<p>QM, Is she unsure if the history teacher is able to write well, or is your D unsure that the history teacher will have nice things, or enough things to say about your D?</p>
<p>My son asked for 3 LORs bc one teacher just does not have much content in his letters even though he knows my son well and is more than happy to write the LOR. My son wanted to have at least one humanity and one math science teacher. He decided to go with one in the math/sciences, and 2 in humanities for this reason.</p>
<p>I think a French teacher is fine. Why not? Foreign language is a required course for admission at most schools.</p>
<p>oh I hope I get this in on time to be post 6000! :D</p>
<p>QM- some schools are sticklers about the subjects for the recs. I think it was Chicago that said it had to be math and english? Anyway, I suggest she ask both French and History and maybe use one or the other based on the school and what they ask for.</p>
<p>My D will ask current math teacher who also taught her in 9th grade, above referenced Latin/Greek teacher whom she has had since 10th grade and is also her advisor since this year, and English teacher from 9th, one trimester of 11th, and 12th. Eng teacher is notoriously tough grader so a good rec from him (hopefully) would offset some of her weaker grades in his classes.</p>
<p>momof3sons- we are also at an independent school with good counseling. Her counselor is new this year which is why I think she could also ask the old counselor, whom she also knows well from him chaperoning a trip. Donât feel you are a wet blanket, I really want to hear any uneasiness on any perspective of this.</p>
<p>History teacher is able to write a good rec, but D is afraid the teacher doesnât like her that much, so the rec will be lukewarm at best.</p>
<p>A rec from Dâs English teacher will probably be worse than no rec at all.</p>
<p>And jackief, you are right. This is from the Chicago website:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I guess she will ask both French and History and see what happens.</p>
<p>Sâs summer seems to be settled now, so another piece to the puzzle has dropped into place for a potentially fun and educational summer experience that may, as a by product, have something that looks good on a college application.</p>
<p>S with be working with a USC Earth Sciences professor over the summer. Heâs a young professor and seems to have been like S is right now, which is interested in many areas of math/science but not totally settled on a major, leaning towards physics. </p>
<p>S will be assisting with computer modeling of climate change, and in the process learn how to use Mathlab software. S reported that the professor appeared particularly pleased that S had taken linear algebra. S said there will also be a chance for him to assist in writing a paper associated with this work, in which case his name would be included.</p>
<p>Weâre happy heâs been able to find some summer lab work that has caught his eye. Itâs becoming more difficult for high school students to find such opportunities, especially when itâs not part of a scheduled program. I think part of this is due to some risk management issues that have come to light in some of the research labs (See this article in todayâs LA Times for an example: [State</a> fines UCLA in fatal lab fire - Los Angeles Times](<a href=âhttp://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-me-uclalab5-2009may05,0,6665233.story]Stateâ>State fines UCLA in fatal lab fire) </p>
<p>Weâll make sure S has a succinct write up of his activities by the end of the summer, which can be used in letters of recommendation, etc.</p>
<p>jackief - I would definitely do what astromom and the counselor suggested and have your D contact the admissions reps from her three top choice schools at the very least - that way sheâll be making an informed decision. Like the others, I think she might stand out to some admissions reps - but without asking, thereâs no way of knowing whether the lack of science and history during her senior year might be held against her.</p>
<p>Congrats to your S, FindAPlace. Sounds like a wonderful opportunity for him.</p>
<p>QueenâsMom - good luck to your D with her Letters of Rec. So far, my D has only asked her current math teacher for a rec. She plans to ask one of two history teachers for the other one, but sheâs not sure which one she wants to ask.</p>
<p>Yes, it was early for a play, but he did a great job. :)</p>
<p>'09ers have mimosas. Woohoo!</p>
<p>mimosasâŠmmm. I say we get some bloody marys (maries? marries? Oh who cares, I canât spell even sober)</p>
<p>yeah it is funny that we pop in over there looking for drinks. I think I was the one who broke out the mimosas. On my second one now. Good thing you donât get impaired withthe virtual ones.</p>
<p>A toast to us for our awesome post increase so far this morning!</p>
<p>QM - I plan on asking an English teacher and my French teacher for recs. Most of my schools donât have particular requirements, I donât think, but if so, I can always substitute math for the FL (
I <3 my French teacher, will have had her for 5 classes by the end of HS).</p>
<p>Here, here!</p>
<p>But how did they get 600 posts ahead of us? Yesterday, I thought we were within 400.</p>
<p>FAP, Awesome news about your son!</p>
<p>I had my big paper of the semester due this morning and when I went out to hop in my car it was dead. Really dead. H is flying. Friends are working. A very kind friend picked me up between meetings to drive me out to campus to drop off the paper and back home. </p>
<p>I am way too old for this kind of excitement first thing in the morning. And! When I got home there was an email informing me that the very last class I have to take to my BA has been canceled. Back to the registrars office. </p>
<p>Have your children read this post as a warning of how the 22 year plan is really not that fun. Stay in school, kids!</p>
<p>Now where is my mimosa? No glass required, just the pitcher thank you.</p>
<p>Congrats, FAP!</p>
<p>And way to go, PMK! Good for you for finishing. I hope youâre an inspiration to your kids.</p>
<p>My SIL started a second career (teaching) after finally getting her degree. It took her about 25 years.</p>
<p>Wow 22 years and 25 years. I get worried when I look at 6 yr grad rates for colleges.</p>
<p>PMK:</p>
<p>Awesome and an inspiration to your kids!</p>
<p>Thereâs never an end to learning. I have a friend whoâs 40+ whoâs just floating that she gets to walk in a few weeks at the USC commencement and receive her doctoral hood.</p>
<p>My mother took 20 years to get her degree and passed through four colleges on the way and a couple of majors on the way. (Bryn Mawr, Radcliffe, Northwestern and American) It didnât stop her kids from getting through in 4, though we all took a gap year before starting college. :)</p>
<p>And congrats PMK - better late than never!</p>
<p>jackief:</p>
<p>From all youâve written about your D, I have a strong feeling that sheâs going to land quite nicely next year. If anything, she may have so many choices the agony will be over making the decision. As others have said, sheâs got a passion and has run with it. Colleges want that kind of student, big time.</p>
<p>As for Sâs summer time research, Iâm so pleased he can now make a very direct connection to his âbusting buttâ effort this year with linear algebra and the door this has opened for him at this stage. Iâm equally sure his AP Calc teacher, who recommended this route for him, will be very pleased when he reads his email today.</p>
<p>pugmadkate - I had no idea you were going to school! Congratulations on being so close to the finish line! I honestly donât know how youâre doing that right now! I have a friend whoâs been going for her MA, and I tell her the same thing. I give you a lot of credit for working so hard. Glad you were able to get your paper in this morning, and I hope your car problem is nothing serious.</p>