Hi there,
I’m a home schooled senior applying to college this year. I’m a bit confused by the common app recommendation process and am trying to put together the information to give to my recommenders. One is my theatre teacher, the other is my film instructor. They will be serving as my required teacher recommendations since I am home schooled.
I saw somewhere on the common app website that if a teacher wrote something directed at specific college, than that letter had to be sent snail mail instead of uploaded, but I can’t find the information any more. It also said that if the letter of recommendation is general in content as far as colleges go, than the letter could be uploaded to all the colleges. Is any of the above information correct? I don’t really feel like the common app is very user friendly, and I’m having trouble figuring it out.
So do the letters have to be sent snail mail if they say anything specific, or can they be uploaded to the individual colleges regardless?
Any info from someone who knows or has been through the process already would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Hello,
i do believe if the recommendation is towards a specific college, it should be sent directly to the college through mail. I’m not completely certain, however I suggest that call this college’s admissions office and ask them if you should do this. Most colleges have very helpful admissions counselors who are willing to help you get through anything.
Hope I helped!
As I understand, if you upload a letter to the Common App, you are saying that it can be sent to all the schools there. So if your teacher was writing specifically to one school, they would want to mail it.
That being said, have you made sure that those teachers are acceptable to the colleges you apply to? Some specifically want teachers of academic subjects (math, English, science, history, sometimes foreign language). I’m not sure if the rules are different because you’re homeschooled, but you might want to double-check.
Thanks neuron321 and SpringAwake15.
@SpringAwake15, I was wondering about that. I don’t have any other teachers who know me in an academic context. I’m going to try to email some colleges and see if I can find out. My program is accredited, but my school work is mostly self-study with parental guidance; We have very limited context with our graders in my program.
My theatre teacher is from a pre-professional classical acting program I’m a student in; we do Shakespeare. It’s a pretty intense program, not a drama club. You can get academic credit for her class, I’ve just never done so. She’s also the education director at the theatre itself. The film instructor teaches documentary film-making at a couple of local colleges and is a professional filmmaker.
They don’t know me on an academic level in traditional context, but they do know me on an intellectual level and are able to speak about my personality, work ethic, and character. I’m hoping my test scores (National merit semifinalist; SAT subject tests in the 700s; ACT 32, retaking in September) will help work my case academically.
A lot of colleges have special sections for home-schooled students under their admissions tab! I think that they understand that coming from home-schooling is a lot different, and most colleges will do everything they can to assist you in the process. As others have said, I would advise you to check out specific colleges’ requirements for home-schooled students! Good luck!
Yeah, getting in contact with colleges is a good idea. I’m sure they have guidelines for situations like yours. It does sound like your teachers know you well enough to write a good letter.