<p>How many academic samples are enough for applying top colleges? And do I have to send a sample of EACH subject i've learned?</p>
<p>Check with the colleges. Most don't ask for samples. The one my daughter faced that did want a short writing sample asked for it from everyone. I haven't heard of any place that wants a sample of everything. They are very busy folks -- they don't have the time (or even the background) to review work in every subject. </p>
<p>Now if you have a sample that shows you to advantage (in your proposed field, outside-evaluated, or the like) you can certainly include it.</p>
<p>The way we handled things was to submit course descriptions and say that additional information or samples were available if requested. No one requested samples. My daughter volunteered a couple of samples from her Egyptology correspondence courses (a short research report, a hieroglyphic translation) because that is her field and the Egyptologist reviewing her work had written some glowing comments in the margins. But I don't know if any school actually looked at the samples!</p>
<p>Think of it as marketing yourself. Perhaps samples can do that best, or perhaps you can do it better with outside classes, competitions, assorted test scores, or something else.</p>
<p>Most admissions offices do not have the resources to evaluate extensive portfolios of work (some do). I would not rely heavily on work samples to document your ability unless you are applying only to non-select colleges, or to small liberal arts colleges that you know for sure will look at them. </p>
<p>I advise homeschoolers applying to selective colleges to make sure that they have at least 10-12 "data points" - that is, objective, quantitative measures that will allow admissions officers to quickly compare the homeschooler to the rest of the applicant pool. These might be grades in distance learning or community college courses, high school courses, performance in well-known academic competitions, or scores on SAT IIs or APs. Parent-generated grades don't count. </p>
<p>In addition to "data points", I also advise homeschoolers to start planning early in high school for how they can cultivate relationships with adults outside their families who can potentially write rec letters for them. Even if a college does not ask for extra stuff from homeschoolers, they might also want to consider submitting an extra rec letter beyond what that college asks of school kids.</p>