<p>Colleges ask for recommendations from teachers that have recently taught you because they want to know how you contribute to the classroom conversation. They want to know that you dynamically lead classroom discussions and constantly have your hand raised ready to offer thoughtful opinions. They want to know about your writing abilities and whether you are a student who has the potential to become a great scholar. Have you read what MIT is looking for in teacher recommendations? ([Writing</a> Recommendations | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/writingrecs]Writing”>How to write good letters of recommendation | MIT Admissions)) Harvard is looking for the same thing. Can your principal emeritus say those things?</p>