<p>I’m unsure about who to ask for my letter of recommendation. My sophomore English teacher knows me the best. We have worked together on several writing contests (state and national awards). We often talk at lunch. However, though she knows me well, she doesn’t remember much about me as a student. I was mostly quiet in her class, so she has said she will focus on our outside relationship.</p>
<p>My junior English teacher knows me better as a student. She said I was a talented writer, and I participated often. She has edited one of my stories. However, she doesn’t know me well outside of class. </p>
<p>Who should I ask for my recommendation? Is it a problem if my sophomore teacher doesn’t mention my participation in class? Do top colleges want to hear about how students participated a lot?</p>
<p>As far as the letter of recommendation - get those that know you personality well. Class performance can be seen from the grade you received. </p>
<p>You definitely want her to write about the outside relationship that you and her shared. </p>
<p>Get both. Nobody cares how many you submit, as long as you meet the minimum requirement. Note that some colleges don’t accept LOR (I believe the whole University of Cali system doesn’t). </p>
<p>Discourage is probably a bad choice of diction. I think it’s more the side effect of why you need more than two.
If you really think you don’t want to risk - then send in the one that did work outside of class with you. That will be a better LOR.</p>
<p>But again, additional LOR isn’t going to hurt you. You don’t know if the teacher can write a good one either.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response. I’m also a little worried about the recommendation instructions on the common app, which state:</p>
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<p>The instructions ask the teacher to focus on characteristics as demonstrated in the classroom. However, my sophomore teacher would probably focus on our outside relationship.</p>
<p>Like I said, these recommendations are used to supplement your materials - scores, grades, standardized scores, ECs, etc.
This already answered your question. </p>
<p>Yes, certainly,
One line still counts. I am sure she will somehow mention your performance as a student. At least one line - I bet for $10000000.</p>
<p>Having an unqiue recommendation is important. What else can you talk about the student’s classroom performance? Hard working, outspoken, caring, articulate, and what else?</p>
<p>The admission staff don’t care about what the teacher writes. If it’s bad, nothing to against you (because you didn’t write it). If it’s good, it can help.</p>
<p>Follow the guidelines for recommendations from the colleges to which you’re applying. Typical is: pick junior or senior year teachers; pick one recommendation from a “humanities” teacher in a core subject (e.g. english, history, foreign language); and pick a second recommendation from a “quantitative” subject teacher in a core subject (e.g. math, lab science). And have the recommendation focus on classwork. There’s often an opportunity to send supplementary recommendations where the focus is not necessarily classwork.</p>
<p>^The colleges I’m applying to strongly recommend junior and senior year teachers, but don’t require them.</p>
<p>Do recommendations have to focus on classwork? On the MIT website, the first recommendation discusses the applicant’s class performance briefly. However, it is critiqued as a good one.</p>