Which Teacher is better for LoR?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi guys,
I have an interesting dilemma for you. I'm trying to get my second letter of rec done by a social studies teacher and it had always been teacher 1 until I realized teacher 2 might have great recommendation potential. </p>

<p>Teacher 1:
I had T1 junior year for AP US History, which is usually the year for rec teachers.</p>

<p>I stood out in his class some (nothing exceptional, just a very good student) and was very good about being one of the top participators especially in debates and other mock history stuff (presidential press conference, etc.). I did well in the class. </p>

<h2>The problem is, I wonder how good his rec will be. It'll be decent and show a very active and interested student, but he has many letters to write and may resort to being a bit formulaic, I fear. </h2>

<p>Teacher 2:
I had T2 for half a semester for ancient World history freshman year and am currently in his AP Art history class. </p>

<p>He really kindled my interest in history my freshman year and specifically told me that although he couldn't remember a lot from then, he still remembered an email I sent him sophomore year thanking him for kindling that passion and how I approached history. Considering he's had so many students, I found that very encouraging.</p>

<p>Well, senior year comes around and after a month, we've really hit it off again. I would like for my rec to focus on character/personality, and he knows me very well in this way. He loves when people take risks making connections or original ideas, and I do this a lot during and after class when we sort of hang around and talk. </p>

<h2>I can tell he really, really likes me and that we do know each other on a more profound level; he told me there were things I commented on that really changed him when we were discussing picasso's bull head and an ori soltes lecture. </h2>

<p>If you've read this far, I really think he could write an amazing rec that reveals something few could say, but my concern is that I didn't have him when rec teachers usually have students. </p>

<p>Thank you so much for answering, I wish I could compensate you for reading this long post!</p>

2

<p>Either could probably work fine, but I’d go with teacher 2, since he’ll likely personalize it more.</p>

3

<p>Teacher 2 is better. Although teachers from freshman year only writing recs is extremely rare, you have him again this year so, since he already knows you, that’s fine.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the opinions. I am applying to Duke ED (Nov. 1) and feel that what he could say about my intellectual character/personality could be that X-factor, especially because they really look for character/ personal qualities in applicants. </p>

<p>On the other hand, Teacher 1 is very popular for rec letters and he told me that “I can confidently write you a good letter of rec-- you truly did “stand out” in my 3rd period class”. I also told him that I would be asking him for a LoR and was on his sign up list (he’d probably be fine with less work though… haha)</p>

5

<p>Any other opinions would be appreciated! :)</p>

6

<p>Bump :)…</p>

7

<p>I’d lean towards teacher 1, although I think that you should really make up your mind on this soon (teachers like to get plenty of time). I think it would be beneficial to have a more recent teacher (junior year is very recent, freshman year is not, even though you have the second teacher now) write your recommendation, and it looks like he’ll have something good to write about, since you stood out in his class.</p>

8

<p>Yeah, I definitely want to make up my mind soon because they’d have only a few weeks. I think the basis of my thread here is that I think Teacher 1 could write an orthodox but good rec. I think Teacher 2 could provide that wow factor to colleges, and he would mostly talk about this year (as much as I like him if we only had freshman year I wouldn’t let him even do a teacher feedback form for a counselor rec). </p>

<p>I actually feel like he might be able to write just as much quality/quantity as the junior year teacher, but I can’t get in their heads so I’d only be guessing.</p>

9

<p>Bump~ I’d really like to have a decision made by tomorrow!</p>

10

<p>Another bump :frowning: sorry</p>

11

<p>teacher 2. I get that you’re concerned that you didn’t have this teacher junior year, but the logic behind that is usually that junior year teachers know you better. but teacher 2 seems to know you well so it shouldn’t be a problem</p>

12

<p>Yeah, I definitely am leaning towards him now, I would like to let him know by the end of today. Any other opinions wOuld be great</p>

13

<p>Any final advice would be really appreciated. thanks for all your help!</p>

14

<p>final bump, any thoughts would be appreciated. thanks!</p>

15

<p>If anyone has any last words, I am going in a couple of hours to make the switch.</p>

16

<p>Since you have t2 this year again, I do not see any problem not asking him. </p>

<p>However, you may want to also “invite” t1 if there are any schools in your list that specifically ask rec letters from junior/ sophomore years ( I remember seeing this kind of requirements from my son’s school list, but I maybe wrong). Then you can assign sending t1’s rec letters to meet the requirement if there is any. </p>

<p>BTW, check your school list before you ask t1.</p>

17

<p>I don’t think any of my schools have that requirement, just checked. I talked to Teacher 1 today and he was glad, he was overloaded with recs to do and I don’t think it would have been very personalized- he told me that he still had 5 to do for an Oct. 15 deadline. </p>

<p>I let him know that he would be my first choice if I needed a third rec later like in December, just to keep the door open, and he said he’d probably be much less busy by then.</p>

18

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<p>I don’t think any college likes getting a rec from a sophomore year teacher.</p>