Some points to keep in mind when you requesting a recommendation letter: 1) if you took one class from me and got a B, the letter is unlikely to be helpful to you (unless it is a B in a graduate class). 2) if you got an A or A-, you should still keep in mind that the essence of a good recommendation letter is a concrete comparison with other students. So I must disclose to the graduate programs the detailed information about the meaning of the grade. In particular, I am expected to disclose your percentile ranking in the class and describe the level of hardness of the class. So, being in the upper 25% in Calc 3 certainly won't hurt but all alone I don't think it is going to get you into an Ivy League school. If you are unsure about your standing in a specific class, you can always ask me for this information. This is a hard fact, not an opinion. 3) Unless somehow I got to know you personally, I will not be able to write anything else besides this ranking information.