My D19 will likely ask her APUSH teacher (currently in his class) for a LOR, but also wants to ask the teacher who teaches her elective yearbook class, because she has a very strong relationship with him. He taught her Honors English class in 10th grade, but is not a core subject teacher this year (her junior year). Should she reconsider her choice here?
It seems they have to be junior year. If you’re applying ED or EA your senior year teachers haven’t gotten the chance to know you yet, really.
But in your case, the teacher fits the ‘teaches core subject’ and ‘knows the student well’ boxes, just not simultaneously. I think he fits the criteria well.
Some colleges want two LORs, so I’d ask both.
Agreed. I submitted an LoR from someone that taught me in the 10th grade, but was involved in one of my EC’s throughout HS. As long as their is a continued relationship so the teacher can view the growth of the student, it’s fine.
My D used her 9th grade Drama/10th Grade English teacher. He wrote her a rec for a College Honors program she applied to in 11th grade and he sent her a copy of the rec. After reading that rec it was a nobrainer not to ask him for the CA rec.
One of D’s best friends used her retired piano teacher for her college rec letters. She had taken lessons for ten or elven years, and for the last two years assisted her in helping to teach the younger kids.
To be sure it is worthwhile to double check the requirements of each college she applies to, but that should be fine. My D did the same thing and it was no issue.
It is up to you. S used his AP Bio teacher from his Sr. Year. They hit is off the first day and by the time she wrote the letter it was incredible. She gave him a copy to take to school that he could use as a reference for job apps etc.
@3puppies The piano teacher would be a supplemental recommendation. I believe the OP was considering using the teacher as an academic recommendation since her D had her as an English teacher in 10th grade.
I’m unfamiliar with the “year” restriction. My kids got letters from the teachers who knew them best and with whom they had a good relationship. Whether it was 10th, 11th, or 12th grade – or whether it was a core subject – weren’t critical for all of the letters, just some of them. My son’s journalism teacher was a logical letter writer since my son was editor of the opinion page of the school newspaper. The other letter writers taught core subjects. My daughter’s art teacher was important b/c my daughter was applying to art schools.
Thanks, all! Good advice to check the requirements of the school (you’d think I’d know that, having just gone through this with my D17!). I think she’ll also want the owner of the dance studio she’s been attending since she was 3 to do a supplemental rec–but unless there are specifics to the contrary I think she should have her main recs lined up!
I’ve never seen a requirement that it be from a teacher junior year, just usually suggestions. My D went with one junior year core teacher and an elective from sophomore year. She picked the latter because 1) the teacher had written her an awesome LOR for another program previously and 2) It was relevant to her intended major.
Stanford recommends a junior year teacher but will accept a Sophomore year one if the coursework was AP or honors.
As an example, here is what Yale says:
“Yale requires two letters of recommendation from teachers who have taught you in credit-bearing classes during the academic year in core academic subjects (English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies).** We recommend, but do not require, that applicants solicit recommendations from 11th and 12th grade teachers, as they are typically able to provide the best insights into your most rigorous academic work**. Yale does not require that these recommendations come from teachers of particular academic subjects. Choose teachers who know you well and can give us a sense of your academic and personal strengths.”