Biology teacher for SOE?

dlee96 · Jul 5, 2013

Hey all, I was wondering if I could use my AP Biology instructor instead of a chemistry/physics teacher.

I know it says chemistry or physics but does it have to be?

Any past experience? Thanks

buff81 · Jul 5, 2013

It has to be from your Chemistry or Physics teacher.

MemberLG · Jul 5, 2013

If you have not taken Chemistry of Phyiscs, your RC should allow you to use another science teacher.

I find it interesting when candidates try to explain why they think they won't get a good SOE from a teacher.

dlee96 · Jul 5, 2013

Oh alright. But would it be asvisable to ask the RC if I could? I have the best relationship with my bio teacher and i dont see why it has to be a chem or physics teacher.

Dixieland · Jul 5, 2013

West Point specifies physics and chemistry for a reason....because you will take physics and chemistry at West Point. If you sneak a SOE in from your biology teacher just because she is nice and likes you, I imagine West Point is going to have some questions about why you didn't use the Chem or Physics teachers when they can see on your transcripts that you took the classes.

Don't give West Point the wrong impression about anything on your application. Don't let Admissions wonder if you are trying to bend the rules and certainly don't make them wonder why you can't follow directions.

tug_boat · Jul 5, 2013

Yup...

I totally agree with Dixieland. WP puts a very strong focus on chem. it's also a Plebe killer

Push Hard, Press Forward

MemberLG · Jul 5, 2013

dlee96 said:
Oh alright. But would it be asvisable to ask the RC if I could? I have the best relationship with my bio teacher and i dont see why it has to be a chem or physics teacher.

No. Personally, I like candidates that can read and follow direction. Although a RC deals with several thousand candidates you will be surprised how a RC can remember certain things about most candidates. Do you want to be posssibly remembered as the candidate who don't like following rules?

It is a school official evaluation, not evaluation from the teacher you have best relationship. There is another name for a such thing, a letter of recommendation.

navygirl89 · Jul 6, 2013

Our Regional Commander (Major Turner) said that it HAS to be Chem or Physics, he said that you could have your Biology teacher to talk to the Chem or Physics teacher about you but the actual SOE has to be from a Chemistry or Physics teacher

Dixieland · Jul 7, 2013

navygirl89 said:
Our Regional Commander (Major Turner) said that it HAS to be Chem or Physics, he said that you could have your Biology teacher to talk to the Chem or Physics teacher about you but the actual SOE has to be from a Chemistry or Physics teacher

Soooo....your biology teacher tells your Chemistry or Physics teacher what they need to say about you?

It seems to me if the prospective candidate is a courteous student and performed satisfactorily in Chemistry and/or Physics, there is no need for a Biology teacher to chime in on the SOE.

dlee96 · Jul 9, 2013

Thanks for the replies but here's the problem.

I took chemistry in my sophomore year (I'm going into my senior year) and I'm not sure my chem teacher remembers me.

I thought that any major science teacher would suffice for the SOE, so I did not maintain a relationship after i was done with chem. And he is notorious for a bad memory, so i do not know if he remembers me. I was one of star pupils though. (*However, we will be my teacher for AP chem this year)

And I tried extra hard in Bio to make sure my teacher and I had the best relationship.

I sent my chem teacher an email about 4 days ago and he is yet to reply. I'm starting to worry because I want to get my app done before August. I think I'm worrying too much.

MemberLG · Jul 9, 2013

dlee96 said:
Thanks for the replies but here's the problem.

I took chemistry in my sophomore year (I'm going into my senior year) and I'm not sure my chem teacher remembers me.

I thought that any major science teacher would suffice for the SOE, so I did not maintain a relationship after i was done with chem. And he is notorious for a bad memory, so i do not know if he remembers me. I was one of star pupils though. (*However, we will be my teacher for AP chem this year)

And I tried extra hard in Bio to make sure my teacher and I had the best relationship.

I sent my chem teacher an email about 4 days ago and he is yet to reply. I'm starting to worry because I want to get my app done before August. I think I'm worrying too much.

If your Chemistry teacher is unresponsive, that might be a good reason to request an exception from your RC. At the same time I have heard candidates tracking down teachers that retired.

Just be careful as to one email sent in my opinion is not a good effort.

kinnem · Jul 9, 2013

dlee96 said:
Thanks for the replies but here's the problem.

I took chemistry in my sophomore year (I'm going into my senior year) and I'm not sure my chem teacher remembers me.

I thought that any major science teacher would suffice for the SOE, so I did not maintain a relationship after i was done with chem. And he is notorious for a bad memory, so i do not know if he remembers me. I was one of star pupils though. (*However, we will be my teacher for AP chem this year)

And I tried extra hard in Bio to make sure my teacher and I had the best relationship.

I sent my chem teacher an email about 4 days ago and he is yet to reply. I'm starting to worry because I want to get my app done before August. I think I'm worrying too much.

I'm not sure why one would expect a teacher to respond to an email over the summer. This is why many folks say you should start at least this portion of your application prior to school letting out.

Dixieland · Jul 9, 2013

dlee96 said:
And he is notorious for a bad memory, so i do not know if he remembers me. I was one of star pupils though. (*However, we will be my teacher for AP chem this year)

I would imagine that if you were one of your chemistry teacher's star pupils, he will remember you. You had him as a sophomore and you just finished your junior year----not that much time has passed. Teachers have surprisingly good memories and have ways that they can look back at your time with them and remember what sort of student you were.

I also looked back and saw that in August 2012, you asked:

Will I need teacher recs? (how many and from who?)

I replied to you:

You can find the answers to your questions in the helpful "stickies" at the top of the USMA page.

buff81 has filled the stickies with all kinds of helpful information including who West Point wants to hear from on your SOEs.

I would write your teacher a good, old-fashioned letter and refresh his memory about when he taught you, and then ask if he would consider providing your SOE for West Point. I don't know if teachers check their school email when they are on vacation.

soccmomer · Jul 9, 2013

When we visited West Point this spring, we asked about the Chemistry/Physics teacher recs since DS has not taken either yet. We were told to talk to his physics(that he will be taking this school year) teacher at the beginning of the school year and have the teacher write the rec after a month. They seemed to think this is long enough for a teacher to get to know a student....I have other thoughts on the matter, but I guess this is what we will do.