<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I'm homeschooled, and I've never been taught by anyone other than my parents before. However, I'm applying to some of America's top colleges this autumn, and so I badly, badly need a recommendation from a science teacher, and one from a humanities teacher. So who exactly can I ask for recommendations? </p>
<p>Can it be a member of faculty at a university who's helped me with a project I'm working on?</p>
<p>What about someone who's taught me something like creative writing or drawing in an informal setting (say, at a club?)</p>
<p>Also, who can I ask for the equivalent of a secondary school counselor's recommendation? Can it just be any adult who knows me well?</p>
<p>Thanks ^^. </p>
<p>P.S. What makes a good recommendation?</p>
<p>It’s best to have someone who has worked with you in an academic subject. The university professor who helped you on a project would be perfect. The person who taught you creative writing would also be an excellent choice. Colleges want to hear from people who aren’t related to you who can evaluate your academic ability. Unless you are applying to art school, I’d suggest you pick the writing club person over the drawing club person.</p>
<p>Your parents will fill out the school part of your application and write your counselor’s recommendation.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you. Homeschoolers have been successful applicants at all top schools.</p>
<p>It’s a unique challenge to apply as a homeschooler, but in a really fun and satisfying way. You have the opportunity to really craft an application package that reflects your individuality. Done well, I think it’s a big plus in admissions.</p>
<p>I agree with C. Fang on all counts as far as the recommendations go. And as a parent who also wrote my son’s counselor recommendation (this is specifically how they ask homeschoolers to do it), I was relieved that some district employee who had little or no personal knowledge of my son was not the person writing that evaluation.</p>
<p>If you apply using the Common Application (most top tier privates require it) there is also a Homeschool Supplement that will give you and your parents a little more opportunity to fill out the whole picture of your unique education.</p>
<p>Parents should fill out counselor recommendations, as the previous two posters have stated. I would recommend not using the actual counselor recommendation form from the Common Application for most homeschoolers – it relies heavily on the recommender comparing the applicant to other students they have worked with. I had my recommenders submit actual letters in lieu of the Common Application forms, and all of the colleges I applied to were fine with it.</p>
<p>Another advantage of having your parents complete the counselor form is they have way more of a vested interest in getting it done on time and correctly than a public school counselor :)</p>
<p>I had my parents complete my secondary school report and counselor forms, and two professors from the local community college write me the teacher recommendations.</p>
<p>I agree with all said above. Our students have asked virtual class instructors and CC professors to write their letters. On the Common App, recommenders can submit letters online; extra letters were submitted in several cases by snail mail. We asked that these letters be written on letterhead of some kind and then sealed with a signature across the flap.</p>
<p>I, the parent, provided the counselor letter and included it in a packet (sent by snail mail) with the secondary school report, homeschool supplement, official transcript, etc. I used the counselor letter to fully explain our students’ unique accomplishments, especially as a result of homeschooling, and how their abilities would mesh with the the college’s programs. I did attach the Common App Counselor form to the letter, but I ended up marking any number of spaces as NA because of homeschooling…</p>
<p>Yeah, I made good use of N/A as well. ;)</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help so far ^^. I had no idea my parents could write the counselor recommendation, or that they could mark most of the spaces as N/A. It’s a pity that the college sites don’t provide more advice on this sort of thing.</p>
<p>Suppose I finish working with my recommenders in about a couple of months’ time. If I ask them to complete the Teacher Evaluation parts of the Common App and provide them with mailed envelopes, can they send the evaluations straight to the colleges, even if I don’t send any other parts of the application through till around November?</p>
<p>I would call the college/university and ask them about sending in letters so soon, especially if they will not receive your Common Application until November. Perhaps you could ask your recommenders now and have them postpone writing until November? At least they’d have a heads-up. That’s what we did. </p>
<p>Another option is to obtain the letters in signed/sealed envelopes and have your parent/counselor include them in their packet. Keep in mind that you may need extra letters of recommendation if you’re applying for scholarships.</p>
<p>If I ask the recommenders to provide the letters soon and obtain them in sealed envelopes, can I still waive my right to see the recommendations? I read on another board that people generally do that.</p>
<p>I think so; that’s the purpose of the seal. I am curious to see if other applicants have sent sealed letters rather than having the recommenders send them directly to the college. I would think that traditional schools might include letters of recommendation in the sealed guidance counselor packet, but maybe not.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that even when you waive your right to see the letters, your recommenders may still show you a copy. This year my son submitted four instructor letters–two online, two by snail mail (all directly from the writers to the colleges, two former teachers, two current instructors). Two of those four writers forwarded him an unsolicited copy of what they had written, even though son had given them all forms where he had waived his right to see the letters. The other two writers did not share what they had written. The colleges have no control or any idea of whether or not your recommenders actually reveal what they’ve written. </p>
<p>I have heard that it is best to waive your right to see letters. It is also important to ask your writers if they are willing to give you a positive letter of recommendation.</p>
<p>Oh, OK - so I can just get the sealed envelopes and hang onto them till I apply. That was what I was expecting, but I wasn’t too sure at first. Thanks :).</p>
<p>What if the writers don’t know what letters of recommendation are? I live in the UK, and the university system here is very different. I’m fairly sure recommendation letters aren’t required.</p>
<p>Why don’t you send an e-mail to the colleges you are interested in? Many have admissions counselors that deal with homeschoolers. Explain your situation with the letters (that you will provide sealed/signed documents) and confirm that that’s an acceptable way to provide them. I don’t know why it would be a problem, but you should definitely ask the colleges.</p>
<p>Okay, I’ll do that. Should I contact them anonymously, if that makes sense?</p>
<p>I think you should call up, identify yourself, explain that you’re applying next year, and ask to speak to the admissions counselor who is in charge of homeschoolers. They may explain there isn’t one; that’s fine. But whoever you end up talking to, politely ask your questions. There’s nothing tricky or shameful about your questions, and it’s always good to put your name in front of an admissions officer. It makes you seem interested and competent.</p>
<p>Oops, you’re in the UK. Well, do the same, but in email.</p>
<p>Alright, I’ll do that. I’d better do it ASAP, come to think of it.</p>
<p>Once again, thanks to all of you for the advice.</p>
<p>I’ve contacted the admissions departments, and I’ve heard back from a few of them so far; Yale actually stated that, seeing as I’d been homeschooled, my mother should write one of the recommendations. Also, on the NYU page about home-schooled applicants, it says:</p>
<p>“Homeschooled applicants must provide at least two recommendations, including one from the person(s) who has served as the primary instructor or who has primary responsibility for assessing the applicant’s academic performance”</p>
<p>Which universities require my mother to write one of the recommendations? Princeton, for example, stated that the recommendations must be from people who’d actually taught me - “you may have a tutor or professor write them”, and a lot of the universities didn’t mention that in their reply at all.</p>
<p>professors, research advisors, &c</p>