Letters of Recommendation

USMA2016

Appointee - Class of 2016
5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2010
Messages
518
Hey everyone,

I know that when the SSK comes out I'm going to have to seek letters of rec from my 11th grade AP chem, pre-calc, and AP language (english) teachers. I have a few questions/concerns...

I heard that the forms are going to be all online, making coordinating with teachers over the summer super easy. Is that true or are there any sections that aren't online? If so, how would you recommend I work that out with my teachers so they can send them in over the summer?

Second, I don't think my honors pre-calc teacher likes me too much. I don't know why; I mainly keep to myself, I have a 97.5% in that class, I help other people out, etc. If she just gives me an average review (or worst case... a bad one:eek:), would that be a big deal if all of my other teacher reviews and MALO interview are really good?

Thanks, I really appreciate the help!
:tank:
^^^^PS: Sorry about the tank, but I just figured out how to do that and I just had to.
 
All of the recommendations are online, but I can't help you with the second question. I don't know, but it seems that the other teacher's recommendations would out weigh the one. Again, just an opinion.
 
Also, if I may ask, how does West Point prevent fraud with the Teacher recs? Couldn't someone else log in for them and write the evaluation?
 
I don't think my honors pre-calc teacher likes me too much.

You can get the Math SOE from any math teacher you have had in high school. How about your Algebra teacher?

Also, if I may ask, how does West Point prevent fraud with the Teacher recs? Couldn't someone else log in for them and write the evaluation?

The teachers you request a SOE from will get an email from West Point with a link to the SOE. Could someone other than your teacher open up their email and fill out the SOE? Possible but how likely is that. If it really concerns you, ask your teacher to send you an email once they have completed the SOE.
That serves 2 purposes -
1) the reason stated above about making sure the teacher and noone else did the evaluation and
2) you can then start looking for that icon to turn green - indicating that the SOE was received by West Point. If after a reasonable amount of time, the icon is still yellow, then you need to contact your FFR or RC to let them know that your teacher sent in the SOE but your portal doesn't show that it was received.
 
You can get the Math SOE from any math teacher you have had in high school. How about your Algebra teacher?

Really? Because my sophomore Honors Algebra 2/Trig teacher kinda taught like a million people (I'm not sure if he even knows who I am) so I was thinking my Advanced Geometry teacher all the way back from Freshman year. We had a good rapport back then and I stop by to say 'hi' every now and then. Would it be okay to have a freshman year teacher fill that out? I thought I heard they prefer junior or sophomore year teachers.
 
From my understanding, my FFR told me that any high school math, english and science teacher will work. For me, i dont have a very good relationship with my chem teacher, so im going to ask my sophomore year biology teacher instead.
best of luck! :)
 
NamD is correct.
ANY of your math, english and physics/chemistry teachers from grades 9-12 can do your SOEs.
 
Also, if I may ask, how does West Point prevent fraud with the Teacher recs? Couldn't someone else log in for them and write the evaluation?

nothing is fraud proof. However, it will be very foolish to commit a teacher recommendation fraud. They are required, but will not make or break you. What will happen if you get caught?
 
From my understanding, my FFR told me that any high school math, english and science teacher will work. For me, i dont have a very good relationship with my chem teacher, so im going to ask my sophomore year biology teacher instead.
best of luck! :)

It's been a while since my cadet applied, but I believe the instructions specifically say the recommendation must come from your physics or chemistry teachers.

I don't believe West Point lets you substitute teachers, they are specific about which teachers they want to hear from. Make sure you fill everything out exactly the way West Point says to.
 
Just to clarify/summarize:

Before the SSK, I should talk to my teachers who will write recommendations about them filling out the evaluations in July. Do they ever have to physically write a letter or is it all online?

After the SSK, give West Point their contact info and email/call them again letting them know that the process has begun. Is there any way for me to see if they've sent in their recs?
 
I cannot answer all of your questions but i believe it is indeed all online.
can someone verify Dixieland's response?
Thank you!
:)
 
My application last year for the Science SOE said you could get any chemistry, physics, as well as biology teacher to do your SOE.
 
Hey!

Could anyone please tell me of what a SOE consists of?
 
Just to clarify/summarize:

Before the SSK, I should talk to my teachers who will write recommendations about them filling out the evaluations in July.

This is just my personal opinion.
I think it is courteous to make contact with your teachers that you want a SOE from.
If you do it before the school year is over, it will give them a heads up to be on the look out for it and also, I just think that it is good to request this in person which is easy to do during the school year.

Do they ever have to physically write a letter or is it all online?

It is on-line.

After the SSK, give West Point their contact info and email/call them again letting them know that the process has begun. Is there any way for me to see if they've sent in their recs?

It will be indicated on your candidate portal.

I cannot answer all of your questions but i believe it is indeed all online.
can someone verify Dixieland's response?
Thank you!
:)

According to the 'Instructions for Applicants':

School Official Evaluations
There are three School Official’s Evaluation forms that must be
submitted online. Enter the required contact information for an
English instructor, a math instructor, and a lab science instructor
(physics or chemistry).
If you have college experience, we would
like to have evaluations from your college English, mathematics,
and science professors, and the Professor of Military Science, if
applicable.


Also-
on your candidate portal, there is a section concerning the SOEs. I couldn't copy it but it says:
Enter information for your Physics/Chemistry SOE official.

Hey!

Could anyone please tell me of what a SOE consists of?

The SOE consists of 12 questions that your teachers will mark with a rating of 1-5 (from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree).
Then there is a box where they will enter general remarks.
 
Buff81 - Thank you very much! You're a hero! :cool:
 
The SOE consists of 12 questions that your teachers will mark with a rating of 1-5 (from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree).
Then there is a box where they will enter general remarks.

A SOE is about the student or the course?

Forgive my ignorance.


And one last question - are the teacher rec's also "question and answer" form or is it a statement? Just want to be sure about it.

Thanks in advance!
 
A SOE is about the student or the course?

Forgive my ignorance.


And one last question - are the teacher rec's also "question and answer" form or is it a statement? Just want to be sure about it.

Thanks in advance!

The SOE is on the student.
The SOE is the teacher's rec.
 
The SOE is on the student.
The SOE is the teacher's rec.

Ahhhh makes sense :shake:

It's just that I had seen somewhere a teacher rec was a statement ("I recommend the student for this, this and that...") rather than Q&As.

Thank you very much, buff.
 
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