<p>I used a social sciences and a foreign language teacher for each of my recs. I know Wesleyan prefers one teacher to be from math or science, but how much will it penalize me if I don’t have one from those subjects?</p>
<p>It’s hard to guess unless we know more about your total background–overall GPA, SAT/ACT scores, intended major, etc. Wesleyan looks at your background holistically, instead of accepting/rejecting on the basis of a single factor. I would not think of it as “penalizing” you, but it might raise a question as to why you did not choose to get a reference from math/science unless you have a special reason for it. I am guessing that the social science and foreign language teachers were the ones who you felt best understood you as an overall student, am I correct?</p>
<p>GPA - 4.0 UW / 4.4 W
ACT - 34</p>
<p>I have had my German teacher for all four years, and my U.S. History teacher has known my family for about seven years. My choices of math/science teachers were much more limited, because one of them didn’t know me very well and the other option never really has much to say. I felt as though I wouldn’t get a very strong rec from either of my math/science options. I do fine in those classes, though (I had the second or third highest AP Calc grade out of both classes, and AP Calc is notoriously difficult at my school).</p>
<p>Does that help? Thanks for the response, man.</p>
<p>Well, your ACT is at the 75th percentile of last year’s admissions, your GPA is what Wes is looking for ideally, and I think your reasoning about whom to choose as recommenders is very sound. Because your science and math grades are so good, I would not worry at all about not having a math/science rec. With a 34 on the ACT I am guessing that you scored at least a 32 on the Science section, and that should help too, in terms of how your total application reads. It does not appear as if you are shying away from having a math/science teacher write about you. Also, since not that many students take German at Wes, I would guess your strength in German would be actually to your advantage and makes you a more interesting candidate from an academic standpoint. They need to keep the German profs happy, too, right?Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Well, my science grade this semester was actually barely an A (91.15%), but I explained why it might be low in the additional information section. Long story. haha</p>
<p>I got a 33 on the Science section (thank goodness, couldn’t break a 30 my first two times haha).</p>
<p>Thank you for your comment! It means a lot to me. Sorry if this turned into a bit of a chance thread (those get annoying in my opinion), I just wanted to make sure that I wasn’t making a bad decision by going against their recommendations for teacher recs.</p>
<p>Good luck to you too, if you are applying this year that is!</p>
<p>You’re welcome! Actually, my son was accepted Early Decision at Wesleyan on December 13. I graduated from there many years ago!</p>
<p>Ah, that’s really cool! How did you like the school, if you don’t mind me asking?</p>
<p>And congratulations to your son! That’s awesome!</p>
<p>I loved my “Wesleyan Experience”. I attended long ago–late 60’s to early 70’s. Even though Wesleyan has gone through several generations of students and faculty–my last remaining professor, Phil Pomper in History, retired last year–the character of the institution has remained very similar to what I knew way back then. Experimental in its approach to education, creative, politically engaged and diverse as a student body, Wesleyan still seems to be a true oasis of intellectual freedom, just as it did then. The current president, Michael Roth, graduated just a few years after me, and he is doing many things to both continue and enhance Wesleyan’s unique blend of a powerful curriculum and a stimulating learning community. I am amazed that my son chose it as his first choice, feel fortunate that he was admitted and am excited to see how he and Wesleyan will interact and in what ways the experience will impact him. I wish you well as you explore your college options, and if you choose Wes as well, I hope you enjoy it and draw as much as I did from it.</p>
<p>Are you an English teacher, by any chance?</p>
<p>No, John, after completing my Wes degree in CSS I went on to become an organizational psychologist. I took just one English class at Wesleyan, from Dick Ohmann. One of my favorite classes, in fact.</p>
<p>Thought I’d give it a shot. I’m sure we crossed paths. :)</p>
<p>Very likely, John, if you were there in the late 60’s to early 70s! Come to think of it, I actually did teach English for one year, but that was at a university in Taiwan. :)</p>