<p>I know that one of my recs will be outstanding. There will be a very enthusiastic letter and I'm sure this teacher will check all of the best boxes on the forms that say "rate this student on... X"... but... my other recommendation will probably talk about how I am a strong writer and thinker, but I don't think all of the best boxes will be checked. I think good ones will be checked-- probably the "above average" box, but I doubt the "top in my career" or "excellent" boxes will be checked. How much do you think this will hurt my chances at top schools? My chances are slim to begin with. I think my essays will be pretty great and my ECs definitely help me stand out, but my grades are average for top schools and my testing is probably a little below average, (3.83/4 UW GPA, 31 ACT, etc.)</p>
<p>Input? Thank you.</p>
<p>Can anyone hear let me know what you think?</p>
<p>As far as recommendations, I think that a lot of people (me included) are in that kind of situation. From my experience, I have found that most teachers try to be as complimentary as possible in their recommendations. If you don’t have another teacher to ask for a rec, then you really don’t have much choice. If you’re that scared, find schools to apply to where recs aren’t as heavily stressed.</p>
<p>Hopeful_Underdog, are you a rising senior?
My S is in very similar situation regarding teachers’ LORs. Maybe a bit worse than you. He is waiting for the senior year teacher with whom he thinks he will be doing better in her class. My opinion is that he should get LORs from junior year teachers knowing him much longer if one of them is not very nice. Colleges do accept senior teachers’ LORs but I’m afraid if those would not describe the student’s personality sufficiently well in case that LORs are written in original forms.</p>
<p>One of my teachers told me that when recommendations have the check boxes she never fills out all “excellent” boxes because colleges will assume teachers are lying. Don’t know if this is true though.</p>
<p>Maybe… I feel pretty sure one of my teachers will do that though. The other one likes me and he likes my writing and all… but I don’t think he thought I participated enough. Some days I would pretty much lead class discussions, but others I might just have one or two comments. I am worried he will describe me as quiet… which I consider to be a HUGE diss, ha… and it will also really contradict with my other rec because that teacher will probably say I lead discussions and I am very heavily involved. I wonder if it will make them question my good rec. Even more so, I am worried that they will read the okay one first and not take the time to even skim the second rec and get a mediocre picture of me. I really want them to read the good rec because my grades and scores aren’t amazing or even that good for many of the reach schools I am applying to and I feel that I really need those recs to pull me through!</p>