Read my Email

[chocolate108]

<p>Hi Ms. Johns, My name is (name), and I'm a junior at (school and location). The admissions officer at my visit to Yale said that the teacher's recommendations should be from junior/senior teachers. Is there any exception to this rule? Can I get a recommendation from a sophomore teacher who has taught me AP curriculum?
Thanks. Have a nice day!- (name). </p>

<p>Is this good? </p>

[T26E4]

<p>Good or not the answer is a soph teacher’s LOR can be used. However, Yale (and others) feel that in general, a student’s tougher coursework happens Jr or Sr year. This is what Yale PREFERS. If you veer from this, it’s at your own risk.</p>

<p>You don’t need to send your question to yale.</p>

[entomom]

<p>^Agree, the Y website says:</p>

<p><a href=“http://admissions.yale.edu/instructions#teacher”>http://admissions.yale.edu/instructions#teacher&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

We prefer that letters of recommendation come from teachers who have taught you during your junior or senior year of high school in a core academic subject. We do not encourage supplemental letters of recommendation.

</p>

<p>Both of my kids sent a LOR from a soph teacher and were accepted. However, it was an AP class that is usually taken jr or sr year.</p>

[chocolate108]

<p>@entomom So it would be okay if i were to ask my AP biology teacher from sophomore year? If i can, then I’m planning to ask one sophomore and one junior. I want to apply SCEA so there’s no way a senior teacher is in question. </p>

[entomom]

<p>You sound like one of my kids. If I say it’s OK, then you expect to be accepted. And if you’re not, then it’s my fault . </p>

<p>Kidding aside, my usual advice is to follow the college’s instructions as much as possible. And since Ys comment about LORs that I cited has a big exclamation point next to it on the website, it is definitely something to consider. However, I also feel that within the requirements, you should submit the strongest LORs possible. So my advice is to weigh your options, is the soph teacher LOR going to be a little or a lot stronger than a jr teacher? Which would help you to have the strongest application possible? </p>

[chocolate108]

<p>@entomom Thanks for your advice! haha I guess it’s really something to think about. </p>

[gibby]

<p><a href=“https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/video-transcription/whats-the-most-important-part-of-the-application”>https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/video-transcription/whats-the-most-important-part-of-the-application&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

The most important part of your application — bar none, no question, any college — is your high school transcript. Probably the next most important are your teacher recommendations, particularly if you’re applying to any kind of selective college or university.
– Jeffrey Brenzel, Yale Dean of Admissions (recently retired)

With that much riding on who writes your LOR, I would think VERY carefully about which teachers you ask. You should also read this thread: <a href=“How to write good letters of recommendation | MIT Admissions”>http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/writingrecs&lt;/a&gt; and ask yourself: Can the teachers I ask answer all these questions?</p>

<p>

• What is the context of your relationship with the applicant? If you do not know the applicant well and are only able to write a brief summary, please acknowledge this.
• Has the student demonstrated a willingness to take intellectual risks and go beyond the normal classroom experience?
• Does the applicant have any unusual competence, talent or leadership abilities?
• What motivates this person? What excites him/her?
• How does the applicant interact with teachers? With peers? Describe his/her personality and social skills.
• What will you remember most about this person?
• Has the applicant ever experienced disappointment or failure? If so, how did he/she react?
• Are there any unusual family or community circumstances of which we should be aware?

</p>