<p>My D asked her Math teacher for a recommendation and that teacher who has other senior advisees asked her to supply not only activity lists but copies of her test scores and essays. She originally wanted a writing sample but then, after my d gave her one, said she wanted the essays. Why would the Math teacher want her actual college essays? She also wants to talk to other teachers. We were a little taken aback by this- isn’t a teacher supposed to just write about her own experience with the student in their class, not have
all this other information? We feel a little uncomfortable with this as there is intense competition in our D;s school- or should we just go with the flow-</p>
<p>My advice is to go with the flow. The teacher sounds like a person who is doing a careful job with the recommendation. It can help for the teacher to see your D’s essays to find out more about your D including how she fits with the college she’s applying to or how math may fit into her vocational plans.</p>
<p>A couple of years ago, when S applied to a summer engineering program, he gave his math teacher a copy of his resume (that included scores) and his essay to the program. That’s when the math teacher realized that S had always loved math and was considering fields like engineering and teaching high school. </p>
<p>The teacher was very caring and supportive and S was a strong student. Partly because S is quiet and the teacher had lots of students, the teacher had not realized the strength of S’s interests or the strength of his scores. Learning S’s scores also helped the teacher rate S in comparison to other students, something that the teachers typically have to do on those recc forms. </p>
<p>As a result of seeing the essay and the resume and scores, the teacher was able to write a very strong, very individualized recommendation, and the teacher started taking a more presonal interest in S.</p>
<p>IMO you are lucky that the teacher asks for the extra info instead of throwing together something off the top of the teacher’s head.</p>
<p>Thank you so much. We were all starting to get a bit paranoid that perhaps she was establishing the competition for other , more favored candidates and that d should ask a different teacher for rec.</p>
<p>Millyvan …this is interesting…if the tone of the teacher was hostile …and you cant tell from reading an email or a post…then yeah i’d give the teacher the stuff and ask for a copy of the recommendation…fairs fair…if the teacher was just asking for more background…thats helpful in some bigger schools the teachers write lots of recommendations. At my shchool my ap gov teacher worte several recomendations for seniors. she had a little questionnaire …probably to help her remember the bullet points for each student…but she also required a meeting with each student who wanted a recommendation. it was about 30 minutes, we reviewed my goals, my high schoold high points and low points and why i wanted to attend each school. it was really helpful for me …and i assume for her. i suggest you suggest your daughter ask for a meeting with this teacher and talk it out.</p>
<p>If the tone of the teacher was hostile, then ask someone else for a recommendation.</p>
<p>Asking for a copy of a recommendation would just make a hostile or reluctant recommender more reluctant. Remember, too, colleges can call GCs and teachers who send in recommendations, so having a copy of a recommendation would not prevent a hostile teacher from hurting a student’s chances.</p>
<p>No, her tone was not hostile at all. My d really likes this quirky teacher who makes calculus doable! . But the class is filled with very strong math students some of whom are this teacher’s advisees who are also looking for rec’s and it was just a surprise to be asked for such a lot of info that didn’t seem to be relevant to the teacher’s experience with my daughter. It is a very small school and she knows my D quite well. Also with our S, at a similar school, no teacher asked for this much info so we were just caught off guard. At this late date, paranoia runs rampant…</p>
<p>I don’t think that you have any reason to be paranoid. Sounds like the teacher wants to write the best recc possible, therefore wants the supporting info. As a former prof who used to write essays for students whom I knew well and also liked a lot, I know how the supporting information can be very helpful. No matter how much a teacher likes or knows a student, the teacher may not remember all of the specific info about a student that makes a recommendation stand out. </p>
<p>Be glad that the teacher cares enough to ask for the info. In fact, I suggest that your D should routinely give that info to people providing recommendations. It also can be helpful to provide copies of excellent tests or papers done for the teacher’s class.</p>
<p>wonderful…small school…interested teacher who wants input…makes calculus doable…sounds like a terrific teacher. good luck to your daughter.</p>