My D currently has one rec from her AP bio teacher she had junior year. She needs a 2nd rec. She is debating if she should ask her AP Econ teacher, who she has now and has never had before this year. She has an A+ in the class and did a Finicial competition with other students and her Econ teacher was in charge of. Her other option is to ask her AP Chem teacher, who she does not feel knows her well. She had AP Chem junior year and got an A in the class.
If I were your daughter, I would probably ask her AP Econ teacher because I think colleges would prefer to see two different subjects rather than two sciences. My guidance counselors ask seniors to make “cheat sheets” for the teachers writing them recommendations. These usually include a list of things the student would like to have mentioned in the letter, like a particular project they were proud of or qualities that they want to be emphasized. In your daughter’s case, maybe her performance at the financial competition would be on the sheet? Usually teachers appreciate the reminders since obviously they can’t remember everything about every student, just make sure the teacher understands that he/she can disregard the cheat sheet if they want to. Anyway, that might help make the letter more personal if your daughter chooses the Econ teacher since she hasn’t known the teacher as long, or even the AP Chem teacher if that’s who she decides. Best of luck!
I always thought the standard on recs was one from stem and one from humanities. Always a primary subject - never an elective. The Chem would be two sciences and Econ is not really a primary subject - I would suggest an english, foreign language, or history teacher form Junior or Senior year.
@kiddie- in my state econ is a required subject (then 4 years of social studies are world history, us history, us govt and Econ).
@parent8768 - I would recommend asking the teacher you feel you feel knows your D better. I teach HS and write A dozen or so recs a year, they better you know the kid, the easier it is…
I would ask the Economics teacher. AP Economics would be considered a serious academic subject, even it if is an elective (in our HS it falls under the social studies dept.). Most importantly the economics teacher knows your D better and secondly it will give your D one STEM and one humanities teacher recommendation which is considered preferable as it shows a breadth of achievement.