Dear Friend,
I am picking up my son, Austin, from the airport today. He’s just finished his first quarter as a Ph.D. student at the University of Washington and assures me he is ready to get home to regroup! It’s hard to describe what a joy it is when my young adults return home for the holidays. We never do very much - cook, laugh, share stories. But it is so much fun to see how they have grown and what they have learned while they have been away.
One of the rewards of attending top colleges is that my kids are constantly being stretched by their outstanding classmates from around the world. They are growing in wisdom as they deepen their relationship with Christ and are maturing on all fronts. As I listen to them talk, I glance over at the nativity scene with the magi journeying toward the manger and am reminded that wise men still seek him.
Merry Christmas!
Jeannette
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Feature Article: The Counselor Letter
Just a few more weeks until those college applications are due! On top of the routine college applications, homeschooling families also need to supply the Secondary School Report. One part of that packet is the counselor letter and I always encourage a parent to do that rather than hand it over to an umbrella school official for the simple fact that the parent can tell a much richer story.
Letterhead
Your letterhead should include the name of your school, address, phone, student name, birth date and common application number or social security number (different schools ask for different numbers. But whatever number they ask for, they want it on EVERY piece of paper you send them).
Introduction
Begin each letter by introducing the student as a senior in your school. You must take off your “mom” hat and think like a counselor. Then describe the student’s learning style, using adjectives that show how they would function in a classroom or on campus. Give a brief summary of your school situation. In our case, we were in an extremely rural area with limited options. By making this fact clear, admissions officers were more likely to understand our unconventional record.
Next up is a paragraph showing how your homeschool functions. Are you still the primary teacher or does your student take responsibility for their own learning in high school? Does the student take the most rigorous classes available to them?
The Body
I am often asked how long to make the letter. Don’t worry about length. Just tell your story beautifully and the length will take care of itself. Just so you know, my letters have been from 2-3 pages. By the same token, your letters must not be rambles. They have a very specific purpose and you should never stray from that. They should, in concrete detail, embellish your student’s talking points in a way that no other source can do.
I am careful to objectively show how my students compare to others their age, how they are unique. I am not afraid to discuss weaknesses and how they have been overcome. In fact, if your letter is completely positive, it can backfire. You can come off as totally un-objective. Just be careful of being negative or whiney.
Conclusion
The final wrap-up is very important. It must be powerful. It must be persuasive. It must be honest.
You Can Do It
As a homeschool parent, teacher, and counselor, you have a most unique vantage point. You have the privilege of showing growth over a lifetime, of telling the most complete story the college will get of this child. It must be bluntly honest without being negative. It must be compelling without being sappy. It’s a big job, but one that brought me much joy.
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It's Here!
Called to Influence: A New Approach to Life, Education and College Admissions would make a great Christmas gift for your favorite homeschool parent. As an e-book, it is available for instant download so you can have it in time for Christmas! Throughout the pages of the book, we tackle it all:
• How young do you start preparing for college?
• What are the secrets for training leaders?
• How do you find mentors?
• What does it take to raise gifted children?
• Do you continue to home educate or take a more traditional approach through high school?
• What things need to happen each year of high school?
• Which classes do you take?
• What activities do you choose?
• How do you write a resume?
• What is the best way to prepare for tests?
• How do you choose a college?
• What do you need to know about college applications?
• How do you write effective essays?
• What should you know about interviewing?
• How do you get effective recommendation letters?
• What is college really like?
Called to Influence is still available at the special introductory price of only $29.95, so click here to grab yours today!
If you’ve missed past editions of Training for Excellence, visit our Archives!
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About Us
Jeannette Webb is the founder of Aiming Higher Consultants, a firm dedicated to helping Christian students gain admission to great colleges. She has a heart for assisting parents as they train their children for excellence. Jeannette works to empower families to make thoughtful choices for their younger children, to confidently navigate the difficult high school years, and then ace the college admissions process.
If you liked today’s issue, you’ll love her personalized consulting services that help you map out a holistic plan for your student.
While Jeannette is best known for her clear-sighted counseling, her clients feel that her biggest gift to their family was permission to be themselves.
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