<p>Since my son is done with apps and all, it is too late for me. But we went around and around about which rec to send in if only one weas needed. Since he is applying to Engr. he sent in his AP Calculus teacher's rec. If two were needed he added his AP English teacher's rec. I wondered about this, as I am sure his Eng. teacher's rec was probably more eloquently written and put together whereas his Calc teacher is kind of scatterbrained, but a genius and it might not have been as eloquent. I am also sure they were both glowing as he is a good student. Question is, do you think it is better to send a rec by an Eng teacher that might be better thought out and written or do you think it matters more from a Math teacher if he is applying to Engineering schools? Just curious!</p>
<p>I think you made the right call. I would think that either a math rec or a science rec would be mandatory for an engineering applicant. And even if the math teacher is not eloquent, it’s likely he still did the job of conveying your son’s abilities.</p>
<p>For engineering schools that only require one letter - I’d definitely go with the math. I wouldn’t count on his English teacher being that eloquent on paper unless you have samples of his or her writing. I saw a physics teacher rec for my son for something before college, and it was very nicely written and a computer science teacher talked about how creative he was. So you never know. I think the best letters are likely to come from the classes your child liked best and did best in.</p>
<p>We were very lucky at DD’s high school. All letters go to the GC office and are put together in one packet. Consequently, they know who writes good letters, who are prompt, etc., etc., As soon as DD told her counselor who she was asking, she was told they were both very good writers, although one might need to be reminded of the deadline.</p>
<p>Sure enough, both were very good according to GC, but one was very prompt, while the other was a little slower. </p>
<p>I know that our GC’s will always ask a student who they intend to ask and if it is a teacher who does not write well, they will ask if there is anyone else they might consider - the GC does not come out and say why, but if the kid has half a brain, they can read between the lines.</p>