<p>For many schools, the guidelines for the required teacher recs are as following: </p>
<p>Taught the applicant junior and/or senior year.</p>
<p>And has taught an "academic subject".</p>
<p>If I asked my Debate teacher to write a rec for me, would this qualify under both counts?
(Debate is categorized under English in our school, if that helps.)</p>
<p>I guess that with academic subjects they meant…not your underwater basket weaving teacher, or your hamster fur knitting teacher. They want an academic subject with homework, required reading/note-taking, tests, etc.</p>
<p>At least that’s what I think it means.</p>
<p>Debate definitely counts.</p>
<p>What about for Stanford which specifically designates academic topics? For example, the website lists that
"Both evaluation letters must be from teachers in two different subject areas from the following:</p>
<p>English
Mathematics
Science
Foreign Language
History/Social Sciences"</p>
<p>Would Debate fall under the category of English? Or would it not apply?</p>
<p>Is Debate a class or are you referring to the coach of your Speech & Debate team?</p>
<p>It’s a class, and taking a class is a requirement to joining the team. I took the class sophomore and junior year: once for English credit, once for elective credit.</p>
<p>If it counts for English credit, then it’s an English class at your school.</p>
<p>Think about what the college admissions committees hope to learn from the letters. They want to know whether you are intelligent, whether you complete rigorous assignments, whether you are intellectually creative, whether you write coherent essays, whether you participate in discussions and group work; whether you show any leadership or initiative. Choose teachers who can comment on these qualities.</p>
<p>If you’re not comfortable with calling a debate class an English class, you could get two recommendations from teachers in more conventional classes and include a supplemental recommendation from your debate teacher.</p>
<p>If the school specifies that they want academic recommendations, I’d be wary of asking your Debate teacher. Academic subjects are more traditionally thought of as the core subjects: social studies/history, science, math, English, and foreign language. Some schools allow teachers of AP/IB classes as well (ie, IB Psych). But even if Debate is an English class at your school, it is more commonly considered an elective. I might consider using your Debate coach’s rec as an additional rec, especially if you’re competitive on the state or national level in forensics and are a leader in your school, but I wouldn’t use it as an academic rec.</p>
<p>It does seem that I’m the odd one out here, though.</p>
<p>Thanks! Any other opinions?</p>
<p>Academic subjects are considered the big five requirements: English, math, science, history, and foreign language. Try and draw from those. :)</p>