<p>Do you know of anyone who submitted two recs to Chicago that didn’t follow the guidelines and who got in? For example, he/she submitted two science/math ones and not an English/social science one?</p>
<p>I ask because the two teachers that know me best fall under English/social science (well, one is a foreign language teacher). Since I’m a potential linguistics major, that seems ideal to me – especially since they know me well both in class (taught me for two years so far) and out of class (I’m president/vice president in three of the clubs they run); plus they know me personally. I have very good relationships with them, so they’d be able to add a new “dimension” to my application and could really help the adcoms to see me.</p>
<p>However, my math/science teachers couldn’t: they’ve only taught me for one year, don’t see me engaging in the subject much other than asking questions and seeking help (I have As in both classes), don’t see who I am as a leader, and simply don’t know me very well. I mean, sure, they see my opinionated/outgoing personality in class, but they wouldn’t be able to add what my foreign language teacher could. I don’t see why Chicago would rather my application be weaker. After all, their site says:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I know that I have the option of getting the English/science one and then having the foreign language one as a supplement, but I don’t see why I should bother with the science one, as it simply wouldn’t add anything. On top of that, I don’t know whether the guy even likes me – he’s always joking around with me 'cause he knows how I am, but I dunno. My math teacher has poor language skills and is rather distant to everyone, sadly.</p>
<p>The math/science rec is definitely required. What you should probably do is submit a supplementary rec from your foreign language teacher (foreign language doesn’t fall under English/social science, unfortunately). Two glowing letters are sure to make up for the lukewarm one.</p>
<p>When you go to UChicago, you are going to take at least FIVE classes in the natural and mathematical sciences. Also, it is absolutely essential for high school grads to have a strong mathematics background even if their primary field of interest is an unrelated one.</p>
<p>UChicago basically wants to make sure that you are not a very one-sided student who is very enthusiastic about the Language / Social Sciences but do not take an interest in the Mathematics / Science classes.</p>
<p>I am enthusiastic about math (I plan to minor in it) and science. However, neither of my teachers in those areas really know anything about me. I either follow one guideline (to choose teachers that know me best and could talk about my strengths) or the other (English/social science and math/science teacher). Might it help to email admissions about this?</p>
<p>^^ Yeah, I was wondering about that too. I’m not too sure, but my point was that I do plan to pursue math while in college, whether required or not.</p>
<p>I honestly don’t see the point of not offering a minor program in math. I think every subject should have a major as well as a minor program.
It seems quite reasonable to offer a minor program in mathematics with the following requirements:
Three course Calculus sequence
Three course Analysis sequence
Any two other courses</p>
<p>Can my foreign language teacher write my English/social studies teacher recommendation?</p>
<p>No, but your foreign language teacher, or any other teacher, can send in a supplemental recommendation letter on your behalf. Freshman applicants should include Form 3C, the supplementary recommendation form, with this letter. Transfer applicants do not need to include a form with this letter.</p>
<p>kyle -
“However, neither of my teachers in those areas really know anything about me.”
This is something that you can do something about. You can provide your math or science teacher with your list of extracurriculars, and mention which teachers do know you well. Spend a little time discussing Chicago - and your interest in math - with your math teacher. Just because he is distant doesn’t mean he is not capable of writing a good letter, given the pertinant information. In fact - if he is not asked to write a lot of letters, he may do a better job on yours if he does not have a pile of them to do.</p>
<p>That’s not true. I only submitted two letters of recommendation; one from my Chemistry teacher and one from my French teacher. I still got accepted.</p>
<p>My oldest daghter applied early as a linguistics major and submitted 3 non math/science recs, because her school limited the number of recs per student. She had already asked those teachers for a rec before deciding to apply UC. The school even sent in a letter of explanation.</p>
<p>Although she was a strong applicant and was excepted into harder to get into schools, she was deferred and then rejected from UChicago. She thinks she came off as too much of a language person. It could also be that they expect you to follow simple directions.</p>
<p>Officially, you’re not supposed to count foreign language as English/Social Science (unless Libby Pearson was lying to me). Even if you do it won’t be an auto-reject. The adcoms start reading your application the moment one rec is processed into your file, so practically speaking you don’t even <em>need</em> two recs. So, they seem very lenient regarding certain rules, and I’m sure using foreign language as one of your main recs falls under that lenient category.</p>
<p>Regardless, just follow the rules. It’s not a big deal.</p>
<p>Badman, remember that minors are a very new concept at the U of C, and one that is at times quite debated. Many programs do not have minors, though math apparently does, in part because minor programs are so new that many departments have not created minors. Some departments may see minors as inappropriate for their major, as well. As to the rec thing, that’s what you should have done; not doing it doesn’t automatically mean you’d be rejected, particularly since language and English/history are close in subject matter.</p>