Hi everyone,
I sort of have a unique situation that I’m having trouble with. I move around a lot and last year (in the middle of 10th grade) I moved to Israel from LA. I thought that I would ask my honors and AP history teacher in my old school for a rec before I knew I was going to move because I did well and she liked me. Now though, I live in a city in the north with very little English speakers and I do an online homeschool. I’m in 11th grade and I’m thinking about recommendation letters but I don’t know who to ask. I volunteer in and old age day center and at a second-hand store but the people who work there don’t really know me well enough to write pages for a recommendation letter. What should I do?
It’s hard to give you an insightful answer with the information you’ve provided. What languages do you speak? Have you taken any college courses (are there any affordable universities close by that you could attend)? How many ap tests have you taken so far? Right now I can say with 100% confidence that you will have a great narrative regarding your move from LA to Israel. In my opinion that would be the cornerstone of my kid’s essay (barring some awesome personal story unrelated). Letters can come from the college courses you take over summer and first semester of Fall.
You can still ask the teacher from your old school. You can also work on building a relationship with an online teacher to be a recommender. If you end up using someone who does not speak English as a recommender, you will need to use a paid translator who is not connected to your family to translate it to English.
I personally would not recommend enrolling in a college class simply to get a letter of recommendation.
AroundHere why not?
There was just an article about a kid that got into Dartmouth, and one of his letters of recommendation was from his high school janitor. This student talked to the Janitor every day, when other kids did not. The admissions officer felt this showed true character. So I would have one of your recommendations be from someone out of the box, like the boss of the secondhand store (can you get to know them better?). This was also mentioned in the article, that good recs sometimes come from a part time job or coach, not just a teacher. Can you contact your AP History teacher at your previous school to write the other one?
I just think kids should enroll in college classes when they are the right academic path, not to try to look good for something else.
Thank you so much everyone for the responses! They are very helpful!
I do speak Hebrew but strictly on a conversational level and I haven’t taken any college classes. I’ve taken AP World History but moved before I could take the test (do you happen to know if I can take it when I do move back?) and I’m taking AP English Language and Composition and AP US History.
Yes, you should be able to take the AP US History test when you move back - just be sure you are registered in time, and know where you can take it (usually at your public school). The test is first week in May so at this point it’s a late (very late) registration…if you want to take it this year, it may be possible but you need to get on this Monday. Call the College Board and look at their website - ASAP. The test must be ordered in advance.
Otherwise, just list that you took the class (do you have a full year grade from it?). Some students take AP classes but do not take the exam, for various reasons.