<p>I have a AP science teacher who liked me. I was one of the only ones who spoke and participated in the class. The class had like 3 A's and I was one of them. The other two had higher grades than me but those people were silent and passive. This teacher, however, doesn't really know me outside of class and has little to no understanding of my EC involvements.</p>
<p>I have an AP English teacher who also liked me and witnessed me develop as a writer. I thoroughly enjoyed her class and had strong desire to get a 5 on the exam. I also participated in this class, but she has many students who are stronger than me at English, which has always been my weakness. I'm afraid she'll give me meager markings when rating me in the evaluation (not top). </p>
<p>My third candidate is a teacher who knew me as a person, but explicitly stated that she felt like I was a grade-grubber, someone who is obsessed with getting a high grade and who exhibited a lack of love for learning. I was pretty disappointed that I gave her this impression as I thought I'm a pretty motivated learner (Perhaps I was just disinterested in the material for that specific class...). However, I've had several long conversations with this teacher and she thoroughly knows my EC achievements and has continually commented on my academic promise. She really likes me as a person. I feel that this teacher will write me a strong rec, but I don't want her comments about my lack of love for learning tainting it. </p>
<p>I would go for one from the AP English teacher and then I would talk to the third candidate you listed. Talk to him/her about why they think you are a grade grubber and explain to them why you think you are not. Judge their reaction and decide if they still are convinced that you care more about grades than learning. If they are, then do not ask for a recommendation</p>
<p>Ask teacher #1. Colleges want teacher recommendations to be based on what the teacher personally has observed with you. Consequently, except for the rare instances in which a student took a class with a teacher and also was in an organization that the teacher advised, most teacher reccs will only include things related directly to coursework.</p>
<p>To me, it sounds like teacher #1 will give you the best recc.</p>
<p>As for your participation in ECs, etc., the GC recc is the only recommendation form where that info is for most students except for the ones who were in an organization that one of their teachers advised.</p>
<p>Take the time, too, to get to know teacher #1 even better so the teacher will be familiar with what you want in your college education and what you’re considering for your major and career.</p>
<p>Thanks Northstarmom. I guess I’ll get one from teacher 1. How about my 2nd one? Are the other two undesirable? Should I just wait until my senior year and meet them before choosing?</p>
<p>Meet with them now. Give them your resume, copies of excellent work that you’ve done in their class, and also give them in writing information about what you want in your college education and what you’re considering for a career.</p>
<p>They may be able to write your reccs over the summer, which would be to your advantage since they’ll have more time, and will remember you better than they will in the fall.</p>
<p>Usually teachers write only one letter of recc for each student, and that recc is copied and used for all of the colleges, scholarship programs, etc. that the student applies for. At my sons’ school, the teachers would give that letter to the student’s GC, who would copy it and include it with the student’s college applications.</p>
<p>Even colleges that have their own recc forms allow teachers to submit a letter instead. Usually the letters are stronger reccs because the teachers can be more specific. The forms are to make it easier for busy teachers, and some just check things off and write a sentence or two, which isn’t that helpful to the adcoms.</p>
<p>I’ve been on scholarship committees so have seen many teacher reccs.</p>
<p>One last thing: After a teacher has submitted your recc, give the teacher a handwritten thank-you note that expresses appreciation for the instruction the teacher gave you as well as the teacher’s taking the time to write the recc.</p>
<p>When you get acceptances, let the teacher know so s/he can share in your joy.</p>
<p>Don’t be embarrassed about rejections. When teachers like you and think you have good skills/talents, they will feel the college lost out by not accepting you. They won’t think that something is wrong with you.</p>
<p>Mentioning this because I wrote grad school reccs this year for a student I’d taught 10 years ago. She was rejected everywhere and was too embarrassed to tell me because she felt she’d disappointed me. I felt that the grad schools missed out on an outstanding student. I was disappointed in the schools, not in her.</p>
<p>Is there any reason I should still consider teacher 3? She really liked me and thought very highly of me as a person, but to my demise, told me that she felt like I was a grade grubber towards the end of the year. I was certain I was going to ask this teacher until she told me that. </p>
<p>I’m planning on applying to some Ivy leagues and other top schools. Do you think any of these reccs will kill me?</p>
<p>“My third candidate is a teacher who knew me as a person, but explicitly stated that she felt like I was a grade-grubber, someone who is obsessed with getting a high grade and who exhibited a lack of love for learning.”</p>
<p>Do not use her. Any hint of the above in a recommendation would kill your chances of admission to colleges like Ivies.</p>
<p>And be glad she told you this info so you know not to ask her to write a recc.</p>
<p>If you know your intended major let them know as they may want to include something about it in the rec. English is always good. Schools like to know you can read/write well and express yourself. </p>
<p>Son emailed his resume to his teachers too.</p>
<p>Colleges want to see a recommendation from an English and a Math/Science. That said, I also think you need to decide based on your academic interests. I don’t think the colleges care to hear as much about ECs, but if this is your one-and-only true passion, then maybe you’d want to find someone who knows you both in academics and ECs.</p>
<p>It’s really best to ask a teacher you’ve gotten to know over the years. The best ones are from teachers who can portray how you have evolved as a student, and they have tons of anecdotes to create a picture of you. Therefore, finding a teacher in your senior year is only a last resort. It’s also too unpredictable.</p>