On the teacher evaluation form, the teacher chooses whether you’re average, top 10%, top 5%, or top in teacher’s career in a bunch of categories like intellectual vitality, respect for faculty, participation, etc. I know that teacher recs are super important. I’m applying to top LACS and Ivies. My teacher chose top 5% for everything, is that good, really good, or average for these schools? He didn’t choose top in teacher’s career; do top schools usually want to see that? Like is that expected?
That % check off isn’t as important as the narrative he/she writes about YOU. Don’t sweat it. He was honest. You’re not the top in his career. Shrug it off.