<p>Hey everyone. I currently attend an online school and it's time (er, probably past time) for me to start getting my recs. However, I'm worried about the quality of the recs my teachers and counselors can give considering it IS an online school and they don't actually know me personally. I was thinking of getting a supplemental rec from my skating coach who knows me really well and is more than willing to write me a great rec. However, I'm not sure if colleges would accept it since she is not part of the faculty of my school (although her daughter does the same program, so she knows what it's like) and I am also not a competitive skater. I'm not sure if they really care about what my coach has to say unless I'll be playing hockey or something for the school.</p>
<p>Do you think colleges would let me submit a supplemental rec from her given that I do attend an online school? Would it be like a homeschooler submitting an extra rec? I know one of the schools I'm applying to will take it, but some of the other ones (like NYU) seem to be a bit more reluctant to do any extra reading considering all the applications they get.</p>
<p>Also, has anyone else had this experience? If so, did the recs work out okay anyway?</p>
<p>One last thing - my school DOES have me fill out this little survey about myself for teachers and the counselor to use. It asks me what I want admissions officers to know about me, what 5 adjectives best describe me, stuff like that. How exactly is this used? Do they just basically use what I say and throw in their own experiences or what? I would ask my counselor, but she wont even return my emails right now.</p>
<p>Thanks in advanced for even reading this long post. I've pretty much been on my own with college admissions and it's freaking me out a bit. My parents insist that it's better if they let me do my own thing, and my counselor has been no help at all (like I said, she doesn't even return my emails for the most part). This site has been a huge help though :)</p>
<p>I believe that you would be enabled to do that.</p>
<p>Have you considered sending emails to your teachers directly? When I was debating whether or not to apply to a summer program, I sent an email to one of my teachers asking her if she would be willing to write a recommendation for me, and she just asked me for a resume. Perhaps you could compile a list of activities that you’re engaged in, and then send it to a couple of your teachers.</p>
<p>I would also assume that they would be happy to see the letter from your coach, because they want all they can get from homeschoolers, and you’re sort of a homeschooler. If the online school is not accredited or not well-known or not very formal, you’re even more a homeschooler. You may want to call each school and tell them your situation and ask them how they feel about it.</p>
<p>^Thanks for the advice! That’s really been my biggest confusion is whether or not I’m considered a homeschooler. I’ll definitely call to clarify. I’m glad to hear the extra rec would probably be okay since I know it’ll be awesome.</p>
<p>My counselor stated that I should just refer to Keystone (the online school that I attend) as a private school. I think that it depends on whether or not your school is accredited though.</p>
<p>If you do the entire diploma through an online program or distance learning, then you are no longer technically a homeschooler and would refer to yourself as a private schooler, or public schooler if using a public program. It does not matter if the program is accredited or not because, believe it or not, there are many many brick and mortar schools that are not accredited and none of those students are going to be calling themselves homeschoolers.</p>
<p>SO, if your parents print up your diploma themselves, you are homeschooled. If someplace else is mailing you it because you completed their program, then you are a private/public schooler.</p>