<p>I am going to be applying to colleges in the fall of '09. I haven't been in traditional school for a while though - I homeschooled for high school. I did take some community college courses during that time, but that was too long ago to ask for recommendations from those professors. I will be taking two (I think) community college courses in the spring so I can have something more recent to show, but I don't want to depend on those two instructors to give me recommendations. </p>
<p>Would it be acceptable for a person in my situation to have only one rec when I apply to colleges? Are there other ways to get recommendations? I have heard that some applicants have interesting achievements specific to particular departments, and so they find someone in said department at a prospective school who will examine their achievements and write a recommendation for them... but that seems awkward, like it would involved bugging someone and probably wouldn't go anywhere. Do people really do that?</p>
<p>I could come up with recommendations that would traditionally be considered more supplemental - such as a recommendation from someone supervising volunteer work I've done.</p>
<p>Hopefully the two instructors in the spring will be great recs, but if not -- and if the college you're applying to requires two recs -- you're going to need to find them. I think a rec that is "traditionally considered more supplemental" is fine in your situation.</p>
<p>Are you sure that the community courses you took a while back were too long ago to ask for recs? Do you think the profs remember you? They might. Check that out.</p>
<p>When my step-grandson applied to college after a gap, he had an employer do the rec. It seemed to work. I think a supervisor of your volunteer work would also be fine.</p>
<p>Are you applying to any places that tend to have a number of non-traditional students? They may have suggestions on their web sites, or you could certainly call and speak to an admissions officer.</p>
<p>Look at all the things you do in your spare time.
For example, my kids play their instruments at church during liturgy.
It is almost an automatic reccomendation letter either from the pastor or from the music director person.</p>
<p>Some very fine colleges give special consideration to non traditional prospective students, especially those who have been out of school for a few years, and might have helpful guidence on your question. I don't know much about it, but you might check out, for example, "Ada Comstock scholars" at Smith College.</p>