that you were on the debate team for five years, when you really were only on for three, etc.).</p>