Rec Letter Freshman Teacher?

Hi Everyone,

Just coming in for a quick question about rec letters.

I can get my Junior/Sophomore Physics and Junior year English teacher to write my recommendation letters, and I know that they would write a pretty amazing recommendation.

But I would really like to ask my Freshman English teacher. Here’s why:

He was my teacher freshman year, but over the years he’s evolved into much more than that. I’ve spent alot of time going to him for advice, with ecs, and my future. I ate lunch in his room most of the year with my friends and he would basically spend alot of that time chatting with us and alot of the times just me. We’ve had some pretty amazing discussions on basically everything, and he’s a teacher I really respect and consider a close friend. We have a very personal relationship, and he knows alot about my personality, dreams, and just life at the moment.

I KNOW he would write the most amazing recommendation that would blow the pants off my app if I could submit it.

But the Stanford website says the following:

"

We recommend selecting grade 11 or 12 teachers in two of the following subject areas:

English
Mathematics
Science
Foreign language
History/social studies

You may submit a letter from a teacher who taught you in grade 10 if the coursework was advanced (e.g., Honors, AP, IB). If your school does not offer such designations, use your discretion when asking a teacher from grade 10. We will accept a maximum of two letters of recommendation from teachers.

"

I had him for English 1 Pre-AP (Honors).

I’m hesitant to ask because I don’t want the admission committee to look down upon it because It was a freshman req.

Thoughts?

I would not submit your freshman year teacher as a rec. Other applicants will be meeting that recommendation, and not doing so could hurt you.

I’d follow the guidelines of the college. Your teacher can’t speak to you in a RECENT academic setting. Lunch, conversations and advise aren’t the same as being a student in someone’s class. Furthermore, his experience with you as a student was years ago and not nearly as relevant.

For schools that allow supplemental recs I think he could be a great supplemental one.