Letters of recommendation from different subjects?

Hi! I'm a junior and I know I need to start thinking about getting letters of recommendation for my college applications. Should I be asking teachers from different subjects (like humanities and STEM) or is it better to choose teachers from my strongest areas? What are your experiences? Thanks in advance!

Hey there! It's great that you're getting a head start on college applications. Letters of recommendation are an essential part of your application, so it's important to choose wisely. Generally, it's a good idea to have a mix of teachers from different subjects, such as one from a humanities discipline and one from a STEM field. This helps to show the admissions committee that you are well-rounded and provides a more comprehensive perspective on your abilities.

However, you should prioritize teachers you've had a strong relationship with and who can speak to your growth and potential rather than focusing solely on subject areas. It's more important to choose teachers who know you well, have taught you recently (preferably in 11th or 12th grade), and can provide detailed insights about your performance and contributions in their classes.

In addition, if you're planning to major in a specific field, it's helpful to have a teacher in that subject area write a recommendation. For example, if you're going to study engineering, having a strong recommendation from your math or physics teacher can be beneficial.

All the best with your applications, and don't forget to give your teachers plenty of notice when asking for recommendations! You've got this!