<p>Because we homeschool, the homeschool supplement/guidance counselor's letter comes from us. I was at sea at first about what to say, but then I thought, "What do I want them to know about my son that all the rest of this stuff isn't going to tell them?" I think that's a good way to approach it.</p>
<p>BTW, he had great results, so it didn't hurt, anyway :-)</p>
<p>I posted on the earlier thread. I know that one school to which D applied requested a parent letter (though perhaps not for ED applicants). I didn't write the letter. I think the fact that D comes from a solidly-middle class, college educated family gives her enough of a leg-up that a letter from her (reasonably) articulate parents shouldn't really be a part of the process.</p>
<p>I have read many such letters and regardless of how they might try to mask it (some don't even bother to try), the letter almost uniformly gush. How could they not - - for most parents its an irresist impulse. </p>
<p>Like a number of other posters, I wonder,"why?" Is it to ge the family more invested in college X? Many students may not appreciate the nuances of their hs experiences, but is the parent the best or even a good source of that info? Should a Moms letter wirting contest be the basis of deciding (or play any role in determining) which unsuccessful ED candidate to admit RD? And why should an otherwise qualified applicant's chances be undermined by a letter from a parent with less guile, creativity or persistance than other parents - - or a parent for whom English is not his/her first language? </p>
<p>Newengparent isn't the first, or the last, to go to the mat for his/her kids. But it's another thing entirely to codify such input as a formal part of the admissions process. </p>
<p>OTOH, if D had been deferred/wait-listed or otherwise on the bubble, I might have felt compelled to assist her in any way possible . . . maybe for her ultimate, dream school, for her heart's desiire. But if I had, I still don't think it would have been fair.</p>
<p>We also had to provide the HS GC with a paragraph about our children. I didn't gush, but let them know a few things I didn't think they would know about my child--they were from his out of school persona. As it turned out, both things that I mentioned turned up on his common application in the form of short essays. I don't know how much it helped, but I did fulfill the request. We also had great results.</p>
<p>S's best friend applied to Hamilton College and they wanted a parent letter. His parents did not oblige.....they felt uncomfortable about it. He did not get in.</p>
<p>You know how in old movies when a woman is having a baby, the doctor comes to the house and tells the relatives to go boil water - most likely so they have something to do and don't annoy him? </p>
<p>That's probably why colleges want the letter -since the parents have nothing to do but over the kid while he fills out his apps. Not that its ever a bad thing to write nice things about your kid!</p>
<p>Hampshire College had an optional parent letter which I chose to do (D was accepted, who knows if it made any difference). I didn't really write about her unique traits but rather gave an example of her beliefs through an incident that had happened recently. I wrote it like a story....although I called her by name, it was written in the 3rd person and could have been about Joe Schmoe.......except that I did a one line intro stating who the applicant was....and then told them to "read on and decide for yourself".</p>
<p>I take admissions officers at their word when they say they want to get to know the "whole person" from the application package. ECs sometimes tell them a lot; teacher and GC letters add something; applicant essays even more. But a parental letter can help round out the picture. I wouldn't waste a lot of time gushing about superlatives in this, that, and the other thing. That will just read as so much hype, and while it probably won't hurt, it's just a wasted opportunity. I'd take the time to focus on some singular aspect of character or personality, perhaps with a little story to illustrate it, that fills in some part of your student's biography that may not come through from their ECs, teacher and GC recs, and personal essays.</p>
<p>What about parents that are not native speakers of English? Would this be disadvantageous to the student if their parents cannot write elegant letters of recommendation in English?</p>
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<p>No. Colleges aren’t admitting the parents, they’re admitting the student-applicant. But perhaps if the parents struggle with English, they could ask another relative, a family friend, or a member of the clergy to help edit their letter.</p>
<p>Hampshire College (MA) it was optional, and I don’t remember what I wrote & I don’t think I even showed it to anybody in the family either. </p>
<p>St. Lawrence (SLU) said a letter of recommendation was optional for sibling alum to write. So sibling alum wrote for her sibling applicant, accepted, but enrolled elsewhere.</p>
<p>Oh, this thread goes back to 2008, did not notice that!</p>
<p>I think I would write: “D is the finest child I have ever encountered in my career as a parent.” That’s what we want from teachers and GCs, right?</p>
<p>My daughter has applied to Hampshire. We have not received a request for a recommendation. Should we read anything into that?</p>