<p>My history teacher showed me a copy of the recommendation he wrote for me today. The recommendation only touched on two things: my academic ability ("puts her in the top 5% of students I've taught") and my "love of learning."</p>
<p>----Is "love of learning" a teacher euphemism for "I can't pin down any distinct personal/character trait about this student so I'm going to write something super vague"? (Or am I over-thinking this?)</p>
<p>He gave only three (equally vague) examples to support this claim:
1. I helped draw other students into class discussions
2. I entered and won several contests in my free time last year
3. I volunteered to help my classmates with their public speaking assignments</p>
<p>Is this a strong recommendation? I'm afraid that the rec is too vague. I am considering a history/English double-major, which is why I asked my history teacher....even though two of my science teachers volunteered to write recs for me (I have yet to follow up on this request, since I was counting on recs from my history teacher + my english teacher.)</p>
<p>Should I forgo this recommendation in favor of asking one of my science teachers instead? Or is "love of learning" a good characteristic to highlight in a teacher recommendation?</p>
<p>This sounds like a great recommendation to me! “Love of learning” is not vague, it is an important trait that should apply to all college applicants but clearly does not. Colleges value this greatly.
You could ask your guidance counselor for an opinion on this.</p>
<p>I can see why you are hesitating. I assume the teacher showed it to you in order to get your feedback, since recs are confidential and teachers generally don’t share them.</p>
<p>It’s a strong recommendation, but not a ‘glowing’ recommendation. A really outstanding recommendation would say you were the best, or at least, among the best students he or she has ever had. Or if that’s not true, it would at least cite your exceptionally perceptive insights, your passion for the subject, your unusual creativity, extraordinary writing skills, your silver-tongued debating skills… some superlative that indicates what makes you special. It’s almost there when he says you help draw other students into the discussion - but the vagueness prevents anyone from drawing a clear picture of exactly what it is that you do that would make you a major asset to the classroom environment. </p>
<p>I guess there are a few options. One is to thank the teacher profusely for the warm recommendation and then ask if he would be willing to add a few words about what differentiates you from all the other top students. If you have something specific in mind, bring it up (as in, “I was wondering if you might add a sentence mentioning that I also am especially good at x and that I have a passion for y.”) If you ask it in a way that sounds like you are asking for a favor to help support the case you are making in your application, rather than a criticism of what’s been written, he may be willing to make the changes, especially if they don’t take much time.</p>
<p>The other option is to go with the science rec - but there is no way to know if that one is going to be any better and you might not get shown it, as you were this one.</p>
<p>BeanTownGirl - thank you! I certainly hope so (:</p>
<p>M’s Mom - Thank you for the advice! I followed your first suggestion yesterday and my history teacher readily made an addition to the rec. It now paints a slightly more vivid picture of who I am in the classroom. Without your advice, I probably would have given up on this entirely and went to a science teacher instead. Thanks again!</p>