Letter of rec from teacher sophomore year

[Anonymous]

Has anyone used a letter of rec from a teacher sophomore year? I know they are supposed to use a teacher from junior year but my DD really connected with a teacher sophomore year, she is still a mentor of sorts etc. Just wondering if it truly matters?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think it’s a problem if your school is ok with it (ours restricts to junior year teachers). I would prioritize the teacher’s ability to write a good letter over the intensity of the connection (ie, English teachers tend to write much more persuasive letters than the typical math teacher). Obviously having both is best.

[Anonymous]

All depends on the college we are talking about.

Only the most selective will care that much and they are likely to want a junior year teacher...or at least a teacher that normally teaches juniors.

As an example, if your kid took Calc BC sophomore year (and maybe they are in the Math club and that teacher is the mentor)...they are probably OK with that...though even mine still went with their Physics C junior teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s a problem if your school is ok with it (ours restricts to junior year teachers). I would prioritize the teacher’s ability to write a good letter over the intensity of the connection (ie, English teachers tend to write much more persuasive letters than the typical math teacher). Obviously having both is best.

To follow up on that...I would prioritize a teacher that will write you a glowing/great recommendation. You should explicitly ask that when requesting the LOR.

During an on campus tour AO session the head of admissions commented that she is amazed at how many applicants have neutral/negative LORs.

[Anonymous]

If connection is that strong I would go with that sophomore teacher. And the second from a junior year teacher.

[Anonymous]

Our school doesn’t allow it. Prior to learning that, my daughter had planned to ask a sophomore teacher and did a good amount of research to make sure that wouldn’t hurt her application. She found only a couple of schools that expressly asked for upper grade teachers specifically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s a problem if your school is ok with it (ours restricts to junior year teachers). I would prioritize the teacher’s ability to write a good letter over the intensity of the connection (ie, English teachers tend to write much more persuasive letters than the typical math teacher). Obviously having both is best.

I was on a scholarship committee and had the opportunity to read letters of recommendation and was floored by the difference between the letter from the AP Lang teacher and the letter from the AP physics teacher. The former was a glowing, multi-paragraph letter all about the student, the teacher's relationship with her, and all of the wonderful accomplishments that the student had achieved. The latter was literally, "I recommend this student"