<p>I've come across a situation in my high school. One of my english teachers is retiring half way through the year and another teacher is probably coming in. Our school is nonsemestered, full-year courses, so full year of grade 11 English. The vast majority of the institutions I intend to apply to have application deadlines of January 1st, 2006, respectively.</p>
<p>My current teacher has been teaching for between 30 to 40 years, an extremely tough thorough teacher, but I think I'll get a stellar recommendation from her; very experienced, writes very well, has known me for 5 months. However, the teacher replacing her is a more of an easy going type of teacher that would be less likely to appreciate my scholarly analysis of any English work or note it.</p>
<p>Given this situation, obviously I cannot ask my grade 12 English teacher for a recommendation, having known me for only 2 months by the time the recommendation letter is required. Should I ask my current one before she retires for a recomendation letter or is 9 months before recommendation time too early?</p>
<p>Perhaps in terms of the application process, this is an insignificant concern, but any part of the application that would better reflect who I am. I have strong reason to believe that the current English teacher with her vast experience, stringent marking and appreciation/understanding of scholarly writing would better reflect that; be able to make a more detailed, accurate judgement.</p>
<p>In addition, it should be noted that the grade 12 english teacher would be the head of the english department, and teacher of my AP English class.</p>
<p>I think you have answered your own question. You get a recommendation from someone who knows you well. I wouldn't worry about the months of time lag; you have a very good explanation for that, if it is asked about, and I don't expect that it will even be asked about.</p>
<p>Ask your current teacher for a "To Whom it May Concern" letter of recommendation. Ask the teacher to put the letter in your file at school. The letter can be sent by your GC when you apply to colleges. It's possible to do this without allowing you to see the letter's contents (something many recommenders aren't willing to share with students). All colleges apps that I have seen will take recommendation letters in lieu of having teachers fill out the colleges' recommendation forms.</p>
<p>Just checked something. Should I just ask her to fill out the common application for the 2004-2005 year? That's the one that the institutions I'm applying to require. Or should I ask her to write on a separate piece of paper, but answer those questions on the common application recommendation letter?</p>
<p>Sorry to ask... but one last thing. Should I provide her with some sort of resume? Or is that unnecessary? Detailing what courses I'm taking, SAT scores, extracurriculars, etc?
I've asked for recommendation letters before for summer programs, just briefly mentioned what I do, but presumably these are important recommendation letters.</p>
<p>She will be honored you are asking her for the recommendation, i have recommendations from volunteer work my Ds did two years ago to put in her application for a scholarship, and did it to whom it may concern....most teachers like a resume so they can remember stuff, they have so many kids, it is easy to mix them all up....</p>
<p>Do give the teacher as much information as you can to make it easier for her to write the rec. That can be a resume, or some anecdote from the class, or both. I agree that the teacher who knows you best should be the one who writes the letter. My S asked his teachers from last year to write the recs, not those who had known him only for 6 weeks (he applied EA).</p>
<p>My son had a similar situation. For exactly the same reasons he really wanted his 11th grade teacher who was retiring to write his recommendation. At the end of 11th grade the teacher wrote the recommendation and gave it to his counselor. The following year the counselor gave the 11th grade rec to the 12th grade teacher who added further comments. They were both excellent teachers, but very different personalities, so I think he got the best of both. I would also add that they were also close friends and were accustomed to collaboration, which may not be the case in your situation.</p>
<p>I agree, a short resume is a helpful tool for all recommenders. The common application form is acceptable to many colleges.</p>
<p>For ED and EA, you should definitely ask 11th grade teachers, who know you well, and like you. I recommend at least letting your teachers know in June, before summer, that you would like them to write these reco. letters. Teachers get asked by many students, and for the ones that do a personalized letter, they really need the extra notice.</p>
<p>I know at our HS, some of the better teachers got swamped by requests, and had to turn down students in November, because they could not do the kind of letter that they would have liked to.</p>
<p>Chancelor, Thanks for bringing up this question! There is a strong possibility that the teacher who knows my daughter best may be retiring at the end of this year (her junior year). I have been wondering what to do about asking her for a recommendation - your question led to some excellent advice. Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>You may want to ask the retiring teacher now if she will give you a recommendation next fall. She'll probably enjoy a note from you in October or November, telling her how you are doing, to which colleges you are applying, and sending her the recommendation forms.</p>