So here’s the thing: The two teachers from junior/senior year who really loved me are both science teachers. This makes sense considering I took 2-3 science courses each year throughout high school and it’s my favorite subject.
One of the teachers is my healthcare/biotech teacher who I had for sophomore and junior year, who I am pretty confident will write me a glowing rec letter and has written great recs for programs I’ve done in the past. The classes are science credits at my school and the pathway is taken by high-achieving students. The other teacher is my 10th grade Honors Chem and current AP Physics 1 teacher. I have a great relationship with him too and always participate and ask questions in class. Both know me very well as people and can speak to my personality as well as my extracurricular involvement, but will it look like I’m hiding something or am weak in other areas if I ask both of them? This is for schools that do NOT specify requirements for rec letters. I am planning on applying to competitive schools and the Ivies. I am definitely majoring in science (preferably neuroscience with a pre-med focus), if that helps.
I have also asked my APUSH teacher for a rec for liberal arts schools and those that require a humanities rec. I’m sure it will be decent as I did well in the class and she knew that I had a strong work ethic, but it won’t be nearly as personal. I didn’t talk to her a lot outside of class so she doesn’t know me extremely as well as a person.
I’m utterly confused. In short, is it better to get two glowing recs from the same subject area or two recs from different subject areas, even if one is mediocre?
The ideal situation is to get two glowing LORs from one teacher in science and one from humanities/social sciences. If and when that’s just not possible, I’d rather get two glowing letters from teachers in the same field as opposed to one glowing and one lukewarm or perfunctory or who knows what.
Two glowing unless a school has a specific requirement for types of classes. Interestingly, MIT wants 1 science/math and 1 humanities.
It’s best to have teachers in two different subject areas – humanities (e.g. English, history) and math/science. Do you have any other teachers that can speak to your writing and critical thinking? I would advice against using two science teachers…
Perhaps you can have a candid conversation with the APUSH – or another humanities teacher – and ask whether he/she feels like he/she can write a strong letter? Or perhaps you can ask your GC – who has access to all of the letters (I presume you have waived your right to see them) – and ask his/her opinion as to which to send as the GC will know how strong or lukewarm the letters are.
@LoveTheBard My Honors English from 10th grade would certainly write me a glowing recommendation (she recommended me for a statewide honors program that is very competitive) and knew I was a great writer as English is my other strongest subject. The problem is that it is so long ago, not an AP class, and I haven’t had a lot of opportunities to keep in contact with her. My AP Lang teacher from last year was very impersonal, sat on her phone for the majority of her class so that is not really an option lol.
There was a decently heavy writing component to my APUSH class but it was definitely my weakest area in the class.
I would have a conversation from your Honors English teacher. Perhaps you can show her some recent work and she can see how you have developed as a writer and she can talk about that in her letter.
While many schools prefer letters from Junior/Senior year classes, a truly glowing Honors English teacher’s letter – especially if it’s someone that recommended you for competitive statewide honors program – would carry quite a bit of weight, even if it’s from 10th grade. Glowing letters (as in “_____ was the best student in the class”) are worth their weight in gold and English teachers are highly regarded. Schools want strong writers and critical thinkers.
@LoveTheBard Thank you for your input! I will think about. I asked her for a rec for a specific program that did hard copy recs so when she returns it to me I’ll have a conversation with her. She also always lets me read the recs so that can help me decide lol.
The other issue with having her write one is that if I stick with my biotechnology and English teacher’s rec, I have no recommendations from AP teachers. If I stick with my AP Physics/chem and English teacher’s rec, I have no teachers from junior year, both of which may look spotty.
I reread what my APUSH teacher wrote in my yearbook and it was actually kind and well-written, so maybe I’m being paranoid. I feel like I’m overthinking this all but it is what it is!
Be sure to check college requirements! Two glowing recommendations is great, but if the school requests specific subject recommendations, you want to make sure you are following instructions. Good luck!
Do check the colleges’ requirements, steer clear of two recs in the same content area, and seek out teachers from Junior year to write your recs as it shows ideas and opinions on your work ethic and quality of work more relevant to your status as an upper classman.
Think of a brief profile you can write and submit to each recommender reminding them of who you are as welll as letting them know a little about what you do outside of class and what you’d like to study and/or your career goals.
Don’t forget the follow-up '‘Thank You’ note.