Ok so for some of the schools I’m applying to, like Brown, there are 2 required teacher letters of rec and 2 optional. I have filled the requirements, but I’m concerned that not taking advantage of those extra letters will reflect negatively on me. I was considering asking a science teacher (I already have foreign language and English) who has had me for Chemistry and AP Bio, but she doesn’t know me at all personally; I was always really quiet in her classes. However, she does know that I worked really hard in AP Bio and got a 4 on the test, even though science does not come easily to me. She’s notoriously disorganized and flaky, but some of my peers are asking her for letters. Should I ask and risk a somewhat okay letter of rec in addition to the requirements, or should I stick to what I have? (Also I don’t have a rec letter from an AP teacher yet…how important is that?)
Send the required two. If the third adds something substantial and different than the first two, send it. But in your case, that bio/chem teacher’s rec letter will only water down your application. Don’t do it.
Your first two will be more than sufficient.