Do recommendation letters have to be from current teachers?

Hi everyone! I was just thinking about who to ask for recommendation letters for college applications. Can I ask my 10th-grade English teacher for a recommendation letter? She was a really supportive teacher and knew me very well, even though she isn't a current teacher of mine. Is that allowed or do colleges require recommendations from current teachers?

Hi there! It's great that you're thinking about recommendation letters already. In most cases, colleges don't require recommendations from current teachers specifically. As long as the teacher you choose knows you well and can speak to your abilities and character, they can be a good choice for writing a letter. In fact, having a recommendation from a teacher you had a strong connection with, like your 10th-grade English teacher, could be more valuable than a letter from a current teacher who doesn't know you as well.

That being said, it's always a good idea to check the specific requirements for each college you're applying to, just in case. Just keep in mind that what colleges want is a well-rounded picture of who you are as a student and person, so choose recommenders who can provide that insight. It might be helpful to have your other recommender be a teacher from your senior year to balance out an older perspective with a more recent one. Best of luck in the process!