So my senior daughter asked 2 teachers for rec letters. Her primary letter will come from a junior year science teacher and the second letter is coming from her sophomore year math teacher, who my daughter really clicked with. This math teacher did something kind of surprising and sent my daughter a copy of her rec letter. The letter was really quite lovely talking about my daughter’s personal qualities in a very glowing way. However, the letter said nothing about what class she taught my daughter and didn’t say anything about her mathematical abilities even though it was an honor level class and my daughter got an A. In fact you wouldn’t even know this was a math teacher until she signs her name and department name. It’s just such a strange letter in that way in that it’s positively glowing in terms of my daughter being a leader, having a wonderful caring personality, and being very motivated but nothing at all about her performance in regards to math.
Of course my daughter doesn’t feel comfortable in any way questioning this teacher but I am considering reaching out to the guidance counselor if the guidance counselor can point this out to the teacher that she failed to say what class she even taught my daughter. Unless there’s some kind of form that goes with the letter that we didn’t see??
I also don’t want to get this teacher in any type of trouble if she wasnt supposed to share the letter with my daughter, which my guess is she’s not. And for that reason I’m hesitant to even share this concern with the guidance counselor.
Any advice?? Thank you!
Just my opinion; what she wrote is what cannot be seen on her transcript. It offers an insight into the type of student your daughter will be, a hard-working, caring, motivated leader. I think you’re over-thinking it. Personally, I would “leave it be.”
Teachers can choose to provide a copy of the letter to the student. It doesn’t violate anything by choosing to do so. Your daughter waived her right to request a copy. But again, that doesn’t mean the teacher cant choose to provide your daughter for one if she wants to do so.
Regarding your second concern: I have mixed thoughts and no doubt others who can better assess if her content is helpful will chime in.
think that showcasing your daughter’s human attributes is always an okay thing to do. Sure, maybe Including an example or two about how maybe your daughter is naturally inclined towards math thinking, or is perhaps quick to help others in class would be more expected in a letter of rec. But she didn’t do that. (Maybe she’s not experienced writing letters of rec?)
Im not sure if that is something an AO would expect for sure to see. Probably?
But again, if it’s well written and paints your daughter in a strong, positive manner then I think it goes towards how your daughter can be a solid part of a campus community.
Edited to add: if you have a decent relationship with the GC, I might shoot off a quick email saying that it was so lovely to receive a copy of the rec letter (even though your daughter had waived her right for one) but that it did lead to a couple questions. And then state them (should the letter include something about math skills, and specific course names she taught D, etc.)
Do nothing. Her grades will tell AOs what they need to know about her abilities. Teacher recs are about giving insight into the student. You don’t need to do anything. I also suggest your daughter say nothing other than thanks for the glowing rec.
I don’t think this is strange at all.
An English teacher provided my daughter with a copy of her letter this year too – and it mainly focused on her personal qualities in a hugely positive way. I appreciate the English teacher providing the "human’ side to my daughter above and beyond the raw numbers which clearly indicate her intellectual ability and that the teacher doesn’t need to redundantly reiterate.
My opinion – do not meddle. You risk ticking the teacher off which is all the more counterproductive given that s/he clearly know what s/he is doing.
I agree with the other comments. The universities will see from your daughter’s grades that she is strong in math. They will see from the reference that your daughter is a good person.
Thank you everyone! I appreciate your feedback and will just let it be!