Does teacher's subject matter?

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I am looking into finance programs and I was wondering if I MUST ask my math teacher for one of the recs, or can I ask other teachers who know me better? (I know that the math teacher would write a pretty lukewarm rec as he does not know me as well as other teachers I want to ask)</p>

<p>Choose the teachers that know you best, but try to stick to the core subjects and not to get two teachers of the same subject</p>

<p>@shawnspencer sorry if this sounds stupid but history is considered a core right? </p>

<p>yes cores are math, science, social studies (this includes history), english, and foreign language</p>

<p>I’d hesitate to substitute history for math, if that is the plan.</p>

<p>So you already have another teacher’s LOR and just deciding on the second one? Check if the school allows additional LOR.</p>

<p>Yeah I’m tyring to decide if I should ask a history or math teacher for the second one. The history teacher knows me very well and I do very well in his class. the math teacher like me, but I’m not doing great in his class (Im getting Bs)</p>

<p>@shawnspencer‌ @guineagirl @WasatchWriter‌ who do you guys think I should ask for a second recommender? I have already asked my history teacher and she agreed. I need another teacher, and I can’t decided between math or french. I did pretty well in French, and the teacher knows me well. She has seen me struggle and pull myself up from a failing score (48) to A plus (95). I ended french with an average of 90.</p>

<p>Or should I ask my math teacher; she taught me in grade 10 for like a special course for people who wanted to learn more math, and is now my teacher for IB HL math (grade 11/12). I’m not doing great in HL math (average mark about 80 ish converted from 1-7 scale). Therefore, I am a bit hesitant to ask for a rec from her.</p>

<p>thanks! anyone else please feel free to voice your opinions :)</p>

<p>To be honest, I’d ask your math teacher. Even if your grade is less than ideal, do you demonstrate active desire to learn the material? Do you see your teacher outside of class to try to understand what is going on? Do you participate, etc. </p>

<p>If you don’t think there is much good your math teacher can tell you, I’d refrain. However, a good math rec letter would probably mean more than a good french rec letter. Nonetheless, a good french rec letter would be better than an average math rec letter.</p>

<p>Are the programs you are applying to require 2 letters of recommendation? </p>

<p>@Ctesiphon‌ most of the schools I’m applying to need at least 2, and some schools allow me to have 4. The math teacher like me - she thinks I’m really funny in class and I participate alot. We talk alot about things other than math, and we often joke around. It is a very casual student-teacher relationship. BUT, I have heard that she does not write the best recommendations, and I really can’t gage how she will write mine. I do demonstrate a lot of desire to learn math - I joined her ‘advanced’ math honors class in grade 10 just so I could do HL, but I have really been struggling with HL content, and I’m sure she would write about it in the rec D: I even met with her almost everyday after school in the grade 10 advanced class to ask about material and stuff. She also has not a very good memory, so I’m scared she doesn’t even remember those interactions ):</p>

<p>I don’t know what to do and I need to make a decision by this week!! Help me my friendssss!</p>

<p>Your guidance counselor might know who writes the best letters. Ask.</p>

<p>I doubt she would deliberately put bad information in a rec letter. Teachers usually don’t do that. They will be subtle about your weaknesses. If they’re willing to write you a letter they’ll say good things about you!</p>

<p>Of course, this is assuming they know how to write rec letters.</p>

<p>you shoudl get 1 humanities and 1 stem as a general rule; so take the mat hteacher. </p>

<p>@WasatchWriter‌ we just got a new GC this year, so that’s not gonna happen lol D: she doesn’t know any teachers …</p>

<p>@Ctesiphon‌ yeah I’ll just hope she knows how to… she just strikes me as someone who might not write very cohesive recommendations… maybe I have that notion due to the fact that she is a math teacher lol…</p>

<p>thanks guys for the replies! I shall ask tomorrow … fingers crossed xx</p>

<p>Oh and 1 more question… if only 1 rec is allowed, should I choose the history or math teacher??? decisions… decisions…</p>

<p>@WasatchWriter‌ @Ctesiphon‌ sorry I forgot to tag you in my question above x</p>

<p>You don’t need to tag in all of your questions - don’t worry ! lol</p>

<p>I’d go with the teacher you think would write the better rec. Finance programs aren’t going to judge you whether or not you get a rec from a math or history teacher. If you know your history teacher better and he knows you better and you feel he would have more “deep” things to say about you, go with him, if one letter is allowed.</p>

<p>If you only need to submit one, I’d submit math if you are pursuing finance.</p>

<p>

There’s only one GC handling college admissions for the entire school? If not, just because your GC is new does not mean that s/he cannot find out the answer to your question.</p>

<p>@skieurope‌ yup I’m in a very small school (we have about 200 kids grad this year)</p>