Letters of recommendation for college

<p>As the year is ending, my guidance counselor is having everyone go to teachers and ask them for recommendations. I would love to ask my AP U.S. history teacher for a recommendation, because I was the top of my class in history and she seems to really like me. There is a catch. Freshman year, I was a terrible student. I had her freshman year for world history and my overall average in that class was a 79 or so. The reason why my grade was low was due to homework and erratic test grades. I also had an incident where I flipped her off, not to her face but to her back after she was disrespectful to me. I apoligized profusely and owned up to my actions as opposed to trying to deny it as some would. Anyway, Sophmore year I was top of my class in history and was therefore, put into AP U.S. Anyway, my main question is should I ask her and if so how? Also, her class is notoriously hard, with the highest grade being a 93. </p>

<p>P.S.
here are my other options:
1) sophmore year history teacher - absolutely loved me and thought I was very bright, would write me an excellent recommendation.
2) my french teacher who I have had for the past two years and who I will have next year for AP French Lang and AP French Lit -- she would write me an excellent recommendation as well. </p>

<p>Any advice will be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>hmm thats hard how bout u use the sophmore one cuz u only had him/her one yr but it was a good experience and expect him/her to write a good recc. and french...like me im notorious for not having a teacher more then once...ive loved every teacher ive had except my computer teacher(whom 95 percent of the school hates her including teachers) but i loved my 9th grade history teacher im not even sure i can get in touch w/ him so hes out..so its my english teacher who writes the best reccomendation letters(my grades arent all the best in his class but we get a long great probably the reason y my grades arent worse) and my math teacher who i get great grades from and have a great relationship w/ and 2 out of the 4 teachers i will actually have had for more then a yr when these reccs come out</p>

<p>Don't risk it, considering your other options are great. Use either the French or sophomore history teacher.</p>

<p>I think I am going to go to my guidance counselor and ask her what I should do because she is good friends with the history teacher.</p>

<p>some colleges (especially the higher ranked ones) require more than one rec. Some require three. You'll also need them for scholarships. </p>

<p>Unless you really think your AP USH teacher would say something bad about you (which I doubt she would), I would ask all three.</p>

<p>Also, in response to your "how" to ask your teacher, make an appointment.</p>

<p>Prepare a folder for them with a copy of your transcripts and a brag sheet (one page description of your accomplishments, test scores [AP and SAT], extracurriculars, community service, personal qualities, work experience, and awards that you've received [do NOT use more than a page--they don't want to read any more than that]). Typically, you would include the forms from the colleges that you're applying to and a stamped and addressed envelope, but since you're only a junior, I suppose you can't do that (unless you already know where you want to apply). </p>

<p>Anyway, just be polite, ask nicely, and make an impression that you're organized and put together.</p>