<p>How important is it that I get a "natural sciences" teacher to fill out my evaluations? I know one has to be done by a science teacher while the other by a humanities teacher. However, would it hurt my chances greatly if I and a "social sciences" teacher do the evaluation instead of a "natural sciences" teacher.</p>
<p>Hurt your chances? I don't know. You should still follow the rules.</p>
<p>Chicago wants an English/history teacher and a math/science teacher. A social science is a history.</p>
<p>I suggest you follow the directions. Perhaps if you have a close relationship with a particular social science teacher, you submit a supplemental recommendation.</p>
<p>I emailed them and the response was ok but not preferable. However, I have the unfortunate fate of getting a chem teacher who doesn't know me at all (and I'd have to get her to write the eval only after one and a half month of classes) and a physics teacher who hates me. I humanities teachers on the other hand simply loves me. So it's either a ok-ish letter from the "natural" teacher or a great one from a "social" science teacher. Which one is better?</p>
<p>If they said "Ok" get the social science teacher. Great >>> Ok (and that Ok could be a Bad if the teacher is not a good recommendation writer) for teacher recommendations. I feel like it is skirting the system a bit, but you work with what you've got and I doubt you're not going to get in because you didn't have a specific teacher write a recommendation, just make sure you don't skimp out on anything else, don't want to make it a theme.</p>
<p>Do you have a math teacher that could write a rec? Most social sciences in high school fall into the social studies/history/psychology category and wouldn't give the admissions office the different perspective I assume they are looking for since they specifically ask for recommendations from 2 specific groups of teachers. I know they said ok, but I'd see if there's a math teacher that could fill the void. In my D's case she wasn't a stellar math or science student, but her Physics teacher wrote about her perseverance, desire to learn, and committed attitude to do the best that she could do. Even in classes where you didn't earn the best grades a teacher can write a positive recommendation.</p>
<p>Well, my math teach was fine (more than fine actually - he was really good) but I finished Math 12 in Grade 10 and studied AP calculus on my own. He could write it for me I suppose, but again, it'd be as stellar as eval's written by my social sciences (econ) teacher.</p>
<p>Certainly the math teacher could speak to your performance in a significantly accelerated class and the initiative you displayed in your self-study efforts w/calc. (Does he know how you did on the AP exam? Did he help you with tough sections?)</p>
<p>Sounds like it could e a very good rec to me.</p>
<p>^+1............................</p>
<p>Yea I'd say go with the math teacher, too. And, as before mentioned, I would ask them to write something about the self-studying you've done. Good luck.</p>
<p>OP, just to clarify -- When Chicago says a science/math rec, that's what they mean. On the other hand, if the econ teacher would be your third rec and you feel that teacher adds something <em>different and significant</em> to what the other teachers are likely to say, include it as a supplemental.</p>
<p>S's recs last year were from computer science and world history, and he had two supps from his research mentor and a math prof at a program he attended. Everyone had a different angle on him.</p>
<p>Remember, too, that you can send/give your math teacher an email/note about why you chose his class, what you got out of it, what inspired you to continue with Calc self-study, etc. A couple of teachers at S's school wanted to know WHY students were asking them in particular to write recommendations. </p>
<p>S also included in his note that rather than reiterating what was on his resume, that he hoped they might talk about him on a more personal basis, based on interactions in and out of the classroom. For example, his WH teacher would have no basis for evaluating S's research or math/science activities, but he could certainly talk about how S loved to argue politics in class, and how S used to hang out in the Social Studies office after school talking about educational philosophy with the WH and other teachers -- stuff that would never show up on an activity list or resume, but reflect S's view on life and education.</p>
<p>All that said, we never saw rec letters from anyone except his research mentor. He gave the teachers what info they requested, tried to communicate a possible approach that might yield some deeper insights than the typical rec letter, and crossed his fingers.</p>
<p>I used an AP psychology professor for my science rec, but had her discuss at length my science performance generally in biology and chemistry and how it had improved my mastery of the subject. </p>
<p>I would not go too far afield from science though.</p>
<p>A year or so ago one of the admissions reps from Chicago said that you need to follow directions and provide the recommendations that Chicago asks for. Additonal recommendations won't hurt, if they make it easier for the AD Rep to know you better. Ignore their directions at your own peril.</p>
<p>Well, I have already asked an English teacher and a history teacher for my recs - i don't really have any science/math teacher i could ask for recs</p>
<p>so should i find a science/math teacher quick? or is having 2 recs from humanities ok, but generally frowned upon?</p>
<p>Just to follow up on La La La's question - how importnat is it to have one recco from math and one from the humnaities?</p>
<p>Another thing- i have excellent grades in economics, but my math grades are'n as great. However, my class performance (ie grasping concepts and cracking problems in class) are really good. I just get freaked out in tests, and that reflects in my grades. My Math teacher is writing a reccomendation for me, stressing on my enthusiasm and my willingness to persever. Will this make a difference, or in any way, compensate for my math grades?</p>