Choosing Teachers for Recommendations!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>Hello all, I am applying to Stanford and in the process of choosing teachers to write recommendations for me.</p>

<p>Obviously, when choosing a teacher to write a recommendation, you want to pick a teacher you have a strong relationship with. I'm in a bit of a dilemma in choosing teachers to write my two recommendations for Stanford.</p>

<p>I will explain 2 scenarios below, and please help me choose which scenario you'd go with.</p>

<p>SCENARIO 1
- Both teachers know me very well and will write STRONG recommendations
- UNFORTUNATELY, both of my teachers are SCIENCE teachers. I understand that Stanford usually wants one science and one English teacher. It may be a turn off that both of the teachers are science.
- IN ADDITION, one of the teachers (my AP Chemistry teacher), is very bad at spelling and grammar. He will make the most ridiculous spelling errors (he has spelled the words enjoyment, parallel, today, process, and terminology wrong). Please do not get me wrong. I really respect him. I am worried that if I choose him, the recommendation will be cluttered with incorrectly spelled words and improper grammar, and whoever will be reading the recommendation at Stanford will be deterred from all the errors and may not look at the recommendation very highly.</p>

<p>SCENARIO 2
- One science teacher and one English teacher (my AP English teacher)
- The science teacher will write a good recommendation BUT I'm not as familiar with my English teacher. I do not think he will write as good as a recommendation as the science teacher who is poor at spelling (the one I described in scenario 1).
- The good thing is that I have a science teacher and an English teacher (which Stanford prefers); but one recommendation will not be very good
- I will not have to worry about grammar issues, obviously, because the teacher is an English teacher but he may be a little stingy about writing recommendations (he doesn't seem like the person who would write a flowering recommendation for someone)</p>

<p>So, which scenario would you CHOOSE? Please ask me any questions if you feel there are more areas in which I can elaborate on. I know it is somewhat absurd to ask for the opinions of people who cannot possibly understand the situation I am in as well as I can but I would really like to see what other people would pick.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help.</p>

2

<p>I would choose #2. English teachers are usually also pretty good writers. He will know that the recommendation needs to be personal, and will tell you if he feels that he does not know you good enough.</p>

<p>If you have a really special relationship with the "bad speller", you can send his letter as "extra" recommendation that Stanford allows.</p>

3

<p>I'd still go with the science and English, but when asking the English I would ask if he would feel comfortable writing a recommendation. If he is comfortable writing positive things - a recommendation- he'll tell you. If he hesitates, I'd go with someone else.
What about last year's English or a history teacher?</p>

4

<p>Thanks nngmm and A.S.A.P.</p>

<p>I was actually leaning toward #2 for a while but my AP English teacher recently made a comment about how he felt students who applied to schools such as Stanford and Yale were all "elitists" and overly pompous. I work hard and I feel as though I have performed well in his class, but he's the kind of teacher who is reluctant to give out A's and high grades, and I am afraid that his reluctant nature will result in a dull recommendation. He's also the type of person who feels that only one or two exceptional students in his entire career deserve a fulfilling recommendation.</p>

<p>Should I still go with #2?</p>

<p>ASAP: My history teacher last year moved out of state. Thus, I am unable to reach her for a recommendation.</p>

5

<p>It's a hard call then. You want the teacher who writes your rec to be the one that likes you (it is more important then getting A in his class). If your English teacher has an atitude problem, maybe you should go with the bad speller if he is the one that loves you...</p>