<p>Hi! I am new here and didn't exactly know where to post this but I need some serious help. I am currently suffering from a really bad sickness that has kept me out of school for the past 12 weeks. I am on home instruction and meet with the tutors for my classes every week. However, I was planning on asking teachers to write me a recommendation this spring for the college application process this fall. I am a junior going on senior. But now since I haven't seen them in months I am in somewhat of a dilemma. I have gotten to know my instructors for home very well and they have gotten to know me very well too, I was wondering if it would be OK to ask them to write me recommendations? Not just them mind you, but at least one of them. For example, my math instructor really likes me and has gotten to know me very well while my actual math teacher was never really interested in getting to know me if I wasn't wrestling, which I don't do. I was also wondering if asking a Chinese teacher to write me a letter would be OK or not? Thank you for all your help! Much appreciated!</p>
<p>Some very selective colleges have rather idiosyncratic requirements about teacher recommendations, but most colleges and universities that want them, want 1 or 2 letters from teachers who have taught you in an academic subject. Usually, “academic subject” means English, math, science, social studies or foreign language.</p>
<p>Your illness really has put you in a tough situation. I’m sorry you’re in this predicament. I think you can ask one of your home-instruction teachers to write you a college letter. It doesn’t surprise me at all that they know you and your academic work better than the school-based teachers you had before you got sick. There may be some colleges that aren’t too keen on getting a letter from a home-instruction teacher, but, honestly, what else are you going to do? A college that won’t be satisfied with such a letter is probably not going to be satisfied with other elements of your unusual high-school preparation as well. That means, even if it’s a college you like otherwise, it’s not the right college for you.</p>
<p>But let me make one thing very clear: I’m writing this as a parent of a chronically ill teenager, and not as an expert in college admissions. I suggest you get a second opinion from your guidance counselor at school. (Yes, I know you don’t go there these days. But you could call or email.)</p>
<p>Best wishes for your recovery. Bon courage!</p>
<p>Thank you! I will definitely look into asking my guidance counselor to be sure but you don’t know how much stress that has lifted from my back! The college I currently dream of going to I luckily have a family friend who works there so I am hoping that can help offset the home instructor letter. Still though! Thank you so much!</p>
<p>Since you have a first choice, you could also look at its web site and look for the name and email address of the person who handles freshman admissions for the area where you live. Even if you can’t find that person’s name and contact information, you can email the admissions office in general. Explain your situation and ask whether a letter form a home-instruction teacher will meet their needs. </p>
<p>I expect they’ll say yes. I mean, if they take applications from home-schooled students, they’ll probably take your somewhat unconventional application, too.</p>