<p>So, I made the mistake of waiting too long to ask for college recommendations. My IB Design Technology teacher (He’s an engineer, I’m applying to become one) agreed, but his class is not one of my core classes. Will colleges (MIT) still accept this as a recommendation from a science teacher?
In this class, we learn applications of physics, materials, gears, pulleys, environmental design, etc.</p>
<p>@azimutha
You need to check with each particular college. Many will require one core humanities and one core math/science teacher. But there is also often the option of sending in a third letter, and perhaps your Design Tech could be that one.</p>
<p>You could also just call MIT and ask their admissions office. They are usually really helpful about that sort of thing!</p>
<p>Actually I just looked up MIT’s requirements for you. It APPEARS your Design Technology class falls into “A” category… but again if you are concerned just call MIT admissions to be sure :)</p>
<p>Recommendations: Whom to Ask</p>
<p>MIT requires two letters of recommendation from teachers. One recommendation (“Evaluation A”) should be from a math or science teacher and one (“Evaluation B”) should be from a humanities, social science or language teacher.</p>
<p>You should certainly ask a teacher who has taught you in an academic class in high school (i.e. no middle school, and no basket weaving class). Ideally, this will also be a teacher who knows you as more than just a student who does well on all the tests. We find that the best recommendations are written by teachers who know an applicant well as both a student and a person.</p>
<p>As a general rule, if the teacher teaches a class that would count towards MIT’s math & science requirement, that teacher should fill out the A Evaluation; if the teacher teaches a class that would count towards MIT’s humanities, arts, and social sciences requirement, that teacher should fill out the B Evaluation.</p>
<p>A Evaluation potential subjects</p>
<pre><code>Math
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Earth Science
Environmental Science
Computer Science
Engineering
Technology
Science Research (as a class)
</code></pre>
<p>B Evaluation potential subjects</p>
<pre><code>English
History
Foreign Language
Classics
Economics
Government
Psychology
Social Studies
Geography
</code></pre>