I have a few options for my second letter of rec:
- My junior year AP English teacher- great writer of course, and spends a lot of time on his letters of rec. Another teacher told me that he thought I was a good student, but there's a good chance that teacher got mixed up with another student (that he definitely likes) with the same first name and initials. He's known to be extremely "honest" in letters of rec, apparently he wrote a rec writing why a student shouldn't be admitted into college for a student and told the other department teachers. I asked him for a rec to a highly competitive internship (bank of america) but was rejected- so it doesn't say much about whether he's good. The only reasons I can think he doesn't like me is when I'd asked him to take a reading a quiz for 50% credit the next day, and when I'd received a rec from him and came to class to add it to my app, I'd asked if I could read through the app one time to make sure everything was attached and I think he thought I was asking if I could read the rec. I tried to clear it up but idk because he didn't respond? He's a really great rec if he writes good things, but he definitely does write negative recs- I can't think of a reason he would strongly like me but I'm still worried?
2 . Junior US History- Doesn’t know me too well but advisor to my club. I participated a lot in his class. Will likely write a general/bland rec
- Pre-Calc H- Soph teacher (not junior); lets students literally write their letter of rec for them but fairly bland; liked me my soph year but idk how well she knows me now?
I asked all three teachers for rec to see what they’ll say- they all said yes, but nothing particularly positive or negative. My first rec is my accounting teacher, who really likes me.
I would recommend speaking with your GC and getting their opinion.
I would not recommend the accounting teacher unless you are in an accounting major and this teacher has taught you multiple classes through out the year, or the sophomore teacher.
Big flag and stay away from any teacher who says write your own recommendation and I will sign it.
@sybbie719 I’m not very comfortable talking with my GC.
As for my accounting teacher, I am a finance/accounting major and this teacher knows me better than any other teacher in the school. I’ve already checked with my schools and they said they are fine with that.
I’m just afraid my APLAC teacher will write something negative- at the same time, it might be very positive, and certainly very well written.
You can ask your english teacher if they could write you a positive LOR. Emphasis on the positive. I would hope that if he couldn’t do that, he would say so.
Agree with above. Not as good to use a soph teacher and do not write your own letter. As a hs kid, you will not know what adcoms look for, it may be obvious the main input came from a hs senior.
If the English teacher knows you best, that’s the logical choice. But you have time to build some connection with the history teacher. You should be doing this anyway, when you want a college LoR.
What colleges? Did you confirm in their web pages theat they don’t have requirements for LoR from core teachers? Not just by phone or email.
@momofsenior1 I already asked him for a rec, and I just said “would you feel comfortable writing me a letter of rec?” I don’t think I could go back and ask him again adding in “positive”? He said yes, but didn’t seem particularly unenthusiastic or enthusiastic?
@lookingforward Claremont Mckenna did ask for an “academic teacher” so I did confirm with them on email and they said it would be fine. My other colleges didn’t specify “core”
I recommend that you start working on getting comfortable talking with your GC. Remember that s/he will also be writing a recommendation about you as part of the Secondary School Report.
Again, has your accounting teacher taught you for more than one course? Academic teachers usually refer to teachers who have taught you in the core 4 subjects: English, Mathematics, Social Studies or Science. You should be working on developing a relationship with these teachers to get your recommendation letters.
So all this is confusing. I’m just going to throw this out here:
CMC doesn’t seem to have a “finance/accounting major.” If you mean “Economics-Accounting,” the college notes it includes “analytical, communications, and interersonal skills,” so a junior or senior math teacher LoR would be good, attesting to your analytical strengths. They also advise for this major that you combine it with “other areas of study for a dual or double major…” That suggests adcoms will look for signs of collateral strengths.
No, my accounting teacher only taught me for one course. I did think this through though, and while I know that math would be ideal, I genuinely believe that my accounting teacher could provide a far better rec than anyone else, including my math teacher . And yes, I’m majoring in economics-accounting at CMC.
My GC doesn’t typically answer those questions which is why I asked that question here.
You “hope to” major in E-A. First, you need an admit.
We’re here trying to help you see the best choices. Accounting is not offered at most high schools, it’s not even listed in the course recomendations for any college I know of. It won’t carry the weight at a place like CMC, may be seen as an elective. And accounting is generally conidered pre-professional, while top holistic colleges want to offer you more than specific career prep. And they want to see how you will add to the environment in more than just the career interest area.
Now you’re in a position worrying that teachers don’t know you well enough or might say something less than enthusiastic. You do need to meet with those teachers and put your best foot forward, open communications. You do need to understand what your target colleges are looking for, as much as you can. This not only helps you learn IF you match (which is more than stats) but also how to form your own best presentation in the app. Unfortunately, that effort starts with you.
I don’t see what ECs besides DECA. You need to think all this through.
Adding: you need to make your best decision. Don’t just follow what we say, put the time into asssessing and learning what you can.
@lookingforward sorry, wrote response fast. My first choice in UPenn (wharton), isn’t that relatively pre-professional? I understand it may not hold the same weight, but would a relatively general recommendation from a teacher who doesn’t know me as well hold less weight as well?
They see themselves as offering an education and a community first. That’s fuller than, say, going to a directional U to study accounting. One needs to show some activities that relate to the possible major, but also other interests and commitments. They want to see you’ll be involved with more than your career related studies. If you have a Why Us question, top colleges don’t want an answer like, “Because I want to work in finance and you’ll prepare me for that.”
I can’t tell what you have besides DECA. That will matter much.
It’s tough to get into a tippy top or top college. They expect a level of energy and savvy that covers several years of hs. I understand some smart kids aren’t sure who their teacher allies are. But my own thought is: no, not a lukewarm LoR.
But you pick yourself up and see what you can make of these teacher relationships. Go tell them your ideas, plans, make nice. And ask them if they feel they can write you a good rec. (Teachers usually like a little attention. That’s someting you’ll want to remember in college, too- to go with an interesting, relevant question, show your stuff.)
If you are happy with other college targets, all this matter less. UCs don’t ask for LoRs, right?
I just want you to think about this, what you can do. The decision, in the end, belongs to you. But an admit is more than the stats and desire.
SOme of your colleges may allow a 3rd LoR. If you make the effort and then decide to add the accounting letter, fine.
Best to you.
@lookingforward, I understand what you are saying. I’m involved in a few non- “pre-professional” ECs deeply as well, DECA isn’t actually my biggest EC? I can try building relationships with my teachers (none of them are negative, just some don’t know me taht well) but recs in my school are usually written in september for ea/ed applicants. Also, we can’t ask 3 teachers for a lor in my school- only 2.
Your best bet would try to get a recommendation from a math teacher and one from a humanities teacher (English or Social Studies). Reach out to these teachers. Give them a rag sheet including anecdotals about your best work in their classes.
This is horrifying and deeply unethical and that teacher needs a stern censuring–agreeing to recommend a student means you want to recommend that student, and a negative letter is not a recommendation. Outrageous. Do not ask this teacher; anyone who would agree to help a student and then sabotage that student is not to be trusted. What an absolute loser.
@marvin100 yeahh, I thought it was pretty bad too. It seems like one-off thing, but even if the student was horrible, I don’t understand why he couldn’t just say no. On the other hand, he writes great, great recs for students he likes. While a teacher told me that he thought I was a strong student, I have a common name (he has a few students with my same name and even initials in the class) and there could have easily been a mix-up. So I definitely am worried that this is a risk, and I’m not sure if I should take it? I can’t think of anything negative I did in his class though so I don’ t know…
Yes, the ethical response to a request from a student you can’t honestly and enthusiastically recommend is “I’m sorry, but you should ask someone else.” I’ve had to say it myself–it’s not easy to say or hear, but it’s the right thing to do.