<p>I currently have an urgent problem with my math teacher recommendations. </p>
<p>When I first asked my math teacher if he would be willing to write recommendations for me back in mid-December, he said the earliest he could get it in would be early February. So, I emailed all of my schools (eight of them) and at first, four of them replied saying that would be acceptable. </p>
<p>I gave my teacher the first four recommendations of the schools that I had heard from. He asked me if this was it, but I told him that there would probably more coming. However, I soon heard from the fifth school saying that would be alright so I went to give my math teacher the fifth form/envelope (I was using TABS so he had five envelopes now) and he blew up in my face. He got upset and said that we had settled on only four (even thought we didn't) and said he wouldn't accept any of them after this one. He claimed that with all his college kids requesting recommendations (I'm in an advanced placement class), he wouldn't be able to complete any more. </p>
<p>I accepted this and turned to my middle school teacher for help. I asked her to complete the three remaining school forms that I had not heard from yet. She said that would be fine with her. However, recently I found out that the schools aren't accepting last year's teacher and they still expect it to be completed. Now, I don't know what to do. I'm afraid to ask my current math teacher to write any more because of his temper, and I'm worried he might treat me unfairly later (like grading too harshly on me). My parents know of multiple students that have received bad grades as a result of asking their teachers for recommendations. Kids who were straight A students and turned to B and C's in their math and english classes. I really don't want to become likes this, since I will have him next year if I don't get admitted, but I also don't want to let my teacher ruin my dreams of attending one of these schools. </p>
<p>I'm sorry this is so long, but I would really like some help.</p>
<p>If I were your parent, I would arrange a meeting with the teacher to understand his inability or unwilliness to write recommendations for you. If the issue is a matter of his time, I would offer to compensate him at his hourly wage. I would not likely escalate the matter for a variety of reasons.</p>
<p>Think of it this way, you are asking him to give you 4-8 hours of his personal time and he probably has many other students making the same request. </p>
<p>I expect my advice will be flamed but you really need your parents to speak to him at this juncture; otherwise, you might suffer the consequences next year.</p>
<p>@Weatherby: My parents are considering setting up a conference with him, but I doubt that it will benefit the situation well.</p>
<p>Another thing I forgot to add. Before winter break started, my math teacher told me in front of my class that he had sent the five recommendations forms. This made me very confused and I don’t see the reason behind my teacher’s logic. He says he is too busy to submit the forms, yet he does about a month in advance of the normal deadline. I am honestly starting to think he has something against me.</p>
<p>Try to simply talk it out with your teacher and explain that his recommendation is vital. Try explaining to him EXACTLY what you need. Trust me, teachers are still people. If you give him one rec, then he wont have to get upset and you’ll be able to get it in simple and easy. I think that with the TABS app you can give it to most schools (I’m not completely sure though) I feel really bad for you in the situation that you’re in, I can’t imagine what I would do if a teacher acted like that towards me. I wish you luck in your app process!</p>
<p>I would suggest that you ask your guidance counselor or dean to speak with the math teacher, explaining that prep schools do not permit students to select teachers for recommendations but instead require the reports from current Math and English teachers. If that doesn’t work, then you might consider calling the admissions officers and asking them how they suggest you deal with a recalcitrant teacher - they probably encounter this occasionally.</p>
<p>@Ephant: Yes the TABS form is just one rec with the teacher photocopying it. That’s why I can’t understand why it’s so difficult for my teacher to accept three more envelopes. </p>
<p>@TheatreGeek: All the schools I’m applying to accept the TABS form, but I haven’t talked to him about it in a while. I guess I’ll have to eventually.</p>
<p>@stagemum: I was planning to talk to my counselor and I set up an appointment with her for tomorrow. My only worry is that even if my counselor is able to convince my math teacher to help me, the deadline for Choate is this Tuesday and I doubt he can get it submitted by that time.</p>
<p>@yongatilla, Don’t worry if one teacher rec is a little late. Just make sure everything else is in on time. Sometimes paperwork takes time to sort out in the admissions office and sometimes the mail can be a bit slow. :)</p>