<p>I was reading about recommendation letters for the schools I plan on applying to, and I saw that letters are preferred from teachers who instructed during junior or senior year (with some exceptions for special cases). I know I will ask my AP English III teacher for a letter; she taught me during junior year, but I would like to ask my Pre-AP Algebra II teacher, who taught me during sophomore year, for a letter as well because she gave me and end-of-year "student of the semester" award; basically she really thinks I'm great. Is this a good idea? If not, my back-up plan is to ask my AP Psychology teacher who taught me during junior year as well...Thanks! <3</p>
<p>as far as the teacher writes it well about you, I dont think it would matter. Also, I guess it would be good if the teacher of the subject that you are going to major in college would look good. Ain’t it? I am personally going to ask my sophmore chemistry teacher and my junior year ap chem teacher for recommendation…since Im planning to major in chemistry.</p>
<p>Natalie: That’s a fine idea for you. They prefer junior year teachers, but as long as (a) you have kept in touch with that teacher (so she knows something about what you are like now) and (b) that teacher remembers your performance those years ago well enough to write a recommendation as good and specific as ever (specifics are important), that’s great.</p>
<p>Lolallien: No no no no no. Some schools frown upon people getting recommendations from both math and science, or both humanities! Some are okay with it if your main main main strength is in one or the other (I got a history and a Latin for most of the colleges to which I applied, because I Am Not A Science Person, and am very accomplished in the humanities), but I cannot IMAGINE any school being okay with two recs from the same exact subject! Anyway, you want your recs not to repeat each other. Ideally, one rec will be something like “So-and-so is a great student. They are great at solving analytical problems.” and the other will say “So-and-so is a great student. They are always very thorough and careful in their work.”</p>
<p>i see…so better to not have a rec letter from the same subject teachers…</p>
<p>You want to choose teachers in different subject areas, possibly those of interest in college. If this math teacher knows you well, it’ll become a stronger recommendation letter for you and can be highly beneficial.</p>
<p>ok awesome…thanks so much y’all!</p>
<p>One thing to remember: when colleges state they “prefer” something, like recs from junior or senior year, you should consider it more of a requirement, if you want to be really competitive as an applicant.</p>
<p>^Yeah, I’ve realized that prefer = require, more or less.</p>
<p>However, I’m fuzzy on how well this applies to recs. I’ve seen a few people use sophomore recs who were admitted into HYPSM. People also told me that a sophomore teacher is okay, as long as you’ve kept in touch.</p>
<p>Any advice?</p>
<p>yes okay so more clarification…I have kept in touch with this teacher and I visit her class often…Now I am scared about the whole “prefer” meaning “required” thing…does this apply to rec letters!?</p>