does anyone know if when colleges request a “core academic subject” and specify that it should be English, Social Studies, Math, Science, or Foreign Language----does TOK count? i kinda wanna ask my TOK teacher for my second college rec but I am pretty sure I am asking my AP US Gov/Comp Gov teacher for my first one and I’m worried that I would have a lack of core academic subjects. It really depends how colleges view TOK—anyone have intel on this?
I think I would in general have a Math or science teacher if you have already done a history teacher. TOK is not a core class.
I think it’d be fine to use ToK as a social studies type rec, but it sounds like you have one of those already.
Agree with @bopper that a STEM teacher would be a good complement to that.
@gardenstategal @bopper I think there are two things at play here----the first is the explicitly stated request by many colleges that they want a core academic subject “(English, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Language, or Math”) according to many colleges. The second is the unwritten custom to include a STEM and humanities teacher. My first concern is whether TOK would be considered a core subject at all. If not, then I can virtually eliminate it for many of my schools. However, if I don’t get TOK, I was highly considering going for one from my English teacher, which would also not be a STEM rec. I am much more of a humanities person so I was thinking this would be OK. Then again, I was also thinking maybe to ask my math teacher and have 3 recs in the bag to choose from. It’s just hard in this process to know what’s more important: a rec that might highlight my strengths more effectively, or showing an intellectual balance w recs. Pls let me know if you have more advice- I appreciate every word!
Core usually means “not art, music, or PE” – truly academic. On that front, ToK qualifies. So I think you can keep it as an option.
Generally, for LoRs, “core” doesn’t include “any” academic subject. (You might not get the traction from, say, using your one-semester psych teacher. Or a teacher from 9th or 10th grade. Or one completely unrelated to your possible major.)
Oh, dear. You can see we all have different opinions. This is compounded by IB using “core” to refer to the extended essay/TOK/CAS.
If you’re thiking top schools (Columbia, Williams, UVA,) you want to dig into what they say. Columbia, eg, states, “These recommendations must come from teachers who taught you in academic disciplines” and “For engineering applicants, one must come from a math or science teacher.” The implication is, a humanities kid isn’t mandated to use a stem LoR.
But you want to be careful, make a savvy decision.
@lookingforward what do you think about schools that specifically say that a rec must come from an “english, social studies, science, math, or foreign language” teacher? i’m stumped as to whether TOK would be a good choice for those schools, which is many of the ones i’m looking at. thank you!! i’m really trying to be careful
I think you need your GC’s perspective, his/her experience with other students who may have used a TOK teacher.
What’s key is what they write. It’s good if they love you, but just that isn’t enough. There needs to be some narrative. And not just a list of your activities or that you smile in class or help others.
TOK is essentially a philosophy class. At our High School it is situated within the social studies department.
Our TOK teachers are from all disciplines. My D18’s TOK teacher is also her AP Stats teacher. One is a Chemistry, English… our IB co-coordinator tried to get the chorus teacher to teach TOK- any chance you’ve had your TOK teacher for another subject? Many kids did get recommendations from the TOK teacher and that was the only class they had him for. They picked someone they thought would write a good rec and knew them well. TOK is a good class to get to know each other, if you have participated a lot I would go ahead and ask.