I wanted to ask my senior year AP Microeconomics teacher to write my college recommendations. I have had him as a teacher before in 9th grade, as my AP Human Geography teacher. I kept in contact with him throughout high school and I feel that he can best highlight how I have changed throughout my years of high school. However, I have read that it is a bad idea to ask senior year teachers to write recs, so would this be a good source?
Yes because he has a history with you that he can discuss. In your case, the idea of a senior year teacher not being a good idea does not apply. Besides, some students get close enough with teachers in senior year to get very good recs from them. It depends on the teacher and relationship with them, along with how good the teacher is at writing recommendations. Perhaps a student does an amazing project with that teacher during the first semester giving them ample information to write about. It isn’t about time per say as much as it is about them really knowing you.
It’s a bad idea when you’ve never had them before.
I’m a Senior math teacher. As such, I really don’t know most members of the rising Senior class, and the ones I do know, I don’t know well.
Apps tend to go in in the fall, and that’s not much time to make a connection. If I were an adcom reading a letter from a teacher who had met the app in the past few months, I would certainly wonder why the kid couldn’t find a teacher who he hadn’t just met to write his letter.
That’s not your situation at all. A teacher who has already taught you twice, and is teaching you now, has a unique perspective on how you’ve grown. He’s an ideal choice.
But ask soon please!!!
Our school only allows junior and senior teachers to write recs on the premise that they know the applicant as he/she is today (and that’s who’s applying, not your just out of middle school self.) With that said, the teacher needs to know you, so if you are applying in mid December, a senior teacher may know you well. If you are submitting an application in September to a rolling admissions school, it’s an unfair request.
I would heed @bjkmom’s advice in any case and make sure that your teacher has plenty of time to do this.
I think it is fine in this situation. Agree to get the request in early.