This applies to all schools, but using Columbia as an example: for teacher recommendation letters for “academic disciplines,” and, more specifically, “math or science teachers for engineering applicants,” is this limited to just math and science? Or would an AP Computer Science (an elective, as far as I know) teacher be acceptable as well?
CS would be fine – it’s considered a core academic course.
@T26E4 ok, thanks!
Anything that is not required is, by definition, an elective. If a HS graduation requirement for math is 3 years though Algebra II, then Calc BC is an elective.
Additionally, computer science is a STEM subject, so would certainly count as a math/science teacher.
@skieurope good to know, thanks!
What about teachers of foreign language courses? Do they hold as much weight as, say English and/or History teachers (for kid interested in pursuing non-STEM subjects)?
I read in a recent post that some Adcoms – the poster was specifically referring to those of the University of Chicago – did not consider foreign languages to be “core” courses like English, Math, History, and Science and consequently don’t hold teacher recs from language classes to the same level of esteem as those from the aforementioned “core” classes.
Is this a prevalent view? D17 was planning to ask her Spanish teacher to write one of her recs - she always speaks highly of D’s work and is a good writer and enthusiastic educator.
Will the fact that it is coming from a foreign language rather than an English teacher be problematic for elite college admissions? Her other letter will come from a history teacher. She is not interested in STEM, I don’t think that she’ll ask her science or math teacher (although she gets As in those subjects).
No. Foreign languages are a core class.
No.
Unless the college asks for a STEM recommendation and a humanities rec (and they will be quite clear on the website if they do), that’s fine,