Teacher Recommendation Help

Applying to College
1

<p>One greatest problem is that almost all my junior teachers have left, and thus leave me almost no options of a teacher to ask for a recommendation letter.</p>

<p>My math teacher who I was very close to, and achieved very high marks in his class, retired this year. I have asked him for a rec letter. Still awaiting reply.</p>

<p>My physics/2nd chem teacher left the school for another school. I have no way of contacting him, and my friends tell me that he is no good with letters.</p>

<p>My english/philosophy teacher just left for educational leave (taking more courses) and won't be back til the second semester, AFTER i send in all the applications. Apparently she's very stingy about sending university letters because she feels that it's unnecessary. </p>

<p>My only options are my History teacher and Chemistry teacher. My History teacher is pretty cool, and I still talk to him in the hall ways, but I've kind of screwed around in his class (still got a 90,) and sometimes got in trouble but that won't really affect me because another girl who did the exact same, got an amazing rec letter and she was only 2 percent higher than I was. My practice IB exam was also one of the top marks in his class, and he said he was this close from giving me a perfect paper only because I forgot to put in quotations. However, I'm applying for a science major, and I'm not sure if he'll be the best teacher since he's history. Any advice?</p>

<p>My 1st chemistry teacher before the second one, I wasn't that close to, but constantly achieved top marks in his class (second class rank) before he left, and the new teacher dropped my mark drastically. I know that he's my senior chem teacher, and I'm sure I'll be able to get a top ranking in his class. But I don't know him really really well, but I do say hi in the hallways, and during my Group 4 presentation, which he looked over, me and him talked about our summer plans. Do you think he'll be a good fit for a recommendation letter?</p>

<p>Is it okay if I ask a senior teacher (such as my math teacher next year. He's the top math teacher in my province, and a very very good one, who taught for over 40 years, or my physics teacher, who is also very good) to write my recommendation letter? I heard that most colleges only want junior year teacher recommendations. </p>

<p>Any advice for me?</p>

2

<p>"is it okay if I ask a senior teacher (such as my math teacher next year. He’s the top math teacher in my province, and a very very good one, who taught for over 40 years, or my physics teacher, who is also very good) to write my recommendation letter? I heard that most colleges only want junior year teacher recommendations. "</p>

<p>Yes.</p>

3

<p>Ask the one that knows you best on a personal/character level, whoever that is among the people available to you. No one cares if he’s a highly capable teacher; rather, admissions officers care if he’s capable of talking about you.</p>

4

<p>its better to get a teacher that likes you or your more comfortable with to write you a LoR rather than a teacher who teaches a subject.</p>

5

<p>flipflo: while it’s preferred that one has a positive relationship w/a potential LOR writer, top schools require LORs from teachers of only certain subjects. For instance, your favorite teacher might be a Latin teacher but some schools need LORs from humanities and science/math classes only.</p>