Which Math Teacher Evaluation?

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usafaapplicant2025

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Sep 14, 2020
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Hi everyone,
I'm new here! I'm in a little bit of a dilemma. I have 2 options to choose from for my math evaluation for USAFA's class of 2025, and neither are ideal. Here's a rundown:

11th-grade trig teacher:
- We transferred to online classes halfway through the semester
- We both are mutually not a fan of each other. I couldn't process her style of teaching, and when I asked for help she would brush me off
- Small class, but we only had a couple of real conversations, and it was mostly about moving our final because it was on the school SAT day (so no real connection).

Current 12th-grade Stats teacher
- Completely on Zoom so we haven't met
- I'm super active in the Zoom call chat, but rarely speak up in class
- Large class (40 kids), so talking in class is difficult

I have super great recs from other teachers. I plan to start going to her office hours as much as I can. My evals are due in Nov, so I only have a couple of months to decide which person to give it to. My only concern with my stats teacher is she won't know me well enough to write an accurate eval, but my trig teacher probably won't put me in the best light. Thoughts?

Thanks!
 
C/O 2025 applicant here, personally, I would pick the 12th grade stats teacher (especially if it's AP Stats). If she doesn't feel like she knows you well enough, you could always give her your resume and ask to arrange a separate zoom conference to have a real conversation. I'm sure most teachers understand that with distance learning it's difficult to get to know students in the same way.

I had an issue with the math teacher evaluation too, I took AP stats online as a self paced course 11th grad so I never actually met the teacher. I sent the teacher my resume and I think she put in a good word for me, I had done fine in the class even though we never got to know each other.
 
usafaapplicant2025 said:
Hi everyone,
I'm new here! I'm in a little bit of a dilemma. I have 2 options to choose from for my math evaluation for USAFA's class of 2025, and neither are ideal. Here's a rundown:

11th-grade trig teacher:
- We transferred to online classes halfway through the semester
- We both are mutually not a fan of each other. I couldn't process her style of teaching, and when I asked for help she would brush me off
- Small class, but we only had a couple of real conversations, and it was mostly about moving our final because it was on the school SAT day (so no real connection).

Current 12th-grade Stats teacher
- Completely on Zoom so we haven't met
- I'm super active in the Zoom call chat, but rarely speak up in class
- Large class (40 kids), so talking in class is difficult

I have super great recs from other teachers. I plan to start going to her office hours as much as I can. My evals are due in Nov, so I only have a couple of months to decide which person to give it to. My only concern with my stats teacher is she won't know me well enough to write an accurate eval, but my trig teacher probably won't put me in the best light. Thoughts?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Keep in mind I’m pretty sure if you use a 12th grade teacher, you need to wait a full quarter before USAFA will let you submit a recommendation. But look within the fine print and on USAFA application instructions to confirm that. I know it’s that way for USNA.
 
Verbatim that is my son's situation. Right down to AP stats. He is going with his 12th grade teacher, but it has been VERY difficult to build a virtual relationship, with the added problem of a language barrier. We have decided that the other evals/recs will show many people who do know him and are supportive. Not that she isn't, but honestly, it will be light. Added on to the fact online stats is not his forte. He REALLY needs in person classes, esp math. Also, it is just an evaluation where they rank you and fill in circles. It isn't a freeform recommendation.
 
That's also my situation ahhh. So I've gotten my English teacher and physics teacher for it, but my math teacher of senior year says she doesn't know me well to do it, since it's completely online and she would need to wait and see.
 
@usafaapplicant2025 It never hurts to have a good relationship with a teacher, but it doesn't always help you. You could have a lazy recommendation writing teacher who is awesome at actually teaching and loves everyone. I would go with 11th since you don't have a great relationship with either. Verify if using 12th grade will delay that recommendation, and weigh that against any benefit to choosing the 12th grade teacher.

@madkev - verify if the instructions state the order of priority for the 3rd evaluation (if it's required). In 2024, the 3rd eval order of priority was (1)JROTC, (2)GC, (3)Chem/Phys if taken in 11/12th grade, then (4)other academic teacher. Up to you who you want to chose as #3 but if the instruction book clearly states order of priority in C2025 as it did in C2024, i'd go with what USAFA says is the highest priority. Again, verify if this is the same as C2025.

@SF_Treat I spy an opportunity where there is a language barrier. Overcome this, and it's the stuff of great essays.

To all C2025 and beyond applicants! Watch the USAFA Class of 2024 Convocation (google it/youtube and bookmark it!), and in particular starting at 17:24. You don't even need to have read Station Eleven to understand the message. Internalize this. That's my advice. The world is currently online - for high school, for college, for work, for job seeking. Mastering how to be successful in an online learning environment is imperative to your success at USAFA or anywhere else.
 
HCopter said:
To all C2025 and beyond applicants! Watch the USAFA Class of 2024 Convocation (google it/youtube and bookmark it!), and in particular starting at 17:24. You don't even need to have read Station Eleven to understand the message. Internalize this. That's my advice. The world is currently online - for high school, for college, for work, for job seeking. Mastering how to be successful in an online learning environment is imperative to your success at USAFA or anywhere else.
Click to expand...

So true. I work with 5 different directorates of AFRL (Air Force Research Laboratory), the space and missile systems center (SMC) and the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) on a daily basis, including leading a team with members in 6 different states. We are all over the country and pretty much only ever meet virtually on Teams or even worse, a conference call (Teams has been a game changer for me). Being able to effectively engage and even lead in that environment is absolutely critical to my job and to the job's of everyone I work with. Technology is amazing - embrace it and learn to use it to benefit you as much as possible. Rant over- back to your regularly scheduled thread on recommendations.

Can you build a better relationship with the teachers you have only met virtually? Maybe ask for a conversation to get to know them and for them to know you? Are there optional virtual help sessions you could go to? Think outside the box and make it work. Everyone is in the same situation as you - those that found a creative way to deal with it will stand out, whether it be this or some other challenge associated with COVID. Overcoming challenges and solving problems are one of the best ways to show your potential to be an officer.
 
Thank you all for your comment and suggestions. I've decided to go with my 12th-grade Stats teacher. I've been more active in the class recently, and we've set up a meeting for this Friday (yay!). Anyway, good luck to all the 2025 applicants! :)
 
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