<p>I know that Stanford requests that applicants get evals from their 11th/ 12th grade teachers, but I find that I am MUCH closer to my 10th grade teacher who has seen me develop over the years (i transferred to new school after my freshman year) and will be able to paint a better picture of me. She taught me in an 11th grade course, anyway. Also, she has seen me overcome some family crisis, etc. that I have not even shared with many of my other teachers. Not to mention, my school has less than 4000 kids in it, so its difficult to get personal with teachers in many upperclassmen classes. </p>
<p>But I was just wondering, will getting a rec from a 10th grade teacher be a bad idea, or should I just abide by the instructions because it would weaken my profile otherwise? </p>
<p>Yes, he had a rec from 10th grade teacher (also "11th grade course", but I don't think that mattered). Go for the most "personal" positive rec you can get.</p>
<p>I got a rec from a 10th grade teacher this year and got in. The only reason they make that "rule" is because they want a teacher who knows your current personality/characteristics best. If you have been close with your 10th grade teacher and he meets this criteria, then I say go for it.</p>
<p>Perfectly fine, especially if the teacher knows you well. Most people use junior year because they have just finished a year of study with those teachers and it's easier to write about them.</p>
<p>I used a teacher from 9th/11th and one from 12th, myself.</p>
<p>all my recs were either 10th or 11th... all my 12th grade teachers are new and my school is really small, so i have developed a very strong relationship with my past teachers... after all, the recs are meant to give admissions a more in-depth view of you... if you feel that a teacher that knew you 1 or 2 years in 10th and 11th knows you better than one who has known you half a semester in 12th, i mean, the choice is pretty obvious as to who can give a betr rec</p>