<p>So, yeah. Most people here probably haven't had this problem but...</p>
<p>My teacher refused to write me a recommendation letter. Not because he is too busy but because he doesn't feel I am ready for college. It'd probably be good to note that this is a college level physics class and I'm currently getting a 4.0. sigh*</p>
<p>I need a math/science teacher because I wanted to apply to MIT. Yet I don't have a teacher willing too write one. I'm probably the first one from my school to even try applying. I know the chances are like nonexistant but I really wanted the chance to try. If I can't get a recommendation do I still apply? If my teacher does write one but say's something like, "don't admit", will they simply follow his advice? I'm a little worried if he does write one he will be not so nice (ie. cruel)...though if thats the best I got I still should use it right? It'd be weird if I explained it somewhere else in the app right?</p>
<p>Other things, last year there was some problems at school and my GPA fell slightly in the last quarter. If I could explain something, even if I didn't want to, would it be worth it? I mean, its weird to say it affected my GPA, because that sounds like an excuse...but then again if it didn't I think I would be a weird person. I never really said anything at all to any one. Other than that wonderful quarter my GPA is quite nice, I think. Although I don't think the other quarters really make up for that one quarter. Besides, is there such a thing as an excuse for doing poorly one quarter? People say that the end of the junior year is the most important. Are they right?</p>
<p>If he says he does not want to write it, take him at his word. Whatever he writes will hurt you more than it will help, and at least he is decent enough to say he won’t do it instead of writing you a poor rec. You must have taken other science & math classes if you want to apply to MIT (Chem? Bio? Calculus?). Ask them.</p>
<p>Regarding the explanation, if it is a good reason (eg, you or someone in your family was sick, or some traumatic thing like a death in your family), ask you Guidance Counselor if they can communicate that. If it was a tough breakup or your cat died… well, I would just leave it alone.</p>
<p>Surely you have other math or science teachers who can write the letter for you. Go ask one of them. If they all refuse, speak with your guidance counselor and get some help with finding someone who can write the letter for you.</p>
<p>They think the same thing, that people from this town shouldn’t apply to top competitive schools…actually I don’t know right now if my guidance counselor will back me up on applying, though I think she likes me. I could have my biology teacher right me a letter, if only I could remember her name, it was an online class. I would think the school would have some records or something. But then again, it doens’t sound like a good recommendation.</p>
<p>My guidance counselor doesn’t know about what happened at school and I prefer it to stay like that…because…well…that’d be the start of something I’m not wanting to start. I was stalked on campus. It didn’t go far enough for anything to be done which I’d assume that telling people would lead to them getting involved. So, yeah, I never mentioned during the quarter much. Though one of my friends was always aware of it.</p>
<p>or just another example. My chem teacher won’t because after all I didn’t do so good in that class…but that was the same quarter other stuff was happening. sigh*</p>
<p>If you did nothing to initiate the stalking, why on earth aren’t you willing to speak with someone about it? Your guidance counselor can help you decide whether or not it is worth putting into his notes, and maybe he can help the stalker get the help he/she needs so as to not do that kind of stuff again.</p>
<p>Teachers who care about their students absolutely do not think that their students shouldn’t apply to competitive colleges and universities. Stop being afraid of your teachers, and ask everyone again. Be proactive. If they dither, ask them why personally they think that you should not take this chance. Are they afraid your heart will be broken? Or, do they know from recent experience that you do not have what it takes to get into and be successful? Or is it simply that they’ve never written a recommendation for that kind of place and aren’t sure what to say? In that last case, reassure them that the admissions offices at those kinds of colleges and universities get letters from people like them every single year, and will be able to evaluate that letter appropriately.</p>
<p>Perhaps I misunderstood their behavior? Which leaves me without a reason for doing poorly. Something probably did happen since I went from having a 3.9 to a 2.56 in one quarter… I guess I’m learning why people don’t ever complain or bring this stuff up. It is simply really really hard to. Easier said than done, right? I’m not even sure if what happened is considered wrong. I mean, I’ve read some stories of other peoples stalking experiences, and they are horrific. Mine is not. I wonder if anything really even happened sometimes. Whatever happened though I know I worried about it more than my chemistry homework. </p>
<p>As for my teachers I will ask again after the break and go from there.</p>
<p>You have a pretty steep drop in your GPA. Surely your guidance counselor has wondered what was going on. He/she may suspect something even worse. Take a chance and talk with your counselor. Whether anything “really did happen”, you felt like it was, and you could use a some support in processing it.</p>