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Lee Binz

Friday, 19 July 2013

Letters of Recommendation for Homeschoolers

College Admission Recommendations YouTube tip of the day

How to get great letters of recommendation for your homeschooler.

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Tags:

admission admissions christian homeschooling college college admission College Prep colleges home school homeschool high school homeschoolers homeschooling letter of recommendation letters of recommendation scholarships transcript transcripts

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Lee Binz

Thursday, 04 October 2012

Military Academy and ROTC Scholarship Success

High School Feedback Military graduation

Let me just stand back and let another mom tell you the good news: Homeschoolers win Scholarships! Military Academy and ROTC! Here are some real tips from a real mom with experience! Thanks for sharing, Cassie!

Hi Lee,
Now that we are nearing the end of the year I wanted to update you on Sara's plans for next year.

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letters of recommendation homeschoolers course description cadets Air Force ROTC

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Lee Binz

Sunday, 16 September 2012

Help! I need opinions for my book title!

Uncategorized Meet Me! Odds and Ends

Help!

I need some opinions on a book title! I'm just about done with my next book. This one is about college application, admission, and scholarships. It's going to include information about curriculum, testing, finding colleges, elite university admission, check lists for junior and senior year, merit and need based scholarships, letters of recommendation, application essays, competitions, interviews. Tons of college admission stuff. Very different from my last book about homeschool records.

We decided we like having the main title called "Courting the Colleges" because we are including a scripture verse and a quote from the Princess Bride on every chapter. So what I'm really looking for right now is a subtitle. I need something long that clearly spells out exactly what is in the book, but hopefully in a fun, catchy way. For example, this title is HILARIOUS and so it's very catchy: The Neurotic Parent's Guide to College Admissions: Strategies for Helicoptering, Hot-housing & Micromanaging (I just about died laughing!) I don't need something THAT funny, though. I guess I'm not thinking "hilarious" so much as "catchy."

Can you please share ideas for a neat title and subtitle? Do you like "Courting the Colleges"??

Here are some ideas we are pondering:
How to Win the Love of Your First-Choice University and Earn Quick Admission and Huge Scholarships
Secrets Homeschoolers Know about Wooing and Winning University Admission and Scholarships
A Successful Homeschooler’s Secrets for Wooing and Winning University Admission and Scholarships
How to Help Your Homeschooler Woo and Win University Admission and Scholarships
Help Your Homeschooler Woo and Win University Admission and Scholarships
A Homeschooler's Guide to College Admissions: Strategies for Finding the Perfect College for Your Unique Child
How to Prepare your Homeschool Student for College Admission and Scholarships
How to Find a University that will Love your Child and Shower Them with Huge Scholarships!
A Homeschooler's Guide to College Admissions: Strategies to Woo and Win the Perfect College for Your Child
Learn a Homeschooler's Secrets for College Admissions and Scholarships: Strategies for Finding, Affording, and Loving the College of Your Dreams
Secrets for College Admissions and Scholarships: A Homeschool Family's Guide to Finding and Affording the College of Your Dreams

Here are some other books on amazon on the same subject - don't want to sound too similar:

College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step
Admission Matters: What Students and Parents Need to Know About Getting into College
A Is for Admission: The Insider's Guide to Getting into the Ivy League and Other Top Colleges
Countdown to College: 21 To Do Lists for High School: Step-By-Step Strategies for 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Graders
What You Don't Know Can Keep You Out of College: A Top Consultant Explains the 13 Fatal Application Mistakes and Why Character Is the Key to College Admissions
College Admissions - A Step By Step Guide Through the Process
How to Be a High School Superstar: A Revolutionary Plan to Get into College by Standing Out (Without Burning Out)
The Neurotic Parent's Guide to College Admissions: Strategies for Helicoptering, Hot-housing & Micromanaging
College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step
How to Make Colleges Want You: Insider Secrets for Tipping the Admissions Odds in Your Favor

I am now the Seattle Homeschool Examiner. You can read my homeschool articles here.

Tags:

admission amazon application essays check lists college application competitions Courting the Colleges curriculum elite university admission finding colleges interviews letters of recommendation need based scholarships scholarship scholarships subtitle testing title

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Lee Binz

Thursday, 29 December 2011

Lots of Questions about the Common Application Recently

College Admission High School Recommendations Parent Training

Can you give me guidance on writing a recommendation as a counselor? The Common Application and another school have requested I do. What points should I cover in answering college homeschool supplements that request explanation of an educational philosophy?

~ Dana

Dear Dana,

I have a section on recommendation letters that will help. Remember that even though the concept makes you feel anxious, at least you know your child! Lots of teachers have to give letters of recommendation for students they don't even know! That's why they even have this information on a college board - for those teachers that don't feel comfortable writing recommendations.

Many college specify that they do not want a parent to write the recommendation, so be sure they want that. Instead, it might be best to ask someone else to do the letter of recommendation. It doesn't have to be a teacher, just someone who knows your child is smart :-)

If they ASK you for a letter of recommendation from a parent, then give it to them. It's preferable, however, to have that recommendation be from someone else.

If you do request a letter of recommendation from someone else, then give them the transcript and activity list or resume, so they know something about your child - that is accepted practice. You can also give them the links below, so they will know how a letter of recommendation looks - they may not know any more than you do.

Tips on Letters of Recommendation

"What to include" from the College Board

5-paragraph Letter of Recommendation outline

Since you mention the Applications, I wanted to make sure you have seen this helpful video.

Understand College Admission Essays

Inside an College Admissions Screening Session

Every homeschool parent tends to answer the homeschool supplement differently, so there is no set answer. I will say, however, that don't stress about it too much. The transcript is much more important. Some things that you may want to include:

1. Why did you begin to homeschool

2. What benefits have you see from homeschooling

3. What is your homeschool style: unschooling, classical, literature-based, lifestyle of education, etc. I would avoid the word "eclectic" because I think that word is only common in homeschool circles.

4. I think I would mention that you teach for mastery - that can explain a high GPA

5. It may be helpful to directly address myths of homeschooling. "His socialization has improved since homeschooling" or "She regularly interacts with large groups of friends at swim team."

6. That may be the time to address anything really unusual: debilitating car accident that might explain poor math scores, that sort of thing.

The supplement may be very short, just a short paragraph, telling information about homeschooling that you might give an interested stranger. Other parents choose to make it a page-long essay. Either way seems to work!

You can know what to do each step of the way while applying to college.