Nervous about asking teacher for Letter of Recommendation?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

Freshman here.

Long story short, my Biology teacher was “yelled at”/issued a warning by my principal and counseling office because she approved me for an AP class sophomore year a couple of weeks ago. Turns out there was some school policy she and I didn’t know about at my high school that says freshman/sophomore can’t take AP classes. I apologized to my teacher about it because I felt bad since I was the one who asked her to approve me for that class.

To make matters worse, next week, I have to ask her to write a required letter of recommendation for me because I’m planning on applying to a science summer program that I really love. I’m kind of worried that she might hold a grudge against me for that incident and write me a lackluster rec letter. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel as if she likes me a bit less.

More about me: I try really hard in her class, but I have a low A (93%), A limit is 92%, so I wouldn’t consider myself a highly exceptional student in that area (I’m better at earth science and physics). I’m also kind of introverted/reserved so I’m not really the type of student to actively participate or ask tons of questions like some of my other classmates do (those are more like her favorite students). However, for the last two months I’ve been attempting to be less reserved, more outgoing and answer her questions out loud when she usually asks them. I study hard and always try to do my best on tests/quizzes but although I have an A right now, I had an A- last semester so that worries me. I’m sound academically in other subjects and have never had any disciplinary issues or gone against her classroom rules. Yes, I’m a “goody two-shoes”, but not in the obnoxious way :slight_smile:

I don’t feel like my teacher and I really have a “strong” relationship, for instance I don’t think she knows me that well as a person and I think she likes me but is sort of neutral towards me, so I’m hoping that when I ask her for the recommendation I can communicate to her my career goals and passion about attending this summer program.

I guess what my main point here is that I’m seeking advice. I’m feeling really nervous and intimidated about asking my teacher for a letter of recommendation and I don’t really know what to do. Honestly, I’d feel better about sending an email during spring break, but I know that’s not proper etiquette and that writing a letter of recommendation is a big deal. Help/advice appreciated.

Thanks.

2

Ask! Just start off with an introduction, say what program you’re applying to, then ask along the lines of “would you mind writing a letter of recommendation for me?” And definitely do it in person, never do it over just an e-mail. And ask sooner rather than later.

Also, if the principal yelled at your teacher for approving you to an AP class, the chances are that if anything, she’s mad at the principal, not you. If she approved you, she probably thought you were ready for the advanced course, despite whatever arbitrary school policy. So don’t worry about that so much (and that’s none of your concern, anyway).

And definitely work on participation in class. The last thing you want is to be labeled as being “quiet,” because then she won’t know anything about you.