Rec Scare

<p>Hey, I am new here.
I was wondering if it was okay to ask teacher of the same subject area of a recommendation. I have two teachers who know my really well, but they are both English teachers. I just went on various college websites and they say that they " require two teacher evaluations and we strongly request these letters come from teachers who have taught you in grades 11 and/or 12 and that they be in two different subject areas." However, they also say to pick teachers who know you well.</p>

<p>Well, what if the teachers who know you well are in the same subject area, but they taught you different areas of English. One of my reccomendors taught me Irish Literature junior year and the other reccomendor taught me Ap English language. </p>

<p>Should I get another teacher to write my rec and mix and match because I have already asked the previosly mentioned teachers and given them envelopes for the schools.</p>

<p>Help...don't know what to do.</p>

<p>This is just my opinion... so..........</p>

<p>I would have the two English teachers send letters because they are the people that make the most sense to you in terms of knowing you well and writing the letters you'd like to have written about yourself. However, I would go to another teacher in a different subject area and send in one additional letter. That way you meet the colleges' request but you also have those 2 letters from your English teachers too. Many students send in one additional rec. letter. Some will say you should ONLY send what they ask for and nothing more, but I've known so many who have sent additional material and never heard anything bad come of it.</p>

<p>The only specific school I hear repeatedly makes a point of no additional material is Stanford, but aside from that ... in your situation I would just have 3 letters sent in. (But no more than that.)</p>

<p>My son had three --school asked for two-- and they were from teachers he worked with in 10th and 11th grade --school suggested 11th and 12th. </p>

<p>And if a student is applying ED it's pretty hard to find a 12th grade teacher who knows you unless you had them for another class in an earlier year.</p>

<p>I think you need to find a sensible balance between recommendations and putting together the strongest application package you can.</p>

<p>Thanks 'rentof2! Your advice really helped me. =)</p>