<p>Originally, I was only going to get a recommendation from my Junior Year AP English teacher. I had a real good reputation with her and I definitely thought she could attest to my academic abilities. On Tuesday, I went in to ask her for a recommendation, and she kindly shook her head and said "no."</p>
<p>I don't really talk to my teachers, and this denial pretty much screwed me over. None of the other teachers I've had even remotely know me. </p>
<p>However, I decided to go to my AP Chemistry Teacher from last year, since I got along with him (at the rare occasions that we talked..) and did pretty well in the class, and ask him. I went into his room today after school and he was like "heyyy what's up bud" and we chatted for like 2 minutes, and then I asked for the recommendation. He, like the english teacher, said "No," using the excuse that he didn't know me on a one-to-one basis and that he can't recall and standout things I did. Unlike my English teacher, he apologized and wished me luck before sending me off.</p>
<p>Now, I'm screwed. I have NO ONE to write me a recommendation. In addition, some of the schools I'm applying to request TWO recs. It's pretty hard to get even ONE when none of your past teachers know you beyond your name..</p>
<p>What do I do? It's not like teachers don't like me, they just don't know me.</p>
<p>I would make an appointment with your guidance counselor or principal and ask them how to approach this. Unless the teachers really didn’t like you they should offer to sit down with you for 30 minutes or so and talk to you; I think it is part of their job to do this.</p>
<p>Yeah, speak with your guidance counselor about this problem. It seems that your English and your Chemistry teacher should have been willing to write the recommendations. Speak with guidance and then speak with the teacher again, and maybe even explain your situation to your teacher. </p>
<p>Goodluck, sorry you have to go through this =/.</p>
<p>Do NOT force your teachers to write a recommendation. They won’t show any passion or admiration of you in a forced essay that would probably be along the margins of the bare minimum.</p>
<p>While I agree that you shouldn’t force a teacher to write you a rec, the reality is that you need those academic recommendations.</p>
<p>I would talk to the GC very soon - ask him which teachers have a reputation for writing good recs, or who are more accomodating. Maybe he can help you approach them ?? My D goes to a large HS, so all of the teachers ask for a resume also, or they want written responses to certain questions. Make sure that you have a resume ready to hand to them. Unfortunately, some teachers only do a certain number of recs, and they may have reached their limit last May or June. One of my D’s teachers only wrote recs for the first 25 students who emailed him on a certain Friday. (Yes, My D got up at 6 AM to email him)</p>
<p>For some teachers, writing recs is literally a contractual clause. We have been reassured by the GC that the teachers know that they are required to do this for at least some students.</p>
<p>I don’t understand why so many parents are on this website. It’s quite understandable that although the students that participate on CC are somewhat overzealous of the college admissions process, the parents are ten times more paranoid and sometimes even pressuring. Parents really need to just chill the heck out and get off. We’re the ones who are going to college, not them. I’m not saying that all parents are antagonists on this website, (like I’m sure you’re fine ^), but I know at least a few parents who attack other students and do nothing but harmfully spew out anxiety and stress into CC, which is already about to burst.</p>
<p>Do you really want to rely on other applicants for accurate info? The smart kids here post their questions on the parent’s board for good reason.</p>
<p>I’m not going to wait on a 3 month waiting list to get an appointment with my counselor. Honestly, by the time I actually got to talk to her, many of my deadlines would have passed. And the chances of her being there if you stop by for a quick question like this are pretty much zero.</p>
<p>I had two internships last year, and both of the companies I worked with asked me to extend my time with them, and I said no both times because I wanted to work my real job more and actually get paid. After denying my internship extensions, would it be considered “rude” to expect them to write me a recommendation?</p>
<p>Also, my first choice school doesn’t require NOR want recommendations, so do you think I should ONLY apply there (and nowhere else) if I can’t sort this out? (I’m not sure if I’ll get accepted there though.)</p>
<p>The UCs do not require recs, nor do the Cal States. So, if you are focused on them, you are good to go. Private colleges and publics OOS will require teacher recs, however.</p>
<p>Most students get loans. I mean, I know my parents are probably going to pay, but they’re not going to be domineering my college search. They have a general idea of a school I should go to, a top tier school, and they want me to pick the one that not only suits my interests but also one that I like. And this isn’t the “Parent forum,” this is the “What are my chances,” forum. And you might think that the “smart” kids are asking parents for advice, but on CollegeConfidential, you can’t trust ANYONE’S advice due to the overcompetitive type-a atmosphere.</p>
<p>No, the reason you can’t trust it is because most of the answers to questions are coming from kids just applying themselves, who have not done the research, who believe myths and who have myopic views because colleges are seen different ways in different places.</p>
<p>On the other hand you also have parents here who have worked in college admissions, done extensive research for multiple children, have the time to read multiple books on colleges and likely have developed better analytical abilities. In fact we have a parent posting this AM who is arguably the leading college counselor in the Country.</p>
<p>Every family will approach who has input into the college decision their way, and they have a right to. Most parents have a bit more perspective than their 17 year olds and the kids I feel for most here are the many getting no parental input.</p>
<p>We also have several parent posters who are active alums of highly selective schools and interview for those same colleges. While they might not work in admissions, they do receive briefings from their colleges and have the experience of seeing which of their interviewees get in…</p>