<p>I'm deliberating whether to ask my math teacher or AP US history teacher to write a recommendation. My math teacher writes a generic but good recommendation, but my history teacher mentions more specifics (he actually asks us to give him a copy of the projects we did last year so he can describe it in his rec). </p>
<p>However, I'm afraid that my application seems so focused on the humanities/writing. Almost all my activities are related to journalism, I am asking my English teacher to write the other rec, and I will ask my journalism camp mentor to write an additional rec. </p>
<p>Is it better to ask my math teacher, who will attest that I'm good in math too and make me seem more well-rounded, or to ask my history teacher, who will write a more specific rec?</p>
<p>I want to decide this by tonight and ask whichever teacher tomorrow! Thank you for your help!</p>
<p>What are you planning to major in? I think you should go with your history teacher because he/she’ll write a better recommendation. It doesn’t really matter which subject teacher writes your recommendation, unless one of the colleges you’re applying to says you have to ask a certain type of teacher. What really matters is that your APUSH teacher is willing to write you a better rec, and that’s what you need to worry about. The adcoms can still see how well you did in math with your scores on the SAT and grades in school.</p>
<p>I would choose the history teacher if he will write a better rec</p>
<p>I am planning to major in English/communications.</p>
<p>history teacher should be better then.</p>
<p>If you want a strong/impressionable rec - I think you should go with the history teacher. Personally, I also think it aligns pretty well (or at least better than a recommendation from your math teacher) with your prospective major.</p>
<p>Plus a recommendation letter isn’t meant to validate that you’re good in a subject (like math). The teacher doesn’t simply restate that the student did well on the tests; that’s already seen on the transcript.</p>
<p>The point is to show how a students acts in a classroom setting, how he contributes, asks questions, etc.</p>
<p>Firstly, colleges aren’t necessarily looking for breadth in a student’s application. They don’t need to hear about your math prowess if your ECs and the rest of your application don’t attest to any interest in math. </p>
<p>Secondly, the purpose of recs is not to describe how well you did in a class (“Suzie Q is a very good student. She works hard and completes her assignments on time”) but to elaborate on personal qualities–how do you learn? how have you/would you contribute/d to a classroom environment? what makes you stand out from other good students? You should pick the teacher best qualified to do that.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your help guys. I will ask my history teacher tomorrow!</p>