I go to a very small school for example my AP gov, us history and Econ teacher are all the same person.
Having second thoughts about one of my recommenders. If I got a new recommendation from a second English teacher or a second math teacher would that be bad?
Generally,it is best to have recommenders from two different subjects. If there is not another teacher who you feel could write a good recommendation, then you can ask a teacher from a similar subject. But I would do that only if you are sure no other teacher can write a good rec.
The letters are primarily an insight into your character that comes from an impartial source, but they also are meant to help colleges understand how you engage in a variety of subjects. Two teachers from two different subjects might give quite different perspectives on a student, which is why colleges prefer it that way.
It is preferable to have teachers in different subjects (generally one STEM and one humanities) to show breadth. But the first criteria is getting a teacher who knows you well and can write a strong LOR.
Speaking as a non-native speaker of English, this should be a concern to nobody. While there is a certain expectation that an English teacher would write eloquently, I would be surprised if an American-born STEM teacher wrote like Shakespeare. Regardless of native language, the important consideration is that the teacher knows the applicant well and can write a strong recommendation.
Anyway, back to the OP, personally, I would choose teachers from different subjects to show a bit of diversity.
“Write well” as in know how to write a good LoR. Chosen well, not just because you think he or she “loves” you.
I agree with Lindagaf. They want the perspective from two different angles. And one really should be from as close to what you intend to study as you can get. Two English wouldn’t help a STEM candidate and vice versa.
The rest of this depends on how competitive the college targets are. You’re supposed to think this through.
Thank you. Obviously a STEM and an English would be ideal I realize but without going into it that may not be an option. The reason is not specific to me but is also not something I could explain
So my choice is two English teachers or an English and another humanities subject. The two English know me the best. I am not a STEM person. The two English classes were not similar to each other.
Other than MIT where I could not imagine applying any other schools specify. Which teachers
Looking at a couple of ivies and schools similar to JHU as well as safeties and so on
You go for the teachers that teach the least similar classes. If you have options, you need to use them. Two english teachers will possibly raise eyebrows and you want to avoid that.