Hi, I wanted to ask how do you know which teachers to get letters of recommendation from for the Common App? There is a section for “Teachers” that says how many are required or optional. However, it does not say in any place which teachers I need to get a letter of recommendation from. For example, if it is 2 teachers, can I get it from any 2 teachers, or does it have to be from one humanities and one science/math? And does it say that anywhere on the common app or do I have to go to the college website?
Each college will specify its preferences, if it has any. Check their websites.
@TheGreyKing Thank you! If they do not specify in their websites, then does it mean any two teachers are fine?
I would have one from your potential major (so if you are engineering, then math or physics) and another Core teacher (English, SS, Science, Foreign Language).
Do not have your drama and band teacher unless you are majoring in musical theater
Agree, use core academic teachers almost always. I’d mix it up a little – like wouldn’t use 2 English teachers – but an English and History is iksybif tge school doesn’t specify.
I agree with intparent.
Some colleges do state preferences on their website— for example, Wesleyan mentions that they would prefer one from math/science and the other from humanities. If unspecified, you can ask any two core subject teachers, and asking teachers from two different subjects is a good idea.
And I agree with bopper that it makes sense, although it is not necessary at a liberal arts school, to use a teacher from a subject in which you are saying you might major (if applicable; “undecided” is fine at many schools).
Some colleges also specify preferred grades in which the teacher taught you; even if unspecified, though, it probably is better to use an 11th grade teacher than one from 9th grade, and certainly than one from before you started high school!
@bopper @intparent @TheGreyKing Thanks for the info! I asked 3 teachers for letters of recommendation (AP English Lang, AP Physics, and AP Computer Science). If it doesn’t specify, can I use the physics and computer science teachers’ letters of recommendation or are they too similar? (I did a lot better in those classes)
It is fine, as long as the colleges don’t ask for something else. You do need to check their websites.