<p>I'm homeschooled and getting ready to begin the college application process, I think I'll be fine in most things, but I'm worried about the recommendation letters. I have a couple people I'm planning on asking, but I'm not sure they'll fit in with what the colleges will want. I'm also feeling bad about asking the same people to do so many letters.
How have other homeschoolers handled the letters of recommendation?
Any advice would be appreciated.</p>
<p>My daughter applied early decision, and asked for letters of recommendation at that time. She let the people who were writing letters know she might need more sent later, and asked them to keep a copy in case she did. She was accepted and didn't need them after all, but if she had, she would have provided stamped addressed envelopes for all her recommendations. I've heard of people photocopying recommendations, but I'd probably avoid it if I could.</p>
<p>It's easy to overlook people in your life who might write good letters of recommendation. Did you take any classes or lessons? Have you overlooked an employer or mentor? How well do you know your librarian? There might be other people just outside your close circle of friends, who have followed your progress. </p>
<p>I wouldn't be shy about sending extra letters if you can get them. My daughter's school asked for one, and I think she sent four. They required more SAT II's from homeschoolers, and various other extras, so my daughter felt it was fair to send extra letters too. </p>
<p>It's important to think about what the school wants, to the extent that you fulfill requirements. It's also important to think about the person who will be reading your application, and make it easy to read and well organized. In general, admissions officers are swamped and overburdened, so you don't want to make life hard for them. </p>
<p>Beyond that, the most important thing to think about is how you can best use that reader's ten minutes of time to get to know you. If you have literate people who can clearly tell about who you are and what you're made of, don't worry so much about whether they fit the mold. A slightly different point of view might brighten an adcom's day and that could be a good thing.</p>
<p>Aside from recommendations, find ways to use different portions of the application to give a better picture of who you are and what you've accomplished. There is usually a school report and guidance counselor's portion. Writing the school report was a family effort for us, in which we explained how we homeschooled. I wrote the counselor report, although I did not claim to be objective. There was a question asking if she had ever done independent research, or something like that, and my daughter wrote an essay about why she chose to homeschool. </p>
<p>Instead of viewing each portion of the application as a chore, see each one as an opportunity for the admissions committee to get to know you. That certainly applies to your choice of people who write letters for you.</p>
<p>Don't worry about the recommendations not fitting. Colleges understand that homeschooled students won't have traditional classroom teachers to write recommendations. But that also means that your recommendation letters will probably come from people who know you better than a teacher who sees a student for 40 minutes a day, only on school days, in a group of 25. You are in the unique position to get letters from people who have known you for years: clergy people, other homeschooling parents, scout or 4-H group leaders, librarians, music teachers, etc. Think about the adults in your life who can speak about your character. I'm sure there are many. Since you are an actress, you must have worked with directors and acting coaches who can write about your work ethic and ability to take direction. I'm sure many people would be happy to recommend you. Good luck.</p>
<p>Great suggestion about getting recommendation from librarian. I had never thought of that- plan on passing that one on.</p>
<p>Have you had any tutors to help you out with difficult subjects? Music teachers or other? Bright college buddies with whom you hang out? Even your parents are good ideas - as long as they are truthful and don't inflate what you have actually done.</p>
<p>I applied EA and had 10 recommendations sent in on my behalf from two college professors (from whom I took courses), a TA (from a course I took at a university), tutors, music teachers, and my mother (who wrote the cover letter and was very honest about SAT scores, why I was homeschooled, what weird/quirky things I have done, my passions, both present and past, how we figured out credits, etc.). I had a professor write up the counselor's report, as the university spefifically told me that they did not want my parents doing that.</p>
<p>Perhaps 10 recs was overdoing it, but the university did say that I should have extra ones sent because I homeschooled. It worked for me (I sent in loads of other things, as well.), and I was accepted to my first choice school, where I will be matriculating in the fall. I couldn't be happier.</p>
<p>Do send in a few extra recommendations if you can, as I am sure they will help. If I may ask, who are you thinking about writing them? Where will you be applying?</p>
<p>Right now I'm mostly planning on applying to a couple small liberal arts schools.
I was planning on asking a theatre director to write a couple, but other than that I'm not really sure. I don't take music lessons and I don't attend church... I do a lot of vollunteering at a National Park but I see different rangers every time. There is one librarian I took some homeschooling and theatre classes with I'd like to ask but I haven't seen or talked to her in almost a year, so I'm not sure I should.</p>
<p>The librarian sounds good, even if you haven't seen her in awhile. Just update her on what you have been doing, where you will be applying, your interests, etc. Send her an e-mail, and then ask if you can meet and talk about things. I am sure she would be happy to write you a letter. A ranger actually sounds like a really good idea; not everyone volunteers at a National Park, and I am sure that will help you stand out - even if you don't know one extremely well! That, along with a rec from one of your parents, should do the trick. Also, if your parents have any friends who are in academe and who know you (even if they have never taught you anything), those would be good people to ask, as well.</p>
<p>thank Katharos and everyone else for the help!</p>
<p>Vegan, perhaps you could ask a religious leader for a letter of rec. A pastor or rabbi could provide you with an excellent letter.</p>
<p>^ except colleges won't like them as much as they would like letters from teachers.</p>
<p>^Actually, that REALLY depends on where you go. The private schools often like them because in a church youth group, a pastor would have good opportunity to get to know you. The public universities are a little more wary due to their whole church and state separation government enforced thing. (Not trying to twit their noses or anything, but it gets a little ridiculous sometimes)</p>
<p>Have you had any luck asking for recommendations? The park rangers, even more than one, are good resources. Who arranged for you to volunteer at the park? Is there someone in charge there that keeps track of your hours? Maybe that person could write a letter for you.</p>
<p>Also, think about parents of other homeschooled kids. Have you babysat for their kids, or had a long conversation with any of them? They could write about your maturity, etc.</p>
<p>I have been compiling letters for my daughter for the past few months to use in her portfolio. We have asked her singing teacher, two acting teachers, and homeschooling parents who have worked with her.</p>
<p>I'm actually not involved in any religous groups so that won't work anyway.
I haven't started asking yet, I'm just trying to get a list of possible people. I'll probably ask one of the rangers, and the librarian I mentioned (who is also a homeschooling parent), a theatre director and possibly the owner of the store I work part time for.
Other than that I'm not sure... hopefully that will be enough. The problem is that none of those people really know me all that well.</p>
<p>Sounds like a good list - especially the librarian who is a homeschool mom herself. I am sure she can say some good things about you.</p>
<p>Your employer sounds good, too. Colleges like applicants who work/volunteer, so I am sure that is a plus for you. </p>
<p>Make sure that your parents write the cover letter, too.</p>
<p>When you meet with the people whom you want to write you a rec, bring along a few typed-up pages of what courses you have taken, your interests (academic and extracurricular), quirky/interesting things about you (ex. you volunteer at a National Park in your case, you have shown your dedication to caring for people by doing X, you have studied a weird language, you have traveled to whatever foreign countries, you are very interested in persuing some strange subject in college, etc.). Include your SAT scores, colleges to which you will be applying, and whatever other information you might find relevant and helpful to them so they can write you a good rec.</p>
<p>Random: I am assuming you are vegan. I am a recently-converted vegetarian, so it is just no meat for me (I do dairy products, though.). I recently found out that a good friend of mine is vegan, and I have got to give him (and you!) credit for that. It must be tough, but I bet it is worth it. :)</p>
<p>Thank you! It's really not that hard being vegan once you get used to it. It was definitely a gradual process for me ( seven years of lacto-ovo vegetarianism). It's great you've decided to become vegetarian too, and good luck!</p>
<p>My letters of reccomendation came from:
My organic chemistry professor (took college classes during high school)
My endocrinologist :) (thyroid doctor)
A lawyer I babysit for</p>