<p>I was wondering how one could choose a teacher that would write the best recommendation from them that clearly stood out. I already know one of the teachers I am going to ask for a recommendation because she writes highly personalized recs but I am not sure whether to ask a 10th grade teacher where I'm afraid i didnt really stand out in the class and where I kind of lost contact with the teacher or whether I should ask my 11th grade teacher who I spoke a lot with out of class and answered a lot of questions and participated actively in discussions but may have caused a bad impression with because I fooled around in class sometimes. I'm leaning towards asking the 11th grade teacher, so in order to insure a good rec should i sit down with her and give her my resume and ask her if she has any questions about me personally to write about?</p>
<p>the thing i'm really wondering about is do teachers every write really really horrible recommendations or check boxes in the abysmal category because i feel somewhat paranoid in passing off a rec to a teacher that I may never see.</p>
<p>If you want to see your recommendation some time in the future, don't sign the waiver on the recommendation form. What you should do is approach your teachers, preferably early during the year or email them this summer, asking them if they will write you a good recommendation. Often times, if teachers have really horrible things to say, then they'll decline to write your recs.</p>
<p>should i use that kind of phrasing, "good recommendation" or should I ask them if they'd be willing to and then gauge their responses. Isnt it also a requirement to sign the waiver on the recommendation form</p>
<p>11th grade teachers are best. Getting a rec from a teacher that you've lost touch with is going to be useless, especially if you don't think he/she is even going to remember details about you.</p>
<p>Most teachers will tell you whether or not they can/will write you a good rec. Some will actually say 'I think that you might do better with another teacher'.</p>
<p>To my knowledge it is not required to sign the waiver. On the Common App, at least, they have two bubbles to check. You should just be up front with them. I don't think any would be offended; it is your application. I would probably ask them first if they will write a good recommendation.</p>