I am a junior right now and starting to get worried about asking for rec letters. I’ve already asked the english teacher I have now to write me one, and am planning on asking another english teacher I had earlier this year. I’ve heard that some schools require letter from one teacher for math/science and another from the humanities. However, I’m not applying to any top schools like MIT or the Ivies, I’m planning on applying to liberal arts schools and maybe a few state schools. The school I’m mainly aiming for, Oberlin, hasn’t specified whether they require letters from different subject teachers, only that they wanted two rec letters, on their website. Would it hurt my chances if both of my letters were written by my english teachers? The only reason why I want to ask them is because they know me best, and they’ve read my writing and therefore have seen another of me that I don’t usually reveal to people.
also, OP here, I realize that I could ask the teachers I have next year, but most teachers in my school require students to ask them in late winter/spring so that they have enough time to write good recs. Finding a teacher in the fall to write a rec will probably be difficult and I don’t want to take any chances.
I think it depends on what you intend to major in. If you plan to major in Writing/Literature/English I think a school like Oberlin would be pleased with two recs from English teachers. However, I would recommend asking for one more from a teacher outside of that discipline.
Ok, I’m definitely planning on majoring in some sort of humanities subject.
Thanks for the reply, I was about to have a mental breakdown!
I could ask my previous math or science teachers but I haven’t done that well in those classes, and I doubt that my teachers will have much to say about me that won’t sound generic on the potential rec letter that they’ll write.
I would prefer a heartfelt letter from another English teacher to an iffy one by a teacher who I don’t really know that well. My gc told me that I should see what teachers I have in senior year because some of the more lenient ones might say yes if I ask them in the fall.
Thanks again!
IMHO, I think you would want recs from teachers in different disciplines.
And remember, just because you didn’t get an “A” in a particular class doesn’t mean that you aren’t a hard worker, conscientious, and a contributor to the class. Sometimes recs from these teachers can be very powerful because it shows how you persevere etc.