Getting a letter of recommendation from a 10th grade teacher (special case)?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey everyone,</p>

<p>I know this thread has been done over and over again, but I couldn't find a situation that was close to mine.</p>

<p>Basically, I want to get a letter from my 10th grade math teacher. I feel like he would provide a better rec than my other teachers because he can discuss my enthusiasm, constant participation and overall success in the class. (It was AP Calculus BC, A in the class, 5 on the exam). I have kept in touch with him because he is the adviser of a tutoring organization at my school, of which I am now the head director. I spend an average of 6 hours every week my junior and now senior year tutoring kids after school. I kept in contact with him last year and I would often be in his room to tutor calculus. </p>

<p>I'm getting my second letter from my ap bio teacher, who taught me my junior year, so its not like I couldn't get a letter from any of my junior teachers.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, there is only one other junior teacher I can ask for a letter, but she is a foreign language teacher and I know some colleges I'm looking into prefer core classes.</p>

<p>(My other teachers are bad bets because: one only writes letters to her AP kids, and I took her honors class, two don't write good letters and one only writes letters to athletes on the team he coaches, despite teaching an AP class)</p>

<p>I'm looking into top 15 universities, so I'm nervous that this might automatically take me out of consideration- considering how tough it is to get in.</p>

<p>Any pointers will definitely be appreciated!</p>

2

<p>I don’t see any problem. Sounds like an excellent choice.</p>

3

<p>Since when are foreign language courses considered something other than “core?” If you are applying to a specialized scientific or engineering program, I can understand why you might feel you need to use math & science teachers exclusively, but I can’t imagine why a foreign language teacher’s recommendation would be discounted otherwise. Your main concern should be how well the teacher knew you, and whether he or she can provide a credible, personal recommendation. Since you took AP Calculus as a sophomore, I have to assume that you were (and still are) exceptional, and the teacher would remember you as such - in that case, there is no reason not to ask. Otherwise, I would always recommend a more recent teacher, since colleges might ponder why you had to reach back two years for a recommendation. In your case, I think your judgment is correct, though.</p>

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<p>Thanks sl0n02 and stagemum!</p>

<p>And I didn’t realize foreign language counts as a core. For some reason, my school has always considered them electives.</p>

5

<p>I agree that this teacher sounds like a great choice to write a meaningful letter on your behalf.</p>

6

<p>There’s no problem with your soph AP Calc teacher. My 2 Ds both got LORs from their soph year AP Bio teachers and both were accepted to highly selective colleges.</p>

<p>FL are considered core classes.</p>