Rachael is considering engineering. Not what I would pick for her, but she loves math and physics, and it's the first time she had a "maybe" about career choices, rather than a "NO WAY!!!", so it's a step in the right direction. One of the universities in the state has a three-day FREE engineering camp, but the application needs to be sent in TOMORROW. We looked at it, and it needs a teacher recommendation. I called and left a message. The lady just called back. I explained that she did very well in Calculus and Physics, but she was homeschooled and what did they want as far as the teacher recommendation? Without skipping a beat, the lady said that SHE was in charge of the applications, and to not worry about it. She'd remember talking to me and Rachael's situation, and just send it in without that and not worry about it!!! WOW!!! I was thinking I might ask the gal who has done all of Rachael's portfolio reviews to do it, but this lady was SO accommodating!!! She must have ran into hs'ers before, lol!
That's really cool! My son wants to design cars when he grows up, and so we are always looking for anything and everything to get involved in dealing with engineering. I'm glad that you didn't hit a hiccup because of home schooling. I think because home schooling is becoming more common, more and more groups/associations/colleges are finding creative ways to involve our kids in programs. Around here, home schoolers are looked at in the same context as private schoolers, which I think is the way it should be. I hope she has fun!!!!
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!! Are you KIDDING ME?! Hooray!!!!! I've never had that happen before. Yes, my kids are young, I know, BUT, I do know what it's like to fill out applications for a program requiring a teacher's (or two) recommendation. It stinks. I've had to use people from church (Sunday school teachers). *shrugs* I was looking into the Davidson gifted program's camps (for future reference), and even they require teacher req's. What the heck?! Most profoundly gifted kids are homeschooled anyway. You think they'd accept all the other junk (tests, hand-written letters from the child, etc.). Sorry - off my soap box. Stuff like that makes me mad.
cool! My dh is an engineer. There ought to be some scholarships available because she is a girl. There is a dearth of girl's in engineering classes.
Neat!!! When do you find out if she's an "go" for the camp? Or is it definite? SO COOL, free camp for something she wants to do! AWESOME!
Don't know, Krista! She's trying to get the application done now, and the questions are just vague enough to make it a pain more than anything else.
This reminds me of a situation a friend of mine is in, but in the opposite direction. She was a homeschooler. She is going to college to be a police officer and is about the graduate. After college she has to go through a police academy. Apparently in the state of WI, in order to get into a police academy you have to have a GED or high school diploma and homeschooling doesn't count. SOOOOOO...she will have a college degree and will need to apply for her GED to get into an academy. HOW BACKWARDS IS THAT????? We are hoping she can complain enough and get the ball rolling to get it changed. If not for her, at least for others in the future. So glad to hear the lady was accomodating to you. It's common sense that you would be the teacher to sign off on it.
Actually, HSLDA has stepped in for others with in a similar situation. Personally, if you can get a college degree, a high school diploma/GED shouldn't be needed.
Great on her being so accomodating!!! (Concerning JenPooh's post- My dh graduated from a nonacredited Christian high school and then went to a nonaccrediated Christian college. When he transferred to a state school ($ ran out for private), he lost all his college credit and had to pass the GED before he could be accepted. Ended up at junior college for a semester while everything got done. Illinois has since changed the law, but it was a nightmare!!)
Where we live, homeschooling has to be seen in the same light as regular school, if you have a diploma. But the diploma can just look like a public school one, but signed by the parent. DH ran into this because he was homeschooled and an employer wanted his diploma. DH sent his in, the guy called to tell him that he didn't think he could accept it. I guess HR told him otherwise!
Signed in just so I could comment on this. My son is in the same boat here in Missouri. He even attended the University of Missouri, the state's own school, but graduating summa cum laude from there isn't good enough. What a joke!
Great news! This took 15 minutes. Called my state representative who called the POST officer who claims they never knew my son had graduated from college and a college degree definitely trumps needing a high school diploma. So he's in and the academy is being informed of that as we speak. So my obvious advice is to have your friend call your state rep and see what they can do for her.
Glad to hear this was resolved! Missouri is a (mostly) HS friendly state, so this surprises me a little... but again, typical of a government agency. Thankfully another government agency triumphed with logic! (Which rep was it, btw? I'm always interested in officials who are worth voting for)
