<p>In the admission process for Ivy Level Schools, how important are teacher Recs. The reason I ask is because I have good relations with all of my teachers, but they don't sponsor any of my after school activities, nor do I have a unique connection with any of them. I have a few teachers that like me a little more than others and am sure that they would write a good rec in the sense that they would say I am a hard worker, smart, do the right thing, but I feel that it wouldn't be anything that would blow an adcoms mind. </p>
<p>So am I alright or is this a serious negative, its not like i am a recluse who never talks in class or anything but its just that I never felt any reason to go above and beyond in making relationships with teachers who only teach me for a year, thats another thing, I have never had a teacher for more than a year so none of them have seen me "grow". </p>
<p>Also sort of a side note, when i submit teacher reccomendations when applying to 10 schools, do I just get 10 copies from each teacher and have them sign each one, or how does that work.</p>
<p>I know they are very important but will good essays and all the other stats “make up” for possibly generic reccomendations.</p>
<p>I am worried that my recs. will just be: hard worker, studies, gets A’s. I would ask my debate coach but I don’t know what that recommendation would be like even though I have known him for 3 years.</p>
<p>I mean, over 90% of the applicants at Ivy Leagues have good essays, strong stats and excellent scores - teacher recs probably set many apart from one another. It’s not like it’s anything you can change now, though - so don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>wikiman: among teachers and administrators, they know the top scholars in every class. If you’re one of them, it will come out in any rec that’s written for you. If you aren’t, then it won’t but neither will you be able to change that either.</p>
<p>When I speak at info sessions for my HYP alma mater, I tell students/families frankly: “If your principal and teachers know you to be one of the top students in your school this year, then you’re a viable applicant” – and my implication is that if you aren’t, then you’re not a viable applicant.</p>
<p>And yes, for multiple applications, you give your teacher the multiple rec forms and he/she will make copies and submit the same rec for each college.</p>
<p>^ that gives me hope…maybe. One of the teachers (who doesn’t know me) told me another teacher who also doesn’t know me thought I would do well in an assignment. :S But then hahaha I screwed up the first bit so dunno what they think now.</p>
<p>If you think the teachers will give you generic recs. Give them a reason not to. Give them a resume of your activities and acomplishments. If you have it, send them your personal statement. Emailing your teachers to ask for recs the summer of before senior year gives them time to think and reflect on you (plus they appreciate that you asked before they got busy). Your teachers know what colleges require, and they want you to succeed. If you give them enough information about you, they will give you a good rec.</p>
<p>This is a question that has been bothering me too. I have positive relationships with my teachers but none of them think I’m “over-the-top” good that most Ivy acceptees are. Should I send them information to write me recs over this summer (rising senior) or should I wait and meet some of my 12th grade teachers and perhaps have them write me one?</p>
<p>I absolutely agree. For the tippy-top applicants, teachers at my school have been known to casually collaborate on recs, to make sure certain qualities are highlighted in both, and even less officially, teachers will talk in the halls, at lunch, at staff meetings, etc (even at a huge public school). </p>
<p>Still, if you’re worried about not having a great connection with any teachers, it’s not too late to salvage something of quality. Make a quality resume (I’m sure there are decent templates online), and then schedule a day where you stay after school for a while to talk about it. Don’t be afraid to let the conversation drift into less academic territory as well–it may very well move from why X is your favorite subject to your related ECs to more casual things like what you’ve read recently, what’s been on your mind lately, etc. This will put you leaps and bounds ahead of the straight-A applicants who have never let teachers into their lives beyond essays and calculus problems.</p>
<p>Your senior class teachers will not have you in their classes long enough to get a rec before you should be putting your aps in (It is best that you get your aps in as soon as possible in the fall of your senior year). So yes the summer before your senior year. You also want to write your personal statement during ths summer. The gpa you leave with your junior year will be the gpa that goes with your college ap. So you won’t have any time in your senior year to raise it. Keep these things in mind. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>For state schools, not that much bearing, but for private colleges and Ivies they have a significant bearing. Especially for Ivies. Basically extra curriculars and teacher recommendations are what separate all the geniuses who present their 4.6 GPA and <2300 SAT score. So yeah it is generally important, unless you’re applying to state schools where chances are since they have over 20,000 applications to look at they’re probably just looking at your GPA and SAT score and basically after that you’re either in or in the trash.</p>
<p>Please forgive me for hijacking this thread!</p>
<p>Let me ask for your opinions:</p>
<p>I have a AP science teacher who liked me. I was one of the only ones who spoke and participated in the class. The class had like 3 A’s and I was one of them. The other two had higher grades than me but those people were silent and passive. This teacher, however, doesn’t really know me outside of class and has little to no understanding of my EC involvements.</p>
<p>I have an AP English teacher who also liked me and witnessed me develop as a writer. I thoroughly enjoyed her class and had strong desire to get a 5 on the exam. I also participated in this class, but she has many students who are stronger than me at English, which has always been my weakness. I’m afraid she’ll give me meager markings when rating me in the evaluation (not top). </p>
<p>My third candidate is a teacher who knew me as a person, but explicitly stated that she felt like I was a grade-grubber, someone who is obsessed with getting a high grade and who exhibited a lack of love for learning. I was pretty disappointed that I gave her this impression as I thought I’m a pretty motivated learner (Perhaps I was just disinterested in the material for that specific class…). However, I’ve had several long conversations with this teacher and she thoroughly knows my EC achievements and has continually commented on my academic promise. I feel that this teacher will write me a strong rec, but I don’t want her comments about my lack of love for learning tainting it. </p>