Hi everyone,
So I know it’s only April but my school is really college obsessed and everyone is already starting to ask for recs. Many teachers have limits and so I feel like I should ask ASAP. However, I’m super indecisive and really concerned that I’m going to make the wrong choice. As a junior, I have no idea how Common App or recs work, so I was wondering is there any harm to asking like 3 teachers to write me one and then only picking 2 when it comes down to it? Would they for sure know? Or how would that work?
I’m really stressed about this aspect of the process, and I don’t know if it’s unnecessarily so because I participate a ton in class and have good relationships w my teachers, but I’m just worried they won’t write what I want and it scares me that it’s so out of my control.
Thank you.
I personally would not ask teachers to write more recs than they need if you aren’t planning on using them. Most colleges recommend that you opt not to read the recs so definitely ask teachers you trust,and that know you both in and out of the classroom. The teachers will upload their recs directly to your common app via naviance or similar program. I would also recommend targeting teachers whose classes align with your intended college major.
How would that work though? Like would they know that I didn’t use their rec or can you use different teacher recs for different schools? Do they write it and then you mail it? I’m just so confused about the process if someone would spell it out I’d really appreciate it
Ask for two max and begin asking now. Most schools will only accept no more than 2 teacher recs. If you have good relationships with your teachers, then you shouldn’t be worried about what they write.
Three teachers are fine. For the Common App, they download the letters to the Common App site. You then choose which LoR’s to submit. Make sure you choose teachers who know you well. Ideally, you want to have at least 1 STEM and 1 Humanities (English, Language, Social Studies, etc…) in the mix. It would also help your teachers out if you provided a short “resume” for them with major activities, interests and accomplishments. The goal is to package a consistent story of what makes you, you, and why/how you will contribute to the college community through the LoR’s, essays and EC list.
I’m trying to begin asking now, I just really can’t decide between two different teachers and it’s stressing me out, so I was wondering if it would be possible for me to have a few recs in the bag and then choose which 2 go to specific schools when I get there.
Is the STEM/humanities thing so important? My STEM grades reflect my competency in those subjects, but I don’t want to major in STEM. I was thinking about asking my debate coach (an EC I’ve done all through high school and really care about) who also had me for AP Comp Gov and AP US Gov, and then also either my IB English or TOK teacher who can speak to my discussion and writing skills. My math teacher likes me too, but if i throw her into the mix the decision gets even more complicated…
Ugh. I hate this process and it’s barely even begun.
All too often it gets screwed up when you want only certain recs to go to certain schools. Ask for two and leave it at that.
Check the admission website pages for the schools you are applying to for any suggestions on what types of teachers to ask. Stick with core academic subjects. Most schools are more impressed by an academic mix (maybe one English or Social Studies, and one math or science).
If you are debating who to ask, sometimes your GC can help you decide if you tell them who you are thinking about asking — they know who writes good letters.
I understand I probably asked that question in a biased sounding way. Pls do let me know if you think it’s extremely important, but I was under the impression that it’s more important to choose the people you bond with the very most and who understand your character the best
I guess having 4 teachers who I connect with is a great problem to have, but I’m just so confused about which of them would write me a better letter. I really struggle having this part of the application be so deeply out of my control
@intparent are you saying Theory of Knowledge and AP Gov/Comp Gov wouldn’t count as core academic subjects??
Depends on whether your school uses Naviance or not. I think if your school uses Naviance, be careful; everything goes through the school and the counselor has more control over the recommendations. If not, go ahead and request all of the recommendations.
My school did not use Naviance, so I asked for the recommenders’ emails and sent the requests individually. My recommenders’ letters were then linked to my overall account and I chose whose letters would be sent to which colleges. Until I told them, my recommenders did not know which colleges I had applied to nor which colleges their letters were sent to. (I still told them everything and thanked them afterward).
AP Gov is a social studies course, so yes, it is fine. Bonus that the teacher is your debate coach. I’d say that one is a no brainier.
I would suggest that when you do ask, you phrase the question so you can give them an “out” if they don’t feel they can write you a great letter. You can say something like “I’m beginning to think about college apps, and I’ve really valued your class. Do you think you know me well enough to write a strong letter?” If they hem and haw, you may want to ask one of the other teachers instead.
@OP, you ask excellent questions, especially for someone so young. Hopefully that unsolicited opinion from a parent will reduce some of your stress!
@BKSquared, very useful idea there. My son is more STEM-focused, but also very much enjoys social studies. I like your idea of “balancing” the two letters.
For anyone on the board, tricky question: How can my son avoid receiving two, frankly, generic, well-rounded, “great kid and bright student” LoR*? Any ideas?
*In my time (no, I’m not joking), that’s how ALL the LoR read. Not joking. The buzzword was, surprise surprise (sarc), “well-rounded.” And it WORKED, too, as in multiple acceptances for multiple cohorts to multiple elite schools. My, how things have changed…
@USCWolverine and OP, D and S chose teachers that they had a personal relationship through intense projects and/or extracurriculars. For example, one kid was President of NHS and one of the teachers (of a core subject) was the faculty sponsor (why OP’s debate coach is an obvious choice). Another was on the school math team all four years and the teacher was the faculty coach and Calc teacher. You never know what the teacher will write (we waived the right to see the letters), but you have a better chance at a personalized letter if there is some activity/accomplishment done under that teacher which would serve as a factual anchor for the teacher to tie in his/her qualitative thoughts on the student.
We’re struggling with the recommendations as well, hopefully answers to my following questions may also be useful for the OP:
- Is it a good idea to ask a recommendation from a foreign language teacher for the humanities part? Some colleges say it’s fine, and some don’t say anything, but will this carry less weight than a recommendation from a LA teacher? They both really like my son, but the LA teacher is significantly more cool and reserved, and the foreign language teacher is more open and praised him effusively during the parent-teacher conference.
- For colleges that don’t say they want a humanities recommendation, is it still a good idea to have one, or is it better to have two STEM teacher recommendations if he’s going to major in a STEM field?
@yucca10. My opinion is to go with the more enthusiastic teacher. My daughter is planning on studying engineering and one of her recs was from her history teacher. She had him for both AP euro and APUSH so he saw her grow for two year, he was involved in some of her ECs too so also knew her outside the classroom. Her other rec was a STEM field teacher.
@yucca10, if the foreign language teacher is going to write a more personalized letter, I’d choose him/her over the LA teacher, especially if the foreign language teacher is teaching an advanced/AP course. I’d prioritize as follows:
- Follow the school's requirements (e.g., MIT asks for a STEM and a Humanities LoR)
- Choose LoR's/teachers who you believe will present/write the strongest most personalized LoR from core subjects
- All things being equal, balance between 1 STEM and 1 Humanities
- If possible have 3 LoR's in your pocket (1 STEM, I Humanities, 1 extra of either type) to mix and match to different schools. Also if you apply early to one or more schools, and A) you are deferred, the third letter may serve as supplemental material or B) you are rejected, you might consider if one of the previously submitted letters was weak and swap out in the third letter for the RD round for some or all of the schools.
As a teacher, there have been years when I’ve written letters for 30 or 40 kids.
It would bother me to learn that those letters were not deemed “good enough” to be used. As hard as it may be to believe, the time I spend on each of those letters-- and a well written letter takes some time! – is time I could have spend on my schoolwork, my housework, my family, or myself.