<p>So my guidance counselor told me that in the US most kids ask from one English/humanities/social science teacher and the other from a math/science teacher...</p>
<p>I already asked my History teacher to write me one, and she's known me since freshman year. She loves me and i've traveled with her for speech and debate competitions abroad</p>
<p>However, for my OTHER recommendation, I was thinking of asking my LITERATURE teacher because he also knows me well. He's known me since freshman year. I founded a theatre organization and he's the advisor as well. Also, I've had several lead roles in the productions that he directed. </p>
<p>Both of these told me that they would give me glowing recs and I'm applying to YALE'S DIRECTED STUDIES PROGRAM (focused on history and literature)</p>
<p>My Math and Physics teachers are lecture type teachers and I dont have a personal connection with them. I'm doing fine in both classes, but with such a competitive applicant pool, i really want glowing recs from both teachers... but Idk...</p>
<p>again, my counselor said that in the US it's unusual to have two humanities/social science teachers to write a rec.</p>
<p>There are others on this board who can probably advise you better as they have more experience with Yale admissions. But I think having recs from teachers who have known you longest and best is hugely beneficial. While my kid did have a rec from an English and a science teacher, he was a STEM kid and both teachers had known him for four years, as a student and in extracurriculars. I feel sure the detailed, personalized letters they were able to write (we did not see them) went a long way towards helping his application as these teachers had spent a lot of time with him over the years. Assuming your test scores and science/math grades are strong, I would definitely go with the teachers who can attest to your strengths in glowing terms. Good luck.</p>
<p>My S had two English teachers and one math teacher write his recs, even though he is pursuing a STEM major and music minor. They were the teachers that knew him the best and had the broadest perspective of him. </p>
<p>Then DO NOT ask your Math or Physics teacher for a recommendation!</p>
<p>You want recommendations from teachers who will rave about your scholastic potential, teachers who will proclaim that you are a dynamic force in the classroom, that you have the ability to lead discussions with thoughtful conversations, that your writing surpasses the strictures of assignments, that you are respected by students and faculty alike, that you are a rare student who doesn’t come along very often, one who’s light will shine for others to follow. Whoever can you write you that kind of recommendation – be it two English teachers or two Math teachers – those are the teachers you want to ask. </p>
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<p>It sounds like you should ignore your GC’s advice and ask your LITERATURE teacher in addition to your HISTORY teacher!</p>
<p>Always go for the more solid recommendation. As long as it’s from a teacher in a legitimate academic subject, you should be good. My recs were from a Spanish and an English teacher and I got pre-admitted to DS. (Since I’m in advice-giving mode: DON’T TAKE DIRECTED STUDIES.) (You can take that with a grain of salt but seriously, on the recs you should be fine.)</p>
<p>My D was leaning toward the Classics or Literature for her major. No desire to have a recommendation from a math teacher since those were never her strongest subjects. Her recommendations came from her Latin teacher (all four years of high school) and her AP US History teacher - who by the way was the hardest teacher she ever had.</p>
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