<p>I plan on applying to JHU, and I’m a borderline candidate, so I need a good teacher recommendation. I asked two teachers:</p>
<li>Calculus Teacher
-Has had me for 2 full classes, will have me again later this year. Knows me very well
-Honestly, I’m not fully sure if he likes me. I got an A in his classes, but he has never viewed me with special interest. He is also known to have anger problems, and is not the nicest person at times.
-However, great writer and very intelligent. Probably well known by colleges.</li>
</ol>
<p>He is the risky, but potentially very rewarding, option. </p>
<li>Foreign Language Teacher</li>
<li>I’ve had him for about 1 full class. (he is currently teaching me Latin II, school’s on block schedule)</li>
<li>I KNOW he likes me. We’re basically friends.</li>
<li>I have an A in his class too. </li>
<li>Good writer, intelligent</li>
</ol>
<p>He is the safe option. I know his recommendation will be good, but probably short of excellent. </p>
<p>So, the question is: should I go for risky or safe.</p>
<p>Definitely get the one from the foreign language teacher (most colleges require 2 recs) and then see if anyone from a previous graduating class asked the math guy for a rec. See where they got in (although one rec probably won’t make much of a difference) and just ask if the math teacher was helpful and willing to write one. All teachers should feel honored when a student asks them for a rec and also make sure you buy them a gift and write a thank you note immediately because it could impact what they say about you.</p>
<p>Most teachers will decline rather than write a negative recommendation; after all, if you’re not a good student, it reflects on them to a degree.</p>
<p>This strategy might work for you, if your guidance counselor is friendly: Ask your teachers to give their recs to your guidance counselor for inclusion with your SSR and transcript. Then ask the guidance counselor (who can read the letters) to keep copies and pick the best one, or to send both if they’re both good. You don’t have to be told which one was sent, but you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing the best rec was sent. And, bonus, your chosen college will only have to receive one package of school forms. They love it when everything’s together like that. ;)</p>