Subject: Should I Ask My Pre-Calc Teacher for a Letter of Recommendation?
Hi everyone,
I’m a junior in high school and I wanted to get some advice. At my school, the year is divided into four marking periods rather than two semesters, and I’ve had a tough time in pre-calc. During the first marking period, I struggled quite a bit because I didn’t put in enough effort—I was balancing a job that took up most of my time, and I assumed pre-calc would be like other math courses I had taken. Unfortunately, that assumption was wrong, and I ended up failing.
Rather than dropping the class, I decided to stick it out, believing I could turn things around. For the second marking period, I put in a lot more effort: I sought extra help from my teacher and counselor, and made sure to focus on math despite also taking three AP classes. Despite my hard work, I only managed to earn a C-. I felt really defeated by this, and I’ve had moments of frustration where I’ve cried after receiving disappointing grades, but I wasn’t able to drop the course since we were already halfway through the year.
Now, in the third marking period, I’ve made significant changes to my study habits, and it’s paying off—I currently have an A-. I continue to attend extra help sessions, ask questions, and actively participate in class, and my teacher has acknowledged my improvement.
However, I’m concerned about how colleges might view my lower grades. Even if I finish this year strong, they’ll still see that I had a B- or C+ for pre-calc, which could negatively impact my GPA. I genuinely believe a strong letter of recommendation from my math teacher would help explain my journey and the progress I’ve made.
Should I approach him for a letter of recommendation in April, or would it be better to ask other teachers? I’ve built better relationships with some of my other teachers, but I feel that my relationship with my math teacher is particularly strong.
Thanks for taking the time to read this! I really appreciate any advice you can offer.
It’s great that you’re taking the initiative to ask for a letter of recommendation from your pre-calc teacher! Based on your situation, I think it could be a strong choice, especially since you’ve built a relationship with him and shown significant improvement.
Here are a few things to consider before asking for the letter:
Explain Your Journey: When you ask for the letter, be open about your struggles during the first two marking periods, but focus on the strides you’ve made since then. Your teacher may appreciate understanding the context of your performance and your determination to improve.
Highlight Your Improvement: Emphasize how your commitment to your education has led to your current success (like the A- you have now). This shows resilience and a growth mindset, which are qualities colleges look for.
Timing: April sounds like a good time to ask, especially if your teacher can speak to your recent performance and improvement. Just be sure to ask at a time that works for him, so he can provide a thoughtful recommendation.
Consider Other Letters: While it’s a great idea to ask your math teacher for a recommendation, you should also consider other teachers who can speak to different aspects of your skills and character, especially if they can highlight your strengths in areas relevant to your intended college major or programs.
Be Honest and Grateful: When you approach your teacher, express your gratitude for his support and guidance during your tough times. Acknowledge that you understand his perspective on your grades and ask if he’d feel comfortable providing a recommendation in light of your recent progress.
In summary, go for it! It sounds like you have a solid relationship with your teacher, and a well-articulated story about overcoming challenges can make for a compelling letter of recommendation. Good luck!