<p>I've never read a teacher recommendation letter, so I'm a little unclear on what exactly teacher recommendation letters should be like for college applications. Perhaps it's just because I haven't seen one before, but I feel like it would be difficult for a teacher to write a letter that doesn't verge on hyperbolic (i.e. "so and so in the top 2% of students I've taught" or something along those lines), even for a teacher who genuinely likes me. So how can lack of authenticity be prevented in the letters?
And conversely, how close do I need to be to the teacher who writes my recommendation? I'm on good terms with all my teachers, and I have a pretty solid relationship with each one. But I'm not on that best friend kind of level with any of them, and I think that by trying to be somewhat close with all of my teachers it's been difficult to focus on my relationship with a particular one.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>You don’t need to be buddy buddy with them if that is what you are asking. But choose teachers that have a high opinion of you and that you think he or she will write a good recommendation that really says something about you that they wouldn’t necessarily write about every teacher. You don’t need to worry about hyperbole or the difficulty of them writing a letter. Stay in contact with the ones you want to write one, and when the time comes ask them nicely. Most will be happy to accept and some will ask for resumes or your imput on what qualities of yours should be highlighted in the letter. Teachers are very experienced with these things and have been writing these for years, so they will be honest and stick to what they know about you, unless you give them supplemental information. But even then, most teachers will write positive recommendations, just choose a balanced list and bring it up to them in casual conversation. If they seem enthusiastic, run with it! Good luck</p>
<p>Here’s the order I would select teachers in (Hopefully by #2, you know who to pick)
- Know you/like you the most
- Teach the course you are planning to major in (if any)
-preferably 11th or 12th grade teacher, high level course - Teach core subject</p>
<p>Recs often include anecdotes about you, info about your goals, personality, interactions with others. While it might seem easy to be hyperbolic, some teachers are brutally honest. Others can write a nice rec, but the college may get caught up on poor word choice. (ie it is better to say “Susie speaks up on subjects she is passionate about and always thinks before making a well-reasoned response” than “Susie can talk about things she is interested in, but is usually very quiet”)
Pic a teacher that knows your strengths in and out of the classroom</p>
<p>The schools I’m applying to will only accept one letter of rec and I can’t decide between two teachers.</p>
<p>1:
Taught AP Lang and will teach AP Lit</p>
<p>+)
has said multiple times I write at a high level
usually wrote in depth comments on my essays
earned A’s both semesters of Lang
participated in classroom discussions often</p>
<ul>
<li>)
was talkative in his class
very popular teacher so many people will ask for LoR’s
unsure how great or unique the letter will be</li>
</ul>
<p>2:
Mktg 1&2, Adv Mktg 1&2, Starting Your Own Business, DECA advisor</p>
<p>+)
known since freshmen year
has gone with him to state 3x, nationals 1x (both included long travel and multiple days in hotels but didn’t see him that often)
very active in DECA, I hold 2 leadership positions (he chooses leaders himself)
I want to major in marketing
know the letter will be fantastic</p>
<p>-)
elective teacher so LoR probably won’t mean much
can already see how big DECA was to me based on ECs and classes</p>
<p>So what’s better, a good letter from an academic teacher or a fantastic letter from an elective teacher?</p>
<p>Oh sorry, I didn’t see sw0206’s comment until after I posted the above comment!</p>