Question about recommendations!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Hey guys! I think I have a dilemma. Early on in the application season, I asked for recommendations from three teachers: one 9th/11th grade bio teacher, one 10th grade government teacher, and a 12th grade independent study teacher.</p>

<p>I had hoped this would cover all bases, for both schools that wanted only 11th/12th grade teachers, and for schools that accepted any academic teacher. However, I have discovered upon reading the recommendations (all three of my teachers directly handed me their letters after finishing and asked me to read it) that I prefer the bio teacher and gov teacher's letters. The independent study teacher's letter is very generic, says nothing about my personality or contribution to the class, and instead rehashes on my extracurriculars and concludes with the common line, "He is an outstanding student". </p>

<p>My question would be: should I disregard Yale's statement of "strongly recommending" that I use only 11th and 12th grade teacher recommendations? My government teacher, who taught me in 10th grade, wrote an extremely strong rec, and it tells a lot more about me than the letter that my 12th grade independent study teacher wrote. Also, she has made it obvious that I have known her for the last 3 years, whereas my 12th grade teacher I have only known for 6 months. </p>

<p>What's your take on my situation? Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Hmmmm....don't know how Yale might view that, but if they say they want 11th and 12th grade teachers, I'd follow their instructions. At a Stanford info session I attended, they talked about how they felt 11th and 12th grade teachers had knowledge of a more mature student who is nearing college level work, rather than someone who taught you in the earlier grades at a lower level class. When pressed by someone in the audience (who had kind of your situation), the admissions rep reiterated that they wanted only 11th and 12th grade teacher recommendations.</p>

<p>You could always send in the third recommendation as an additional one. I don't think Yale absolutely limits the number of recommendations.</p>