English Teacher Rec Problem

usnahopeful19

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2014
Messages
124
Hey all,

So, I know that I have to get my recommendation from my 11th or 12th grade English teacher but I don't feel that my teacher this past year would give a good recommendation (not because I didn't try in his class or anything like that, he just doesn't like me). I also don't want to wait until September to ask my 12th grade teacher for a rec because I want to stay as competitive as possible.

I will have my 10th grade English teacher as my teacher next year for an English elective. My question here is would it be possible to use her rec even though she'll be teaching an English elective class and not my core class?

I'm really stuck between a rock and a hard place with this one and I just don't know what to do. I want to be honest and not mess anything up/disqualify myself but I also know that asking my 11th grade teacher is definitely not the right thing to do.

Please help if possible? And if anyone else also been in this situation, could you please say what you chose to do?

Thanks!
 
There are only 3 human voices that the admission board wants to hear from: your English teacher, your math teacher, and your BGO. That's all....the rest of the world can love you to pieces but they don't count so do everything possible to impress those 3. Why would you willingly ask someone who would not give you the best possible recommendation? You will not be very competitive doing that.

Wait for the 12th grade teacher and ask them. Submitting an early September pack does not get you in----sterling referrals will.
 
While submitting everything a.s.a.p. is crucial, I would also say to wait. Just get everything else done that you can (especially your essays!), so when September rolls around and you get the rec, you're good to go:thumb:
 
Hi 19!

My son had a similar situation this year. My only suggestion would be to broach your guidance counselor and reevaluate, if need be.

Good luck!
 
Be patient, a bad recommendation from one of your teachers could sink you. The main advantage to getting your package in early is if your competitive for an LOA. The majority of students rush and get their package complete and then sit and wait until March or April of the next year to get an answer. A better Teacher recommendation trumps getting in an early package with a bad recommendation, truth...


Hey all,

So, I know that I have to get my recommendation from my 11th or 12th grade English teacher but I don't feel that my teacher this past year would give a good recommendation (not because I didn't try in his class or anything like that, he just doesn't like me). I also don't want to wait until September to ask my 12th grade teacher for a rec because I want to stay as competitive as possible.

I will have my 10th grade English teacher as my teacher next year for an English elective. My question here is would it be possible to use her rec even though she'll be teaching an English elective class and not my core class?

I'm really stuck between a rock and a hard place with this one and I just don't know what to do. I want to be honest and not mess anything up/disqualify myself but I also know that asking my 11th grade teacher is definitely not the right thing to do.

Please help if possible? And if anyone else also been in this situation, could you please say what you chose to do?

Thanks!
 
Absolutely go with the English elective teacher. You don't need to ask her for a recommendation on the first day of class. Wait until after you have done a terrific job on an essay or test :)
 
Not to throw the thread off track, but how do you deal with this one - a teacher who doesn't want to do a recommendation because they "don't believe in the military"?

I have some folks that often ask me about the application process as they know that my sons went through it, and I recently heard about this little issue coming up for a kid looking to apply to USNA.

Last I heard, the kid and parents were trying to meet with the school district superintendent to get it worked out. But then again, how strong a recommendation do you think a teacher will give if he is being forced to give it?
 
Not to throw the thread off track, but how do you deal with this one - a teacher who doesn't want to do a recommendation because they "don't believe in the military"?

I have some folks that often ask me about the application process as they know that my sons went through it, and I recently heard about this little issue coming up for a kid looking to apply to USNA.

Last I heard, the kid and parents were trying to meet with the school district superintendent to get it worked out. But then again, how strong a recommendation do you think a teacher will give if he is being forced to give it?

I know exactly what you mean. Right now I'm a college freshman reapplicant and I don't have an English class because I'm a MechE. My HS senior English teacher views the military as a killing machine controlled by politicians - I know because I've talked to him. He questioned why I would want to join. I'm in a bit of a bind :confused:
 
Not to throw the thread off track, but how do you deal with this one - a teacher who doesn't want to do a recommendation because they "don't believe in the military"?

I have some folks that often ask me about the application process as they know that my sons went through it, and I recently heard about this little issue coming up for a kid looking to apply to USNA.

Last I heard, the kid and parents were trying to meet with the school district superintendent to get it worked out. But then again, how strong a recommendation do you think a teacher will give if he is being forced to give it?

I would contact USNA admissions and explain the situation. They will understand and give options. I'm sure this isn't the first time they've run into this.

-Proud Parent USAFA 2018 cadet
 
My HS senior English teacher views the military as a killing machine controlled by politicians - I know because I've talked to him. He questioned why I would want to join.

Your English teacher is correct as to military does kill, time to time, and is controlled by "elected" politicians (i.e. President). I think your English teacher would not like the alternative - military that doesn't listen to "elected" politicians.

Kidding aside, you should ask your English teacher, if you get a chance, respecting your wishes as an adult to make a decision and his or her obligation to make an assessment on your abilities and based on what she observed. Am I too radical to think that teachers should support their students?
 
He questioned why I would want to join.

You might tell him: To defend the the American way of life so that people like him are able to express their views openly without being imprisoned or killed.
 
I would still be a little nervous that the English teacher might crash the eval so the candidate would not have the option of going to a military school. Who knows? Maybe a good course of action is to talk with the guidance counselor (who hopefully doesn't share the same views on the military as the teacher) and have the English teacher turn in a copy of the recommendation to the guidance counselor.
 
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