<p>I've been wondering how much importance colleges place on the subjects taught by the teachers who recommend you. This is a general question, but here is my specific dilemma: </p>
<p>I've loved science all my life and hope to major in evolutionary biology. Most of my extracurriculars are geared towards biology and the environment. I'm hoping to really present myself as a future scientist and environmentalist in my college apps and essays. The trouble is I don't really have any science teachers to recommend me. My junior year chem teacher was recently fired for sexual misconduct or something along those lines, so he's not really an option. My ninth grade science teacher loved me, but I know that's going back too far. That leaves my honors biology/ anatomy teacher, who I'll have this year (senior year) and who I also had in 10th grade. She likes me and would probably write a glowing recommendation, but the problem is (and I mean this with all due respect) she's a pretty terrible writer. Atrocious grammar, run on sentences, poor spelling, the whole nine yards. I'm worried a rec letter from her would look unprofessional and unimpressive. On the other hand, I can count on fantastic letters and enthusiastic recs from my Calculus teacher and my gifted studies teacher (who happens to be a professional writer! yay!). </p>
<p>Bottom line is, will it hurt me not to have a rec from a science teacher? I'll have a math one, which is pretty close. Or should I go ahead and risk it with a letter from my biology teacher? I'm a pretty competitive applicant hoping for admission at Ivy league level schools, if that info helps.</p>
<p>Thanks for any help you can give. It is very much appreciated.</p>
<p>Colleges don’t put very much stock in what applicants say they plan to major in. They know that half of all undergraduates (or more) change majors at least once.</p>
<p>The most important thing is to get recommendations from teachers who know you well and can recommend you highly.</p>
<p>I also agree with #2 post. If you are applying to top tier schools, it is best to have one LOR from a math/science teacher and one from a humanities teacher. It is also the case when it comes to subject tests.</p>
<p>My kid can get 3 good LORs from 3 math teachers but none from any science teacher. Luckily she’s already ask her APUSH teacher and he agreed to write one. She feels a little bit lopsided.</p>
<p>I’m horrible at math, and it will certainly not be my academic focus in college. However, my best recommendation came from my math teacher. I had to work harder to do well in that class than my others, and the teacher was able to attest to that. So definitely don’t feel compelled to get a rec. from a teacher in the academic area you hope to study.</p>
<p>IMO
Ask the 9th grade teacher (can’t hurt) - if you’re limited in # of recs, use the best ones. Use this as learning experience, ALWAYS continue to build yourself a “Brag File” (Rec letters, awards, etc.) But, a LOR dated from 9th grade would have been better than now (while you are fresh in their mind).</p>
<p>Offer to write your own rec and have writing-challenged, bio teacher review and sign - not unheard of - play off her busy schedule/popularity. You’re saving her time. She’ll prob thank you.</p>
<p>Most schools will want LORs from 11th and 12th grade teachers. It is not appropriate to ask your teacher if you could write your own LOR. It is rather insulting.</p>
<p>Yeah, I feel like a recommendation from a ninth grade teacher is kind of out of the question. And I guess I’m worried because the consensus I seem to be hearing is that Ivy league schools like students that are devoted to or particularly excel at one specific subject area/interest. Should I be too concerned if my LORs don’t necessarily back up the “science guy” image I’ll be trying to present?</p>
<p>My high school physics teacher HANDWROTE his recommendation and it was filled with grammatical and spelling errors. Like I seriously handed him the recommendation form and he wrote it right there on the spot in front of me, in pen, and crossed out words when he made mistakes! But it was an absolutely excellent recommendation - glowing, positive, etc.</p>
<p>Not only did I get into the college, I got a full scholarship.</p>
<p>It’s not your fault if your teacher has poor grammar and spelling - that doesn’t diminish the impact of her impression of you, though.</p>
<p>However, as everyone else said, you don’t need a recommendation from a science teacher. I wanted to show myself as a well-rounded individual, and my three recs were from all four subjects - an English teacher, a history teacher, and my aforementioned physics teacher also taught calculus. I think hitting three of the subject areas is fine.</p>
<p>If you are applying to Ivy’s A&S schools, they want to see you have intellectual curioousity, even if science is your strong interest, they want to know you excel in humanities courses. </p>
<p>My younger daughter is a humanities student (most likely to major in philosophy in college), but her IB physics teacher loved her. She asked her history, English and physics teachers for LORs. The physics teacher could barely speak English, he taught the class in Spanglish (my kid went to an American international school in south America). But according to her GC, after reading all 3 LORs, the LOR from her physics teacher was outstanding. She used physics and English teacher’s LORs for her ED school, and was accepted. </p>
<p>If you go to a large HS where your GC may not know you well, in order for he/she to write a good LOR for you, you may want to give him a list of your ECs, accomplishments, strength…</p>
<p>See second page, characteristics they want your teachers to rank you on:</p>
<p>Academic achievement
Intellectual promise
Quality of writing
Creative, original thought
Productive class discussion
Respect accorded by faculty
Disciplined work habits
Maturity
Motivation
Leadership
Integrity
Reaction to setbacks
Concern for others
Self-confidence
Initiative, independence
OVERALL</p>
<p>What you want is: One of the top few I’ve encountered (top 1%).</p>
<p>You only need 2 letters of recommendation. There is no need to show well roundness. This is why pick one humanities teacher and one science/math teacher.</p>
<p>It’s best to have one of each( if you can) but my daughter’s friend picked Physics and Math and she still got into the same college as my daugther.</p>