I’m a sophomore applying for a competitive, statewide Humanities program and I need to recs from teachers. I already asked my current English teacher, and really all you need to do is write down numbers and ‘an example of the student showing leadership’ or something similar. But I need to ask someone else, and since my old History teacher is teaching somewhere else, the only two options are my old English teacher, who loves me but doesn’t remember my name, and my current AP Euro teacher, who is lukewarm to me at best. My SAQ’s, DBQ’s, etc. have all been varying in quality and I turned in homework one time half done because someone told me the part I hadn’t done was extra credit - he let me do it over without finding out I was told wrong. I’ve been sick a few times this year and have acted somewhat strangely in his class sometimes as well.
My old English teacher has a bad reputation, and I’ve been advised to ask my Euro teacher instead. However, I feel like they don’t know just how much I feel he doesn’t like me. Who should I ask? Also, the rec may take a while and we’re on Winter Break, so should I just send him an email asking him to print out the B form and turning it in, or is that too much to ask when I should be treading lightly?
The important part of a letter of recommendation is the content, not as much the reputation of the person writing it. Your first priority should be to find somebody who can speak positively on your behalf. If you feel that your Euro teacher cannot speak positively about you, then don’t get one from him/her. Can you elaborate on what the bad reputation for your English teacher is?
Make sure that when you ask, you ask if they would be willing and able to write you a positive letter of recommendation. In general, I feel like most teachers won’t try to screw you over. If they don’t think they can speak positively about you, they should and usually will politely tell you that you would be better off asking somebody else rather than agreeing and then writing negatively about you.
@umcoe16 Thank you! All of my peers dislike her because they think she is rude and mean. However, they advised me to go to my AP Euro teacher because it’s an AP class, and the recommendation will therefore be from the one of the highest level classes you have, and many of them (as you mention) think they will just give you a good recommendation regardless of whether they like you or not, assuming you aren’t totally failing the class.
Also, I feel that they said this because it’s odd to come to your freshman teachers, who last taught you over half a year ago - in my case, even though we’ve chatted a few times, my English teacher doesn’t even know my name! I myself also feel this would cause some problems. What do you suggest?
I think you should ask your AP Euro History teacher. Using a freshman teacher is okay too as you are only a sophomore. You might think about writing a letter summarizing your EC’s, especially if you have leadership in scouts or church or elsewhere outside of school. You might mention your interests and career or educational goals. Say why you are excited at the prospect of attending the summer program. Include the link to the form she has to fill out and the address or web address the rec is to be submitted to. Make it really easy for the teacher. Ask the teacher in person and if she says she’d be happy to do it, say, “great, I appreciate your help,” and give the teacher your letter. If she hesitates and says another teacher might do a better rec, print out another copy of your letter with a salutation for the new recommender. In reality, unless you are a terrible student, have poor attendance or show low character in the class room, your teacher will probably be happy to write it for you. Teachers like to see their students succeed and should be flattered to be the ones asked.
Get used to the routine of asking teachers for recs. You need them for NHS, summer programs and worst of all, college. You’ll probably need at least three in the near future. My son has one EC that required all eight junior year teachers to recommend him! Good luck!
Hi, @OspreyCV22 , thanks for the advice. Do you think it would be odd if I were to do as you suggest and talk about how excited I am to my AP Euro teacher? Don’t get me wrong - I’m super excited for it, but I think it would be strange to pour out all my feelings to him over email, while asking my English teacher (most likely in person) and telling her how excited I am seems more natural to me - and, I know for sure that she likes me, despite her forgetting my name. Mentioning my interests and goals, plus leadership (none really outside of school, unfortunately) seems like a great idea!
Yes, I’m aware of the amount of teacher recommendations needed. In most cases for EC’s only in school - Beta Club, all athletics, etc. we need a signature from a teacher, usually 5-7 instead of a full out letter. For me, it’s the asking them to write out a full letter, which can be quite a burden if you have a lot of students asking.
You should always ask in person whenever possible. And also ask early. Do not wait until the last few days before the deadline, even though it is not writing out a full letter.
@Iris Shadow umcoe16 is correct. By 'write a letter" I meant to compose a letter in Word and print it on paper. You can give this letter to both teachers but tweak it to reflect the teacher’s name and subject they taught you. Ask in person, shove paper letter at them. Thank them.
Thanks to both of you, @OspreyCV22 and @umcoe16. I ended up asking my old English teacher, and a letter wasn’t necessary. Thank you anyway! Also @ynotgo , there is an affiliate program for languages, the language I study included.