<p>So today I approached my chemistry teacher to ask her for a recommendation for a science summer internship program that I wanted to apply to. I am a good student and do have a 97% in her class, as well as A's in all my others. She declined, stating that she does not know me well enough to give me a recommendation. I almost cried. =/</p>
<p>What are some things I need to do in general to develop a good relationship with my teacher(s) so asking for rec's will be easier?</p>
<p>There's a great post on here somewhere that speaks directly to this. But, being someone lucky enough to have all the right recommenders approach ME, I will give you a few pointers.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Do you stand out in class? I don't just mean grades. Discussion plays a big part. The best way to a professor's or teacher's heart is to add to the class while involving more people. Pose questions to your classmates during debates. Play devil's advocate. Get students involved outside of the classroom.</p></li>
<li><p>You had a 97%? Did you offer to tutor any students who were having trouble? Again, this is a huge opportunity to show leadership. GIVE to you fellow classmates from your wellspring of talent!</p></li>
<li><p>Tell them about yourself. Offer up information. Also, how about a few pleasantries exchanged? "How was your day, Mrs. X? Mine is going well! Do you read National Geographic? There's a great article there that I think the class would enjoy." etc etc</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Also, when you go to ask for a rec, bring a very brief, one page, resume of your interests, ECs, goals, etc. That way the teacher will have some other things to discuss other than that you're smart in their class.</p>
<p>Getting good recs is easier at small schools, where you have a lot of opportunities to interact with the same teachers and they get to know you in different capacities over several years.</p>
<p>If a teacher coaches a sport you enjoy, or sponsors a club or activity you're interested in, joining is a great way to build a relationship. Not if you don't like the activity or don't want to commit to it, of course; that would build a negative relationship. But if there is one you can see yourself doing, join up and work hard.</p>
<p>A young lady at our school has a sketchy academic record and had some disciplinary problems in the early grades. She now gets A's and glowing recs from a teacher who hates giving A's and literally cried the first (and only) time he graded a test 100%. She told geek_son last week that she really doesn't work very hard in the teacher's classes. However, she works her butt off as manager of the multiple athletic teams he coaches. She's earned the respect and trust of other faculty and administrators in the same manner. She'll get good recs from them.</p>
<p>Some kids, especially "only children," are comfortable with adults and have no trouble conversing and schmoozing with them. If you can carry on an interesting and thoughtful conversation about a topic of interest to the adults, they often take this as a sign of maturity!</p>
<p>Common interests can spark a relationship-building conversation. Are you both fans of LotR, Monty Python, a particular TV series or local sports team? geek_son shares musical tastes with some of his teachers and has an encyclopedic knowledge of a particular band; he likes to inject quotes from their lyrics into classroom discussions, a little verbal wink to his teacher. They both get a kick out of it.</p>
<p>Stand out in class by engaging in relevant classroom discussions -- not just raising your hand and/or opening your mouth every few minutes. Asking a question that was already answered in the lecture is bad; asking a question that anticipates the next lecture is good. Challenging other students with facts and reason during open discussion is good; contradicting other students without a solid basis is bad. And be sensitive to cues from the teacher that say it's time to shut up and move on.</p>
<p>If you want a rec from your chemistry teacher, show a little passion for chemistry. Do some outside reading on something that interests you in the chapter or lab you're working on in class. Then show up a few minutes early for class (or stay a few minutes late) and ask the teacher what she thinks of the stuff you've read and the sources you found. Apply what you're learning in chemistry to something else you're involved in -- another class, a hobby, or something you do around the house. Get excited about that, and then come into class jabbering about what you've figured out. It doesn't have to be some research internship in a college lab. Did you paint your bedroom over the weekend? Why did the first coat of glossy paint go flat when you spread it on the matte wall? Like baking, or at least like cookies? How does baking soda make your cookies turn out like cookies instead of hockey pucks? Why do you get different results when you use softened butter instead of straight from the fridge? If you're passionately curious about the subject she teaches and you demonstrate your passion and curiosity by trying things and bringing your outside learning into the classroom, she'll find you more interesting, pay more attention to you, and have some things to write about you when you ask for a rec.</p>
<p>^ Thank you SO much. And to all the others.
I think my main problem is that I definitely don't speak up as much in class, because I am a really shy person. And also there are some other students who tend to take the spotlight almost all the time.</p>