<p>even if you're not the best in her class or don't have a very close relationship with her?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t personally do that. One of the teachers who I have asked for a letter of rec wasn’t an AP teacher for me, but I have a very close relationship with him and did well in his class. I’d say it’s better to go for a teacher who knows you best and will write the best letter for you rather than the teacher who taught the most advanced class.</p>
<p>If a non-AP teacher knows you better and will write a better recommendation, absolutely do that instead of the AP. An admissions person from Brandeis (I think?) told me something about how if you would high-five a teacher in the hallway, go for that one. They already know you took an AP class so there’s no need to devote a mediocre rec to repeating it.</p>