I wanted to apply to Mass for undergrad but it said that I need an academic letter of recommendation and I was wondering if it was okay just to use a counselor one and not a teacher one?
UMass Amherst is too busy to tailor exceptions for individual applicants. It’s a state flagship with terrific offerings, a great choice in the 5 college consortium’s popular region: many applicants.
You need to do things their way, even down to scheduling a visit. (Do so early, they close in full capacity quickly.)
If I were you, I would supply exactly what they want in the application. Academic LOR would be a teacher. If you feel no teacher knows you well enough, then get cracking on an appointment to meet with one or two (or three) teachers and show yourself to be dazzling. Choose teachers preferably in line with your intended college major, since you evdidently haven’t good rapport yet.
Usually the app also asks for a counselor’s LOR, but in another window.
–With good reason, they do different things: A counselor’s rec may be helpful explaining grading policy, school profile, trade on friendly contact with a specific college admissions department, and supply an opinion about you that is at once personal and institutional.
By contrast, the teacher rec is based on the experience of having you in class, hearing your comments, reading your papers, and can speak about your intellectual potential, turn of mind, academic talent and originality, as well as your personal qualities.
For obvious reasons, you need a teacher who can speak about you knowledgeably as a student to provide a rec for your college application.
I believe a counselor’s letter of recommendation - if academic in nature - would suffice, as UMass does not outline clear parameters that the letter should come from a teacher.