I was planning on gettin a letter from my bio teacher, and I need to tell her by aug 1 if I need it or not.
If I end up going with a different teacher, will I still have the control to not send my bio teache’s letter to colleges?
I’m getting conflicting advice whether or not to get it from her, which is why I can’t decide by Wednesday.
Thank you!
Your GC is generally the person that uploads the teacher recs (you should waive your rights to see them – otherwise they are not taken seriously by Adcoms as the teachers may feel that they can’t be as candid if students can read them). You can let your GC know which recs you’d like to go to which schools.
I believe the Common App lets you choose by school the LoR’s that go to that school from those that have been have been uploaded to the Common App through your “invites” . The site is currently down, but that is my recollection. If that is the case, you can have certainly have several LoR’s uploaded with different combinations of LoR’s going out tailored to each school.
As a teacher, I upload the letters on or shortly after August 1.
You will sign a waiver forfeiting the opportunity to read that letter.
So decide now, and let it go.
If you have any doubts about anyone for a LOR, you probably shouldnt use that person. On the other hand you don’t have many choices. I think most schools want 11th grade teachers to write the LORs.
@LoveTheBard oh I didn’t realize that was the protocol! thank you so much!
@BKSquared thank you so much!! Yeah I have no idea how the common app works, and a lot of people don’t seem to remember haha. If thats the case, then I feel much better, thanks!
@bjkmom Oh I see, yeah I dont plan on reading the letter, but I wasnt sure if I was able to pick where the letters are sent.
When you say upload, do you know if it automatically goes to all the schools that student is applying to?
thank you!!
@ProfessorPlum168 Yeah that’s a good point, I had a bad grade in her class 1st semester but 2nd semester was better, and its the subject I was planning on majoring in. She has said nice and quite mean things to me, but said the letter would surely be positive. I have to write my own LoR and she will edit it, but Im not sure what she will end up saying.
But with this advice, I think I will change my major and go w another 11th-grade teacher that is definitely pleased with me.
Thank you!!!
Don’t try to get too cute. Some high schools have trouble when it comes to certain letters going to certain colleges. Just in case you were thinking of that.
@intparent sorry what do you mean by “get too cute”?
I guess my main question is do i have control over where the letter goes, or does it automatically send to all the schools when the teacher uploads it to my profile.
I’m saying that every year we have students out here who are unhappy because they wanted certain letters to gonto certain schools, and the GC office messes it up. Different high schools allow you different measures of control. You should talk to your GC about how your school does it. But if you make it complicated (teacher A letter goes to just these 3 schools, teacher B goes to these 4), it can get messed up.
@intparent yeah yeah that makes sense, I wouldn’t want to make more of a hassle. just wondering 
thank you so much for the insight on how the system works!!
Our HS sent my son’s LORs without consultation or allowing him to choose. He requested three LORs some schools only accepted two. The school just sent 2 of 3.
Regarding LORs related to major. He applied as an Econ major and did not have Econ teacher write a letter. He asked French, Bio, and Physics. He went with the teachers he thought knew him the best. He had the same French teacher for 4 four years versus one semester with Econ teacher.
Perhaps other have a different opinion. I wouldn’t change your major to align with the LOR.
A few schools ask for LORs from specific types of teachers, so check their websites. Generally stick with core academic subjects. And colleges don’t generally expect your recs to align with your major. You are 17… they expect you may very well change majors anyway.
My experience was that same as @svlab112. Our GC decided which ones to send.
But, in junior year the GC also discussed LORs with S before he asked the teachers and gently steered him away from one teacher. GCs see all of the LORs and they tend to know which teachers are stronger writers.
@svlab112 @intparent @Momma2018 thank you so much for your replies!! I really appreciate the points you made!