<p>Hey folks, I already asked my calc teacher for my recommendations, but now i realize that I’d have been better off asking my stat and computer science teacher. Before i had thought that my stat/compsci teacher didnt like me, but now i realize that he does, and we actually converse and joke around in class, so I feel he could write a more personal recommendation letter. With calc, my teacher likes me, but there wasn’t that much interaction, so I’m guessing it’d be a bland rec. I know it’d seem rude to ask the calc teacher to not write it any more, so any thoughts as to what I could do?</p>
<p>Just tell him what you just said. Say that you feel like another teacher knows you better and tell him you’re thankful that he was willing to write one. Same thing happened to me, I had to choose 2 out of 3 teachers I already asked.</p>
<p>Or do what I did and ask every teacher for one, and just pick out the best ones. :]</p>
<p>just tell him another teacher volunteered to write it, a kind of fib, but it gets out of it with no hurt feelings</p>
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<p>Be aware that many teachers put a lot of time into letters of recommendation. It’s additional work that they agree to do because, hopefully, they like you and think you deserve to get into a good school. They’re doing you a favor, and you should return the courtesy by actually using the letter they’ve put so much effort into. If you’re not planning on using a rec from a certain teacher, it’s better to tell them so than to waste their time on a rec that won’t be sent.</p>
<p>“Or do what I did and ask every teacher for one, and just pick out the best ones. :]”</p>
<p>I hope this is a misguided attempt at a joke. I was a prof, so used to write recommendations. They would take me at least an hour to write, because doing good recommendations (meaning recommendations that are useful to the people who receive them) takes a lot of time and thought.</p>
<p>What you’re suggesting is incredibly selfish.</p>
<p>Anyone who did what you did would be on all the crap lists of teachers/professors, something that would hurt a person like you even aftrer all of your applications were in. There also would be a good chance that someone would send a revised recc to the college giving you minus points for integrity. Teachers also could refuse to give you breaks in other ways including for the lapses that often occur toward the end of senior year when senioritis sets in.</p>
<p>It’s rare, too, that students get to read their recommendations.</p>
<p>I would definitely keep the calc teacher.</p>
<p>The whole “thanks, but no thanks” is very rude. Who’s to say that rec. would be bland anyway?</p>
<p>Yeah, I think that could come as very rude too.</p>
<p>Is there a reason you can’t just have both of them write a letter, though?</p>
<p>Well some of my schools require a math/science teacher and an english/history teacher, so I already asked one of my history teachers for a recommendation. I was thinking about sending in a supplemental recommendation from my stat/comp sci teacher, but I’m not too sure it would provide any realllly useful addition information, and would just be annoying to admissions officers.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help everyone.</p>
<p>Colleges know that not every recommendation is going to be a five star jumping up and down “you HAVE to admit this student” kind of recommendation. But they certainly don’t want a bad or mediocre recommendation either. RESPONSIBLE high school teachers also know this and if they suspect they can’t help a students application, would politely decline or in the case of a clueless student say, “you really need to find someone who knows you better!” That rarely happens. So it is assumed that because the calculus teacher accepted your request and did not express any reservations that he/she will do a fine job and has done lots of them before. Its okay if its a bit bland (I mean…it IS a math teacher lol!) so long as the overall recommendation is strong to superb. Some colleges accept almost as many recommendations as you provide, others are VERY strict and say ONLY TWO. So it depends on the college to some extent. If your college is in the former category then give your recommendation form to the other teachers as well and see what they say and submit them all.</p>
<p>If you suspect your recommendation from the calc teacher is less than stellar, meaning his/her assessment of your abilities and your maturity to handle college level work and integrity, then I suggest you politely ask that it be returned or simply ask him/her if its going okay and what they think your chances of admission are…they will undoubtedly give you a hint in that discussion (though not showing you the recommendation). If you get mediocre comments and bad vibes, then it really is their duty to inform you that they cant wholeheartedly help you…and they should return it to you, or destroy it and not submit it to the college. But from what you said, it looks more like a personality issue and wanting to have a teacher who is warm and fuzzy do it for you. So like I said, have BOTH of them do it if the college will allow more recommendations. Most recs fall into the “highly recommended category anyway” which is the norm. A few come in with reservations and that is unfortunate and really shows that someone is clueless and immature. And some come in that are incredible and amazing…and catch their eyes as well. Which is why you need to research in your high school who has a reputation for writing the best recommendations and if that teacher can help you. Its VERY rare that a teacher would accept the request and then trash a student. VERY VERY RARE. In my view, its unprofessional to do so. If they can’t help you, they have a duty to inform you and suggest you go elsewhere.</p>
<p>Oh and one more salient point…it also depends on your intended major and the college. I know some teachers who said to a student, “while you are a fine person and a great student, I think you are reaching a bit here. I can write you a much better recommendation to a school which I think is a better fit. Can I help you with that selection process?” In other words, a recommendation to Princeton would not be as strong as a recommendation to Johns Hopkins. </p>
<p>So it sort of might depend on where you are applying and what the teacher thinks of your chances from the outset. </p>
<p>Then again, you might be a perfect fit for MIT! LOL.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>