Who to ask for my recommendations?

Applying to College
1

Hello, everyone here who uses College Confidential. I’m rather new to this site, so hopefully I don’t end up looking stupid or doing something stupid.

Anyhow, so college apps for me are coming up. However, I’m blessed (cursed?) with the privilege of having quite a plethora of amazing, supportive teachers I can ask for a recommendation. However, this blessing is a curse because one of the colleges I want to apply to wants one recommendation from a math/sciences teacher and one from a humanities teacher.

I’m torn on who to ask for the recommendation, partly because I’m not sure who will write the best recommendation and party because I’m so close to all these teachers that choosing one over the others feels like I’m snubbing the rest of my recommendation candidates. Anyone care to give me their thoughts on this matter?

Math:
Teacher A: Helped me feel welcome when I first started taking geometry at my high school for one period in eighth grade (mother drove me to high school and then to middle school after first period ended), known him for 5 years. I’m a huge favorite of his and the most accomplished student he has ever had according to him, but unfortunately, I haven’t had much chance to talk to him because he’s a very popular teacher and often has other people visiting. Have had him for one year.

Teacher B: Very chill math and computer science teacher. He’s seen my bad work ethic a lot, but he doesn’t seem to care and he’s shown to me quite a few times that he trusts in my ability, both by saying I can accomplish some task despite my perceived lack of attention in class and by offering me a chance to participate in a programming contest in the near future in a team of three people. Basically, I know he’d be very positive about me, and he’s already done a recommendation for me before when I put in an application for a GIS internship with the city (which I am currently preparing for). I’ve known him for four years now. Have had him for two nonconsecutive school years.

Teacher C: Math department head, introduced me to Mu Alpha Theta (which he runs) and math competitions like the AMC, etc. in my eighth grade, when Teacher A bragged about me to him. Extremely close to him, I’m pretty much the only member in his Math Club at the moment. Also thinks quite highly of me. Pretty much my first-ever mentor. Known him for 5 years. I like to think I’m his protege, and hopefully he reciprocates that feeling 1%. Also one of the teachers I got a recommendation from for my GIS internship. Had him for one school year.

Humanities:
Teacher A: European history teacher. He’s known for curving his tests super hard, so students in his class are notorious for slacking (an activity in which I unfortunately partook in as well), and so the highest scores on the AP Euro test were five 4’s, one of which I earned. For this reason, and for the friendly banter that took place between us quite commonly during the year I had him, he really likes me. Apparently, he’s bragged about me to my APUSH teacher as well. Memorably visited my APUSH class once for some reason and ended up openly praising me. Also a former high school counselor, so he probably knows the magic formula for college recommendations. Known him for 3 years now.

Teacher B: English teacher. I have never gotten an A in English in high school until I got an A first semester in his class, so his recommendation will be a powerful way to compensate for my weakness in English. Stayed after class multiple times in the year to discuss how I could do better in the class, do better on in-class essays, and sometimes simply to just hang out and get good advice. I’m assuming we’re very close (hopefully my social skills have finally improved, so I’m interpreting my relationship with him properly), and he ended up being one of the most important mentor figures I had this year, or ever had in my life, actually. Helped me in literally everything from matters pertaining to English to preparing for the future. Known him for two years now, had a class with him for one year.

Ok, assuming anyone read this far, thank you for all your help. Feel free to shut me down if I seem really frivolous, but to me, my teacher relationships have become really important to me now, so I want to think about it and get advice from the hopefully friendly people on this site.

2

I’d go with Teacher B for the humanities, since you say he’s been an important mentor and you actively sought academic help in his class.

When did you have STEM Teacher A? If it was as a freshman, I’d go with B or C. Probably the best choice if you had him junior year. If it was sophomore year, it’s slightly risky, but I might still ask him. It’s great if a teacher says you’re the most accomplished student he’s ever had.

3

Thanks a lot for the help. Teacher A was actually in eighth grade, so it’s been a heck of a long time since I had him. Also, between B or C, who do you favor?

In your personal experience, do teachers feel like they’ve been blown off if a very close student doesn’t ask them for a recommendation?

4

Most colleges require one or two of your academic teacher recommendations to come from a teacher that has taught you in an academic subject. That may rule out some of them. Also eighth grade is WAY too far back to go for a recommendation. Most colleges recommend teachers that have taught you recently or have been your teachers when you were a sophomore or junior so they have the most developed version of yourself when you apply for colleges

5

Uh, thanks for trying to help. I guess it’s my fault for writing a block of text, but all of these teachers have taught me at one time or another. I mentioned that for each teacher, I think. Nevertheless, which teachers should I choose then, disregarding Math Teacher A?

6

I’d go with Teacher C for Math (as long ash you had him/her as a math teacher in class) and Teacher B for Humanities based on what I’ve read.

Here is my reasoning:
Math – Teacher A is out of the question as you had him/her in 8th grade. That is too long ago. And if Teacher B has “seen your bad work ethic” I would not use him. Even if a less than stellar work ethic is mentioned in passing it would not be helpful.
Humanities - Again if the teacher has seen you “slacking” it isn’t great for the reason noted above.

7

Ah, I should have mentioned that Humanities Teacher A is rather oblivious to all the carelessness kids have about his class, hence the reason that he still really likes me in the first place. Nevertheless, thanks for the info, and I’ll keep it in mind. My top choices would be Math Teacher C and Humanities Teacher B. I guess my gut instinct is being reinforced right now.