Should I take a luke-warm letter of recommendation or take a risk for one that could be grea or bad?

Applying to College
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I have chosen my first letter of recommendation- I am fairly sure it will be positive, I know that teacher very well, I loved her class, and she chose me for a department award. My second rec is the problem- I can get one from either my US history or my AP English Language teacher. My US history teacher doesn’t know me too well- but he is known to write fairly positive, albeit general things, about each student and will write the typical things likely (participates in class, etc). He is the advisor of my club, however?

My AP English Language teacher spends a lott of time on recommendations- if you are a strong student, you will get an incredible letter. However, he is known to be honest- not “lukewarm”, alright negative. He told another student (who was not in his class at that time) that if a student asks him about grades, he writes on their recommendation “this student cares more about grades than learning”. He even wrote a letter of rec on why a student shouldn’tt get accepted to the college (I don’t know who that student was or why he did but the source of that information is very reliable). I really liked my AP English teacher, learned a lot, and I really do like English. However, his class was tough and I definitely was stressed about grades- while I never was disrespectful and did not ask him to bump my grade, I don’t know if he could sense my stress. However, while I was stressed, I genuinely learned a lot in his class.

My US history teacher will write a standard rec. My AP English teacher might right a phenominal or a negative recommendation (there’s nothing to indicated a negative rec, just that I’m worried that there’s a chance). I’m a california resident, will only take privates/OOS if I get a merit scholarship. Should I take the risk and go with my English teacher- if he writes something negative, is that grounds for automatic rejections in all my privates/OOS if my other recommendations are very positive?

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great*

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Perhaps the answer may differ for reach schools (take the risk) compared to match or likely schools (play it safe).

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@ucbalumnus its definitely reach (or for match/safety, I’ll be looking for merit scholarships like UTD mcdermott). Because of financial concerns, unless its well-ranked or I have a scholarship, I’ll choose a UC, CSU or my national merit finalist school (financial safety) over full-price OOS/privates.

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Did you ever speak with the AP English teacher, ask if he feels he can write a positive letter for you? You don’t want to make this decision based on what another student claims a teacher said.

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@lookingforward He says yes to everyone who asks for a letter of rec, regardless of what he will write in their letter. He doesn’t say no to anyone or give an indication of what the letter will be like, good or bad.

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Did you do anything in his class that makes you feel he might write a glowing LOR?
If so, I would take the risk.

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@jamgolf I think I was a strong student, though probably not phenominal? Another teacher told me that my APLAC teacher thought I was a great student, but I have a common name and there could have been a misunderstanding (he has one other student with the same name and initials who is definitely a strong student).

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Why won’t you speak directly with this particular teacher? Not fret over what a peer or other teacher says? I know you say he won’t reveal much, but it beats second hand or worrying he may have you confused with another. Even this simple act, an intelligent chat, may impress him (including your maturity.) The alternative is tossing a coin. Or asking strangers on an anonymous forum.

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@lookingforward Since I had already asked him for a recommendation, and he said yes, I don’t know how to approach him again and ask him the same thing… do you have a recommendation on how to approach it?