DD was refused a letter of recommendation based on something dumb

[Anonymous]

DD asked her AP Computer Science Principles teacher (from last year) to write her a letter of recommendation. She is applying to very selective colleges as a computer science major, so as you can imagine, this letter would have been an important part of her application.

However, the teacher said she would not be willing to write it since DD missed class a lot last year. Due to a combination of her sport, a family emergency, and travel, DD missed a significant amount of school in her junior year, but all her absences were excused and she explained this to the teacher. I'm really surprised the teacher would act like this- we are at a large public (not magnet). DD got an A in the class and is obviously passionate about the subject, and thought the teacher liked her. It's really surprising, and not fair.

DD was counting on this letter, and she doesn't know who to ask and what to do. Any advice? She is getting a letter from her AP Comp teacher as well, but it won't be strong since that's not her favorite subject.

[Anonymous]

Isn't it better not to get the rec from this teacher? They are effectively telling you that it would not be a good recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Teachers are really nasty at times and quite full of themselves. They never want to encourage/help kids and it is really sad. Writing that letter would not have hurt the teacher. Have come across some really nasty teachers in DDs school as well

[Anonymous]

Her absences were excused but the teacher probably wasn’t happy that sports and a vacation took priority over her education.

[Anonymous]

Do not strong arm someone who is telling you the letter will not be good into giving a letter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD asked her AP Computer Science Principles teacher (from last year) to write her a letter of recommendation. She is applying to very selective colleges as a computer science major, so as you can imagine, this letter would have been an important part of her application.

However, the teacher said she would not be willing to write it since DD missed class a lot last year. Due to a combination of her sport, a family emergency, and travel, DD missed a significant amount of school in her junior year, but all her absences were excused and she explained this to the teacher. I'm really surprised the teacher would act like this- we are at a large public (not magnet). DD got an A in the class and is obviously passionate about the subject, and thought the teacher liked her. It's really surprising, and not fair.

DD was counting on this letter, and she doesn't know who to ask and what to do. Any advice? She is getting a letter from her AP Comp teacher as well, but it won't be strong since that's not her favorite subject.

A family emergency is ok, but not sport and just travel. It was a reasonable reason to say no.

[Anonymous]

Should be trying to get letters from core teachers anyway. Math teacher rec is essential for computer science major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not strong arm someone who is telling you the letter will not be good into giving a letter.

+1

[Anonymous]

“Travel” isn’t a valid reason to miss class as a junior in high school. I wouldn’t recommend her either.

[Anonymous]

That teacher would not have written a good Rec for your child so it’s good they were honest. It sounded like they thought your child should have been more present for her education, despite being able to get an A. Maybe they think that she wouldn’t be an asset to a university program if she doesn’t prioritize her education over sports and travel.

Whatever their reason you can’t change it, time to move on. It’s a bummer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are really nasty at times and quite full of themselves. They never want to encourage/help kids and it is really sad. Writing that letter would not have hurt the teacher. Have come across some really nasty teachers in DDs school as well

I think the teacher is doing her a favor because it would not have been a good recommendation. Can DD find another teacher she had a good relationship with in a core class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Her absences were excused but the teacher probably wasn’t happy that sports and a vacation took priority over her education.

Exactly. You don’t have a right to treat high school as the lowest priority and then get upset when people call you out on it.

[Anonymous]

It’s for the better, they weren’t going to write the letter you’d want. The letter doesn’t need to come from favorite subject, plenty of amazing letters come from traits shown in classes that aren’t favorites or how the student interacts in a class with peers. Our school says ask late junior year, is this for this year? Might be dealing with some being annoyed it’s so late too, especially if a large school and they do a lot?

[Anonymous]

Get the math teacher. Or coach. Or anyone. Or no one. My DC had ok results not submitting any.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD asked her AP Computer Science Principles teacher (from last year) to write her a letter of recommendation. She is applying to very selective colleges as a computer science major, so as you can imagine, this letter would have been an important part of her application.

However, the teacher said she would not be willing to write it since DD missed class a lot last year. Due to a combination of her sport, a family emergency, and travel, DD missed a significant amount of school in her junior year, but all her absences were excused and she explained this to the teacher. I'm really surprised the teacher would act like this- we are at a large public (not magnet). DD got an A in the class and is obviously passionate about the subject, and thought the teacher liked her. It's really surprising, and not fair.

DD was counting on this letter, and she doesn't know who to ask and what to do. Any advice? She is getting a letter from her AP Comp teacher as well, but it won't be strong since that's not her favorite subject.

A family emergency is ok, but not sport and just travel. It was a reasonable reason to say no.

+1 I'm team teacher on this one - not unreasonable at all. A good life lesson here -- we all make decisions on what the prioritize and these decisions can often have indirect downstream impacts.