<p>My aunt was my english teacher for 2 years. I believe she would give an excellent recommendation, and that she knows me well as a student AND as a person. </p>
<p>Would this be looked down upon by universities? Even if I back it up with an equally glowing rec from my math teacher?... What say you?</p>
<p>-N.S.-</p>
<p>Which two years? Junior/Senior?</p>
<p>Recommendations from relatives are strongly discouraged because of the fear that they are overly glowing.</p>
<p>Does she have the same name as you? If the doesn't, and it doesn't mention that you're her nephew, and the college doesn't prohibit it on the form, than I guess it'll be alright.</p>
<p>i think you should find another person to do it. she just would have less credibility than a more neutral party because she has an incentive to help you.</p>
<p>i agree with smytty: if she doesn't have the same name...and she doens't mention that on the rec letter...u should be fine.</p>
<p>You should seek out another person to do this because in the long run it is not good for either you or your aunt. The colleges will discount the recommendation as well as the recommender which means any of your classmates who decide to get a recommendation from your aunt could also be discounted. If you truly feel you are deserving of an excellent recommendation, other teachers will see it an will be more than happy to write about it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses.</p>
<p>The only thing about getting another teacher to do it-- I moved (and thus changed schools) in the middle of my junior year. So, the teachers at my new school have only known me for half a year. The only other teacher at my old school that I would ask left the school (and the school doesn't have her contact info- I've asked). </p>
<p>I know two teachers at my new school who would give very good recommendations... but would them knowing me for only half a year cause the universities to discount their recommendations?</p>
<p>You would be better served getting recommendations from teachers that you had during junior and senior year (your current school) vs. getting recs from sophomore year. So even though your current teachers have not known you long, they are in a better position to talk about the here and now vs. the past.</p>
<p>Since you state that they don't know you well, I would suggest that try to sit down meet with your recommenders. Write up a brag sheet that will tell them a little something about you outside of their class so they can incorporate it into their rec. If you have a graded paper where they made postitive comments, hand it in to them to jog their memory.</p>
<p>Hm, in relation to this thread, I plead to be obliged to ask a relative question:
What if the relative is a Stanford alumni? Who received his Ph.D in a mere 3 years after receiving his Master's?
Would that do good, or would it be better to ask a teacher?</p>
<p>College, scholarship committees, employers, etc. do NOT want recommendations from relatives, no matter how renowned the relatives are or if the relatives are alums. As I said before, such recommendations would be considered suspect because after all, this person is in your family, so is going to be biased, and would have every reason to exaggerate to make a case for you. Think about it: How likely is it that someone would give a bad or mediocre recommendation to a family member? In addition, the college/employer/scholarship committee might wonder whether you were so antisocial that no people were willing to serve as references except for your family members.</p>
<p>Yes, a recommendation from a teacher who's not a relative would be much preferable.</p>
<p>Thanks. :) Now I know.</p>