<p>Is it better to have a teacher that you had junior year write your recommendation for college or a teacher that you are having senior year? What about sophomore year?</p>
<p>I think that it is generally agreed upon that it is best to have junior year teachers write your teacher recs, simply because they have known you the most recently (as opposed to a sophomore teacher), as well as for an entire year (as opposed to a senior teacher).</p>
<p>Recommendations from junior year teachers are the best because they most recently had you for a full year. I personally got my recommendation from a UNC lecturer I had for summer school.</p>
<p>I agree that it is generally accepted that Junior year teachers are the best. However, they are not the only option, if you really connect with a soph or sr teacher, especially if you have one jr one already. One of my recs was from a senior teacher, I almost got some from a teacher who I'd had soph and senior year (so I she'd had me both for an entire year, and recently)...plus a teacher I had both jr and sr years, which I think is ideal, but probably impossible for most students.</p>
<p>The problem with Sr. teachers is that they will only have had you for a semester. And if you're going to ask them in a timely manner, they'll only have had you for a month or two.</p>
<p>Colleges would rather see a recommendation from a AP Calculus BC teacher than an Algebra II teacher. But I still don't think recommendations from senior teachers is a good idea.</p>
<p>^ As long as the rec speaks of good personal qualities, I don't think it really matters which level class it's from.</p>
<p>what if you've had a teacher more than once. like my math teacher i've had all 3 years so far and will have her again this year. same with my social studies teacher</p>
<p>Why would it be any problem? The more the teacher has known you the better. I plan to send recommendations from a teacher I had from freshman to junior and another one I had during all high school and that has known me a little since I was 10. They have a good opinion about me; they had plenty of time to know me well and I think that will only be a bonus for me. Same for you!</p>
<p>lyfe: The best recs are from the teachers who've known you the longest, but in multiple capacities. For example, I sent my English teacher who taught me freshman year and junior year. He could attest to my growth. I also sent my newspaper adviser who's known me all four years on a more personal level.</p>
<p>You math and social studies teachers sound like excellent candidates!</p>
<p>do you think i should request my 10th grade teacher as a 12th grade teacher (she also teaches AP) just so that I can get her to write my recommendation "legally"? I know she'd write a really strong rec; I've read her previous recs for other students and I know she likes me.</p>
<p>I'm getting my sophomore year math teacher (and he MIGHT be my senior year Calc BC teacher, too, so that's an added plus), and I honestly could care less of what colleges think.</p>
<p>Hmmm. My d's chem teacher from sophomore year would write the very best letter...they have been involved with making chem music videos since D was in her class. Would that seem too long ago? And how would her hs honors choir teacher or a world-renowned choir director from a summer program look? since they aren't academic, would that look really weak? How about an employer?</p>
<p>Unsure, but I really want to know about this.</p>
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do you think i should request my 10th grade teacher as a 12th grade teacher (she also teaches AP) just so that I can get her to write my recommendation "legally"?
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Go for it. The worse that can happen is your GC can say, "Sorry it won't work with your schedule. That being said, if your school makes it really difficult to request teachers or if requesting just doesn't work out, than I wouldn't worry too much. It's not "illegal" to send in a sophomore teacher. It's just suggested that you send in a junior teacher because they've taught you most recently. However, if you've maintained a relationship with this teacher since sophomore year, I see no problem in asking them.
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Would that seem too long ago?
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You say they've been making these videos since she was in the class, meaning this past year? If that's the case then there's nothing wrong with that (see above answer)
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And how would her hs honors choir teacher or a world-renowned choir director from a summer program look? since they aren't academic, would that look really weak? How about an employer?
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Colleges have different policies on these kinds of recs, so check with the individual institutions before sending them. I think all of the Ivies and many of the top universities require 1-3 academic teacher recs. That shouldn't stop you from sending supplementary recs from these people if you think they will provide a different insight into your daughter's life. I sent an additional rec from my newspaper adviser and I know others who sent recs from youth pastors or employers as well. Don't overload on the supplementary recs though. One or two is okay but above that is a little excessive.</p>
<p>Hope that helps!</p>