<p>What should I do? My guidance counselor will not write me a letter of recommendation to top universities... not so much the letter part (I don't think many of the schools I'm applying to actually require a LETTER), but she won't fill out the forms, stating that I'm "not qualified because those schools are too good." What the hell? She doesn't even know me from a hole in the wall, and I've been homeschooled for my last 2 years of high school! In my opinion, it is not her choice whether I apply to a community college or MIT (I'm applying to MIT by the way). I'm thinking of writing my own letter to MIT, telling them that my counselor will not write me a letter of recommendation because, in her uninformed opinion, I am not qualified, but I would like to give MIT officials the opportunity to make that decision on their own, since they obviously know more about what MIT is looking for in a student than what my crappy counselor does. </p>
<p>Isn't that what everyone does anyway? They pick a couple of safeties, a few matches, and the rest reaches in case in a tiny, slim little chance, they get in? I don't see what the problem with that is!</p>
<p>3.76 GPA (unweighted, not sure about weighted, but I had all AP/honors classes, all 4 years (even homeschooled I followed the AP curriculum... and the homeschooling was out of medical necessity)), PROJECTED: 35 cum. ACT w/writing, 790 Math IIC SATII, 800 Biology M SAT II, absolutely amazing letters of recommendation from my doctors that know me on a personal level and know about my schooling experience, volunteer hours, fabulous essays (IMO anyway! lol), etc. </p>
<p>No one will write me a LOR, and I don't know why because wouldn't it make my school look better if I actually DID get into a top school? This just baffles me!</p>
<p>Exactly. I'm not asking for a LETTER though, just for her to check off their little charts that say "Prospective ability to succeed: highly qualified, qualified, somewhat qualified, not qualified," etc., based on my class rank and performance. She won't even fill that out though.</p>
<p>In our area, if you've been homeschooled, no one in the high school would write you a letter of recommendation. You're no longer a student in the school; how do you have a "class rank"? If there's no feed back from teachers, how could a counselor even get to the point of knowing your "potential to succeed"?</p>
<p>Personally, I applaud the guidance counselor for refusing to sign her name to a document attesting to the abilities of a student no longer at her school.</p>
<p>There are different requirements for homeschooled students. You should follow those.</p>
<p>Get your parents involved. Parents are taxpayers. Counselors and principals are paid with taxpayer dollars. They listen to parents when they won't listen to kids. Have them start with very nice contact with the counselor...then elevate to the principal, etc. as necessary.</p>
<p>We had an issue with my 6th grader that the counselor couldn't/wouldn't resolve. Within a few days, the principal called US with the explanation.</p>
<p>My kids are homeschooled, and it's expected that I write what would normally come from the school counselors. I know a lot of homeschooled kids, and none of them look for high school counselors to do this. I'm not even sure why you'd want to. Have your mom or dad do it, as they are considered the "homeschool supervisors." It's totally normal these days with so many homeschoolers applying to college. A college won't bat an eye at it. Also send the "homeschool supplement" along with your Common App. Play up your homeschooler-ness. It will often work in your favor. Even though my kids have taken multiple classes at the local high school, I wouldn't dream of having a counselor who doesn't know them (and my have an attitude) write anything about them at all.</p>
<p>From what you've told us, you were not in school the past 2 years. (Are you in school now?)</p>
<p>You talk about medical reasons for being home schooled. Were you tutored by people employed by the public schools? Or were you truly homeschooled without input from the public schools? </p>
<p>If you haven't been in school and weren't tutored by public school employees, the GC has no basis for filling in the form and is right to decline to do it. She doesn't know you. She has no basis to assess how you'll perform at college. (Her statement that you're not qualified for the top schools does seem off base.)</p>
<p>Contact MIT and explain your situation and ask for direction from them. </p>
<p>My son applied to all top tiers in boarding schools. He also showed me that the top tiers look for all Stanine nine’s in ERB’s. One time the principal told him that he should just apply to the second tiers. Then, he said that the schools look for diversity. I’m confused. I think I’m screwed!!</p>
<p>This thread is from 2007. You should post your own current thread in the Prep School admissions subforum (look under Pre-College) for comments specific to your situation.</p>