Hi,
I am going to a new high school for senior year, and I am very worried about my teacher recommendations. I know junior year teachers are best to ask, but I can’t really ask mine because I took online school junior year. (I hardly talked to my teachers, and I only ever did over email.) Does anyone have experience asking senior year teachers for recs? Will it hurt my admissions chances to top schools if they aren’t super strong? When should I ask them to write me recs? I would really appreciate any input!! This has been causing me a lot of stress, haha
Back when I applied in 2014, both of my Recs were from senior year teachers (although one was also my teacher sophomore year), since I had a bad junior year. I wasn’t aiming for tippy top schools, but I was looking for merit and received competitive full tuition scholarships at two very competitive schools. I asked about a month into school I believe (late September early October) since I had deadlines late November/ early December. I used my senior CS lab director, who was my precalc teacher sophomore year and so he was able to talk about me in two ways. I also asked my geosystems teacher (required class) at the suggestion of my counselor(weren’t really any viable other options) and he was really nice when I explained my predicament and asked if he’d be willing to write me a rec. He watched me in class more carefully over the next month and we sat down after school one day so we could discuss my ECs and things so he could know me better. I also gave both of them a resume with all my ECs, major awards, etc.
Ask the teachers that make the most sense. If it is senior year teachers, then so be it. Maybe also think back if you had a soph. year teacher who might be good to ask as well.
And in general, it won’t help you to stress over things you can’t’ control – just make the best choices you can for your individual situation and keep moving ahead.
Just make the best choices you can, given the situation. Also talk to your teachers about your situation, and ask them (politely) if they feel comfortable writing you a recommendation.
Talk to your Guidance Counselor about what they would recommend.