Letter of Rec Says One Major, I Want Another

Applying to College
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A few months ago, I asked my Honors English, AP Lit, and Honors Secondary Math II teachers (who know me very well) that I need a letter of recommendation for University of the Pacific. They asked me my major, and I said probably bio. I was also required to put it on the brag sheet, even though I would have preferred to not have a major stated in my letter of recommendation.

Now, after they submitted their letters, I want to change my major from bio to sociology.

I waived my FERPA right and my teachers haven’t offered to let me look at the letters even after they submitted them.

There’s nothing I can really do now, since it’s submitted

SO

Should I ask whether they talked about being a bio major in my letter of rec and if they did, should I just stay a bio major?

Or should I just put the major I want and not ask them? Or should I ask them and still put sociology?

Any thoughts?

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^ This. File under “it is what it is.”

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One of the few times I will disagree with Ski assuming the Univ of Pacific doesn’t admit by major. You had an interest in Bio, now you are interested in Sociology, who knows you may change your mind multiple times between now and when you have to declare a major. AO’s look for consistency in apps. If your LoR’s extoll your passion, accomplishments and future prospects in Bio, I’d hate to create an inconsistency in your app. While it won’t necessarily sink your ship, why raise a question?

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I can’t imagine any teacher will let you read an LOR. Those require confidentiality - and rightfully so.

This is such a non-issue - you should really leave it alone and you should not put your teachers in the uncomfortable position of discussing what they wrote about you.

You should be thankful they volunteered to write for you - but the contents are and should be 100% off limits.

Go to class, keep working hard, and apologize to your teachers for putting them in that position. You should never have raised it and you should let them know - it’s a learning opportunity for you and thank them again for their graciousness of writing on your behalf.

Just leave it alone and don’t think of it again.

Assuming the letters spoke positively about you, this will have zero impact on your admission chances.

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I don’t think it is out of line to ask the LoR writers if they wrote about OP’s interest in Bio. That is different than asking them for a copy. If these teachers are “mentors”, they want to maximize the OP’s chances and I doubt they would find such a question offensive.

Also, I don’t think LoR writers are so uniformly concerned about students reading the LoR’s. I have written numerous LoR’s for law school and business school. I wouldn’t take on such a task unless I felt strongly about the employee. I always offer to let them read my draft in case I missed anything they wanted me to cover. I am their advocate, not a judge. I don’t doubt though that HS teachers who have to write multiple LoR’s are more reluctant to allow students access to their LoR’s since students may compare them or pester them for changes, so definitely if the OP signed a FERPA, I would not ask to see the letter itself.

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I see your point but I think it’s case by case. You’ve made the decision to share drafts b4 - and you take the responsibility seriously.

While I have no doubt most teachers are looking to advocate - I guess it goes back to the old days in my thought process where the teacher had to sign over the back of the sealed envelope - so that their signature is whole - because what was on that form was for no other eyes except the teacher and the school.

But I do understand and appreciate your perspective.

It reminds me how I did a letter for an employee maybe 10-15 years ago and in that case, I had them review it…but that was my choice. He was going for an MBA.

I think i’d feel otherwise if I was a writer who wasn’t going to do that as most teachers are.

But your perspective is certainly valid and real world.

thanks

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Thank you all so much for your input.

Honestly, my extracurriculars don’t show much of an interest in Bio. I’ve taken a lot of science and math honors and AP courses, but I’ve taken even more humanities APs and honors. My extracurriculars are more communication and leadership based, like district student council membership and speech.

When I first had the discussion with my teachers about my LOR, and they asked me about my major, I said “Biology??” Hopefully they picked up on that question mark. I’m thinking now that my teachers probably didn’t mention it too heavily.

Now, my counselor probably DID talk about it.

I just…I kept trying to convince myself that I wanted to be a bio major because I knew it aligned best with premed requirements, and I guess I hoped that, despite what everyone says, I would grow to like it. But I realized last night with my family, as I was about to submit UC apps, that I REALLY did not want to be a bio major. I still hope that I’ll be blessed enough to become a doctor. Just not a bio major.

I found out that I need LORs for a certain CSU Fresno scholarship, where I already applied as a Sociology major first choice and anthropology major second choice.

So, I might ask if they mentioned Bio and lead with this fact. Then, I can use what they tell me to decide how I will apply to UOP and then teacher could potentially reconsider any part of their letter that may have mentioned Bio for the Fresno scholarship.

And like I said, there’s nothing they can do about their letters that they submitted for me to UOP. I will have to adapt a bit, which is fine.

Yes, it is best not to ask to see the letter, I wholeheartedly agree.

And like @tsbna44 said, even if my major conflicts with the major my teacher talked about, I should be okay admissions-wise. UOP isn’t very selective, and I feel very good about my grades, rigor, and ECs.

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As long as you weren’t bashed and i’m sure you weren’t because they would ask not to write it in that case, you’ll be fine.

If your #s are good, U o P will take you - and btw - it’s a fine school!!

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I know, it’s a beautiful campus and I love the small class sizes.

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You know, you can do pre-med from any major…but you have to hit the requirements.

And going back to your extracurriculars don’t match your major - not an issue at all.

Nor should they.’

My daughter walked dogs She was in religious youth group, etc.’

Some work. Some are in band or clubs.’

ECs should suit you, not a possible major.’

If one does, it’s great and if you get exposure to a possible career, even better. But ECs should be what you enjoy, make an impact at and not forced to fit something for college.

Two great schools - Fresno State and Pacific. Good luck.

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