DD was refused a letter of recommendation based on something dumb

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If this was a national level competition, missing school is unavoidable as scheduling is set by a national federation and results/points often affect national ranking and championship eligibility.

I taught at a DC private and had a student who was the top athlete in the us who went on to be a 3x Olympian. She traveled multiple times a semester, usually internationally. She was one of my best students. Super organized, polite, planned ahead, emailed me questions while away etc.

Don’t let that teacher write her rec. it won’t benefit your kid.

[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.

You said the absences were excused. Was that according to the school’s or school system’s policy or a generous office worker. Why is an 11th grader missing a significant amount of school for a sport or travel?

[Anonymous]

It’s unfortunate, but I agree with others that the teacher is doing your kid a solid if they aren’t prepare to write a very strong LOR.

[Anonymous]

If she missed a lot of school, how well does this teacher know your kid then? What do you expect this teacher to write other that "student got an A"?

[Anonymous]

So your kid is applying to “very selective”schools and waited until early November to ask for teacher recommendations?

And you haven’t been back to answer anything?

I’m giving this troll post a C+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So your kid is applying to “very selective”schools and waited until early November to ask for teacher recommendations?

And you haven’t been back to answer anything?

I’m giving this troll post a C+.

I’m guessing this isn’t a troll. I get similar requests every year, and sometimes they are followed up by parent emails when the parent doesn’t care for my response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So your kid is applying to “very selective”schools and waited until early November to ask for teacher recommendations?

And you haven’t been back to answer anything?

I’m giving this troll post a C+.

I’m guessing this isn’t a troll. I get similar requests every year, and sometimes they are followed up by parent emails when the parent doesn’t care for my response.

How late into senior year are you getting a request for a letter of recommendation from a student you last taught as a junior?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1. she's going to exhibit the same attitude in college These aren't dumb reasons, as you say OP. I wouldn't writ the letter either

[Anonymous]

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

+1

And OP calling the reason the teacher cited “dumb” shows her lack of respect for the teacher. Sounds like the entitlement has been passed down.

[Anonymous]

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

+1 and sports better be at the level of heavily recruited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If this was a national level competition, missing school is unavoidable as scheduling is set by a national federation and results/points often affect national ranking and championship eligibility.

I taught at a DC private and had a student who was the top athlete in the us who went on to be a 3x Olympian. She traveled multiple times a semester, usually internationally. She was one of my best students. Super organized, polite, planned ahead, emailed me questions while away etc.

Don’t let that teacher write her rec. it won’t benefit your kid.

Of course, for this applicant the college could care less about the LOR.

[Anonymous]

Ya'll, I think this is fake. What 12th grader is asking for a LOR now? It's WAAAAAYYYY too late.

[Anonymous]

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

This
Plus as many teachers have pointed out in DCUM, these letters are voluntary and fine on their own time. She may have 10-15 other students who asked her to write references. She also may feel like this is an above-and-beyond ask that requires her personal time, but your DD gave *her* time to sports and travel instead of computer class, so maybe the teacher just doesn’t feel that this is a priority to your child. At least not enough to compel her to write a glowing letter exaultung her skill and passion for it.

[Anonymous]

Ugh, I can honestly see both sides, but ultimately, your kid asked too late and the teacher probably did her a favor by saying no.