<p>I asked my Science teacher that I had for Biology H in 9th grade and AP Biology in 11th grade and my AP English Lang teacher (11th grade) for recs, since they are the two teachers that I am most comfortable with. However, will it look bad that I didn't get a rec from my history teacher since I listed that as my intended major? The reason I didn't is because I absolutely hated my 11th grade AP USH teacher. He couldn't teach, and always yelled at me for not paying attention to him even though I wasn't doing anything else. I was going to ask my 10th grade AP Euro teacher but I thought it'd look bad since I didn't have him my junior year. A lot of people also asked him to write their recs and I didn't want mine to sound generic so I didn't ask him. Will colleges think that I put History as a prospective major for no reason? I'm really passionate about history, so I'm getting sort of worried since Pomona is my number one choice school..</p>
<p>I don't think it will matter, particularly if you show your interest in history by expressing it in other ways (i.e. through extracurricular activities, your interview, taking multiple AP History courses). It would probably be more important if you had said your intended major was dance, or some other uncommon major, and had showed no interest in that at all. Some people think putting an uncommon major down will boost their chances since it will add diversity to the class, but if there is nothing to back it up, it's obvious what the student is doing. History is a popular interest and major, so I really wouldn't worry. They also know that the majority of people change their intended majors once they get to college, so what you put really doesn't have much weight (unless it's uncommon). Good luck!</p>
<p>Yea, I think the main thing is to ask teachers who you know well (and you think will write a good recommendation), otherwise your rec can come off sounding generic and impersonal. One of the teachers I asked wrote the same paragraph for everybody in the class, then just personalized the name at the top - probably a good thing that one didn't end up being sent to pomona!! =) Obviously if you put a major like "concrete industry management" you might want to consider otherwise, but esp. at a liberal arts school i don't think it really matters.</p>
<p>koolaz- I think you chose wisely. History is a writing intensive major, so your strong rec from your AP English teacher will highlight your potential to do well in history courses. Pomona's classes are very writing intensive in general, and writing well is probably one of the most important skills students must have to do well at this school. You probaby couldn't have picked a better teacher rec (providing it's a good one :) ).</p>
<p>Haha yeah I hope so. He's a Columbia alum :). I've taken every AP history class offered at my school except for World History, and that I just self studied and passed. Does this count as "interest"?</p>
<p>Of course. Keep in mind, though, that when you get to college your interests will expand. History is a great background for so many other facinating fields - politics, economics, philosophy, international relations, anthropololgy, etc. Your passion is admirable. But don't be too quick to commit to one discipline just yet- it's a big world out there!</p>
<p>And good luck on your Pomona admission, but it sounds like you'll do well wherever you end up.</p>
<p>!</p>
<p>Haha thanks. I know that success doesn't really matter on which school you go to, since I am planning to go to grad school. It's just that I hear that Pomona has a great Environmental Analysis program, and I was planning to double major in that and history. Plus I love how relaxed people there are, the beautiful campus, and the fact that its always warm! haha.</p>