<p>I'm a rising senior trying to determine which teachers I will ask for recs. I'm applying to a range of top LACs.</p>
<p>Regarding recs, is it better to ask a teacher where his or her academic area is not my speciality but with whom I have a very good relationship, or to ask a teacher whose class I excel in but who does not know me on a very personal level? </p>
<p>I'm trying to decide whether or not to get a rec form my math teacher. She definitely knows me as a person more (she was my teacher for two years) and I get A's in math, it's just definitely not my calling or something I will study in college beyond course requirments.</p>
<p>Definitely the math teacher. Someone who knows you well can definitely write a letter that'll add more to your application than a generic letter.</p>
<p>Consider these (somewhat extreme) examples:</p>
<p>Teacher who doesn't know you well
"Jimmy is a very studious young man. He always does his homework and is consistently on task. He has excelled in my class, and I would expect him to do the same at your university."</p>
<p>OR</p>
<p>Teacher who knows you (at least somewhat) well
"It has been a joy to get to know Jimmy these past two years. I have seen him excel not only as a student in my class, but also as a friend, classmate, and a young man... He may not be a math major, but the determination and commitment he has shown -- both in and out of the classroom -- make me confident that he will succeed in whatever field he chooses."</p>
<p>A rec that helps adcoms decide favorably for a student will include the following (IMHO): clear examples of the student's drive, motivation, classroom presence (sociability and leadership), maturity and other positive intangibles. The teacher will be asked how the student compares with peers and other students the teacher has known in his/her career. Positives will be characterized by several solid anecdotes -- not just broad statements of support.</p>
<p>Given this, which of your teachers is more likely to generate these qualities? Even if it's a teacher you may not know very well, make an appt with him/her and say you're considering asking for a rec but would like to discuss things in advance. Ask if he/she were to write something for you, what it might be like -- certainly you're not constraining them from writing whatever they want but you want to know how intimate the rec really can be.</p>