<p>Hi everyone! So I'm another one of those nervous juniors fretting over the whole college process, lol. Well I needed advice on something so here's my dilemma.</p>
<p>I want to double major in science and business and I'm really passionate about both. I was a little worried, however, about whom I would get my recommendations from. I already decided on a science teacher who loves me. However, I'm not the creme de la creme of my math class so getting a rec from my math teacher wouldnt be smart. I have three options.</p>
<p>1) ap statistics teacher - had her sophomore year, definitely her best student, but we're not really personal and she didn't really get to see any other side of me besides my academic side. Plus it was a soph year so not recent.
2) ap us history teacher - she thinks I ask really great questions and am an asset to the class. Somewhat personal with her, would write a great rec.
3) sociology teacher - VERY close with him, he loves and respects me and thinks I have very philosophical ideas. Rec from him would be spectacullllar.</p>
<p>I know its a difficult situation since stat is business-related....but I know my socio teacher would write the best rec. ugh! Do you think getting a rec from a sociology teacher is a bad idea? Its not a core subject, but then again, it will show my philosophical side....</p>
<p>Help would be appreciated since I'm pulling my hair out over this:) thanks!</p>
<p>First – talk to your GC about this – he or she is a professional who should be able to advise you.</p>
<p>This having been said, any of these are ok.</p>
<p>A recommendation that says “lollypop was the best student in my class” is hard to beat.</p>
<p>Otherwise a spectacular one – where the teacher can really write about what makes you tick and why you are great will stand out</p>
<p>Agree with asking your guidance counselor who has likely read recommendations from these teachers. You would be surprised at how many letters of recommendation are damning with faint praise. The best letters tell a story about you and back up the accolades with anecdotes. It is much more valuable for the teacher to say how impressed they were with you on a particular group project because you included some left out kid and brought assignments home to the sick group member than to say “she is an excellent team player”. Unless you are applying to an engineering program, I would always choose the person who knows you best and can write a more detailed letter than just a teacher who gave you an A in your area of interest.</p>
<p>Awesome thanks guys! I’ll talk to my gc for sure, and most probably I’ll ask my socio teacher since I have a 102.7 in the class and we’re really close:)</p>
<p>Again, thanks for your help!</p>
<p>I think the letter that shows that the teacher really knows you will be best, as opposed to one that just says that you are smart…your scores can say that.</p>
<p>Ask your counselor if you can have ALL of them write letters, then let your counselor pick the best ones. I don’t know if this is allowed though, because I have gotten the impression that some schools expect them to be sealed…We didn’t run into that though, but my son was more of a "well rounded kid and not a straight A student, so maybe the schools he applied to were different…I did get a copy of his rec letter and below is part of it. I had wondered what a teacher would write about him, and I was sort of surprised at this. Just reminds us parents that the child who gives us headaches and backtalk, is not the same kid when he is out in the world! This was from a junior yr teacher, written when he was a senior. This is just a snippet, she also used lots of key words like work ethic, character, abilities…</p>
<p>". If I ever needed help with tedious tasks, XXXX was the first to volunteer. There was rarely a time when XXXX did not enter my room with a salutation and a bright smile. Even now, XXXX always has a hello waiting when he passes in the hallways. The kindness and compassion XXXX has for others will be advantageous in all aspects of life."</p>