Is 1 from a gc and 2 or 3 teachers too much for my reach school? I know my teachers have positive things to say about me and I think that they will definietly help a great deal! I asked my AP US History teacher, my Honors Chem&AP Chem teacher, and my Spanish I teacher/advisor of spanish club who knows me very well.<br>
Michele
<p>most schools require 1 from a guidance counselor and 2 from teachers, so you seem to be about right. don't inclde the 3rd, however, unless he has something different to say.</p>
<p>Many schools (reach schools in the top 50 or so on US News) require 1 letter from a counselor and 2 (sometimes 1) from teachers. Often, depending of the school, they will accept a 4th if it shows them something new. </p>
<p>So do at least 2, probably 3, and no more than 4 unless you ask the college, in which case, of couse, you should listen to them.</p>
<p>One rec from a counselor and 2 from teachers is standard. If you want to include a 3rd one, it needs to provide a different perspective on you. If they're all just going to talk about what a great student/person you are, it doesn't help to have 3. If, on the other hand, you have a coach who can talk about your athletic ability and motivation, or an employer discussing yourdedication and competence on the job, that would warrant a 3rd rec.</p>
<p>As a general rule, don't include a 3rd non-gc rec if it's a teacher. They already have 2 saying how great of a student you are. Only do 3 if it's someone who knows you primarily out of an academic setting.</p>
<p>Are rec's from ONLY 11th grade teachers? or can they include 10th grade teachers?</p>
<p>And if so, which colleges (in Top 50) require only 11th grade - or do most allow 10th?</p>
<p>The one GC and the 2 teacher recs are pretty standard, I'm sending a third teacher rec to most places I'm applying. I want to major in physics or math, so I'm having my physics teacher for the past two years and my BC Calc teacher send recs. They both know me well. My calc teacher can talk about how I react to difficult material, and how I was a really strong student by the end of the year, and my physics teacher can talk about me in a setting where I didn't struggle as much. Also having my english teacher send a rec, to show that I can excel outside of math/science. I was conflicted about sending that 3rd rec (the 2nd math/science one) but thought that 1) it would add to my file and 2) a 2nd top in my career type rec couldn't hurt. I think that at large schools, especially large publics, I wouldn't send any extra recs, they have enough files to read as it is. At medium sized schools, especially private schools, I think the extra rec is ok if it does add something. Picture this: two weeks before decisions come out, you find out that they didn't get your extra rec. How scared are you? Do you think that rec might be the key to your acceptance? If so, I say submit it, if not don't bother. At small schools (like the LACs) you can get away with more recs. I know a girl who sent like 2 extra recs to a LAC and it wasn't a problem, but she was a very special case. I DO NOT recommend that for most applicants, but it goes to show that extra recs there are less of a problem if they will add to the file. (She got in btw). Long reply, but I hope that helped!</p>
<p>Oh, and I don't know of any schools that <em>require</em> recs from junior year teachers, but most of them really prefer it since junior year teachers are the ones who (in general) teach you the most difficult material and know you the best.</p>
<p>If a 10th grade teacher knows you well, it's alright to use them for a rec unless a college specifically asks for an 11th or 12th grade teacher. They usually tell you right on the rec itself, i.e. "Please give this recommendation to...."</p>