<p>I know that most colleges say that they prefer recommendations from teachers from 11th and 12th grade. However, I have a teacher from 10th grade who knows me, in my opinion, better academically and personally. I have continued to stay in touch with her since 10th grade. I have been a lab aide for her in 11th grade, and will be VP of an extracurricular club for which she is advisor of in 12th grade.
Will it hurt me in admissions to highly selective colleges if i get a teacher rec who is not in 11th or 12th grade? Are there colleges that only allow recs from 11-12th grade?
Thank you.</p>
<p>How paranoid are you? Prefer does not mean mandatory, however if it will eat at your soul then find teachers from 11th and 12th grades. Good Luck.</p>
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<p>Unless they specifically say that they want LORs from teachers you had in 11th & 12th, then 10th is fine. You can find out what schools want by going to their websites, the primary source is always the best.</p>
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While that’s true literally, officially and formally, that may not be true informally and in practice. Anytime a school says “prefer” or “optional”, I usually read it as required unless you’re spectacular.</p>
<p>That being said, when I was applying as a transfer student, it said they preferred college recs, but high school would suffice. I’d say if they specifically mention that an alternative suffices or something to that sort, and your 10th grade teacher thinks you’re like the best student he or she has ever taught, I’d say do it.</p>
<p>And calling the college up and asking them up probably won’t be fruitful since they’re not likely to give details over an informal practice over the phone.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m sure 10th grade is fine.
I’m probably going to use my english teacher from 10th grade, because I worked insanely hard in that class and she approached me and told me that she would love to write me a rec for college, when the time came.</p>
<p>Of course if I find better teachers in the next two years, I’d choose them over her.</p>