Sophomore Teacher + Extracurricular Advisor for teacher recommendations?

[CollegePrepping2]

Hi,
While teacher recommendations are usually completed by people from junior year, would it be okay to have a sophomore science teacher (Honors Chem and AP Chem, although I won’t be taking AP Chem) write the recommendation if I had her as an advisor for two major extracurricular activities this year? I feel she knows me better than my traditional math and science teachers. I will be applying to elite universities - will this hurt chances of admissions?

[momofboiler1]

That is fine. You want a teacher that knows you in and out of the classroom writing your recommendation.

[CollegePrepping2]

Thanks momofsenior

I’m assuming other people agree?

[alooknac]

You need to check the websites of the specific schools. Some have guidelines and/or requirements. Go to the admissions section and look for application requirements or checklists.

Here is the Yale wording:

Solicit recommendations from teachers who have taught you in core academic subjects, who know you well, and who have seen you at your best. It is also preferable, but not required, that letters come from teachers who have taught you during your junior or senior year of high school. Through experience, admissions officers have found that letters from junior or senior year teachers are the most illuminating.

[happy1]

It is fine – my D did something similar and it was no issue. Her other teacher recommendation was from a junior year teacher.

[CollegePrepping2]

Alooknac - I’ve seen a few excerpts like that, but hopefully I’m an exception. With happy1’s daughter having already done so, I think I should be fine. I will continue to have her as an advisor next year during science research, as well as for the two other teams I’m on currently.