<p>Thank you, Ryanone! Yes, we did use Choosing the Right College as a reference. We also loved TA and the area when we visited. It seems to be a very special place.</p>
<p>Congratulations to all of your very deserving homeschooled kids. I wish them all well in their college careers.</p>
<p>how do you get accepted? i have no diploma or g.e.d. do i have to get the g.e.d. or is there another option?</p>
<p>There’s another thread with this same question: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/home-schooling-college/541334-how-do-homeschooled-students-attend-ivy-leagues.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/home-schooling-college/541334-how-do-homeschooled-students-attend-ivy-leagues.html</a></p>
<p>Basically, you create a transcript of some sort (my son’s was more schooley, some are much less so), take SAT tests if needed (my son took them, others don’t), write essays telling about your wonderful experiences and ECs etc, and fill out the school app or common app like everyone else (also filling out the homeschool supplement). A GED is rarely needed, and most states and schools accept homeschooling diplomas. After you read that thread, feel free to ask specific questions and I (and presumably the others on this forum) will be glad to help! Good luck.</p>
<p>Homeschooled kids get into all colleges, competing on their achievements like everyone else. Homeschooled kids have less standard transcripts, but the option to achieve different / interesting things instead.</p>
<p>I am curious how home schoolers do with average SAT’s. with regard to acceptances My daughter has testing “issues”, and College Board is not recognizing her need for additional time…which I know will conclude with low test scores. While her school work and writing skills are excellent, will low SAT’s and her non-traditional education hurt her chances for admittance?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>SockherMom-</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I think homeschoolers are under pressure to get high tests scores, and if they don’t have a strong hook, mediocre scores can really hurt their chances of acceptance. FWIW, you may have better luck getting accommodations from the ACT folks, who are generally more flexible about providing accommodations to those who genuinely deserve them.</p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>I think Rellielou is correct that they care more about test scores for homeschoolers, but I think what they really care about is outside validation. In addition to checking ACT accommodations, is it possible to have her take a class or two in sophomore & junior & first-semester-senior years with any recognized outside source, such as dual enrollment in a public high school or community college class?</p>
<p>Failing that, there are hundreds of lovely colleges that educate students well and make them very happy. You don’t need to be limited to just those schools commonly discussed on CC. Also, you say her writing skills are excellent; that will play into admissions as well. And another point - YOU get to write the counselor letter! You have time to figure out how you can play up her strengths and explain her test-taking weaknesses without looking like you’re trying to make excuses.</p>
<p>Thanks Rellielou & GeekMom63–</p>
<p>You know, I was so bogged down with the College Board that I never even thought to go to the ACT people…I will call them tomorrow. </p>
<p>My daughter will be starting her Junior year next year and she plans on taking some college courses…we have just started looking into this. She is not quite sure she actually wants to a physically attend a CC (closest would entail a 2 hour round trip drive) but any input on on-line college courses would be appreciated. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>My son has never taken any online classes with the community college, but I know they have them. At his school, they come in different varieties - semi-self-paced classes where there is a teacher you can ask for help, hybrid classes where there are maybe four in-person classes a semester and the rest on-line or self-paced… Good luck!</p>
<p>My son homeschooled K-9th grade and got accepted into University of Chicago. He is very excited, it’s his dream school. He got a 2170 on the SAT. He attended a small christian school 10th-12th which honestly was almost like homeschooling it was so small, 16 in his class. I think the essay did it. He was classicaly homeschooled and is an excellent writer. I honestly had no idea it was all so competitive. After really looking into this recently I agree that for the top tier schools high test scores and dual enrollment is important for homeschoolers.</p>
<p>IMO GeekMom is correct regarding validation of some sort. Elite schools are looking for exceptional talent, and most colleges want assurance that the applicant can do the work and has a good chance of succeeding.
For the two applicants (thus far) in my family, test scores were sufficient on the validation score.
But if the applicant has the time and opportunity, at 16, to do things that kids confined to school can’t, that can be a jet propelled driver.<br>
I’m very impressed with the results on this thread. I haven’t seen home schoolers report on admissions results at elite prep schools before.</p>
<p>I’m a homeschooled student preparing to apply at some top schools. Does anyone have advice on making a detailed transcript with course explanations?</p>
<p>I think an easily read sheet with courses titles and basic information (grades, gpa, # credits) accompanied by separate sheets with detailed course descriptions is a good way to go.</p>
<p>ACF–You should start a new thread on this topic. Or look for past threads on homeschool transcripts–there have been several over the years. </p>
<p>Do not include detailed course descriptions/reading lists unless the college requires this of homeschooled applicants. Otherwise, make your transcript look like a school transcript. Course titles, credit hours, grades, GPA. That’s about it.</p>
<p>I just wanted to pop in and say that this thread is really encouraging! I am thinking about homeschooling (virtual schooling) for my junior and senior years of high school and it’s so cool to see how so many homeschoolers are aiming and getting into top schools!</p>
<p>Hi, Corey! How do you like UNC Chapel Hill? That’s one of the schools my older son (also homeschooled from an early age) is applying to. He’s also applying to Belmont Abbey (already accepted), UNC Asheville, Western Carolina, Washington and Lee, and several other Catholic schools out of state. (We live in NC.) He has good stats (Nat’l Merit Semifinalist), and he’s had a rigorous academic program (including Latin and Greek!), but he’s very used to one-on-one and small groups…I can’t help wondering whether he might feel lost and “like a number” at a school as big as Chapel Hill. I also wonder about the faith-and-morals stuff…that’s why he’s also looking at Catholic achools…but it’s hard to beat that in-state tuition!! </p>
<p>How do you like Chapel Hill so far?</p>
<p>Wow, Lady Lorna, that is very impressive indeed.</p>
<p>I’m interested in the sheer number of subject SATs your daughter took. Not to mention those socres. WOW!!</p>
<p>My son is taking only three – Physics, Math II, and Latin – and we figured that was plenty. But recently I learned that one of the schools that’s been recruiting him for a gigundo scholarship, Washington and Lee, recommends that homeschooled students take FIVE subject SATs. Seems excessive to me, but I guess they figure homeschooled kids need to prove their bona fides. (Grrrr.)</p>
<p>Anyway, it’s too late now to sign him up for another two for this year – he wouldn’t have time to prep for them as intensively as he’s prepping for the other three, among other things. I guess we’ll just have to take our chances with W & L…oh well. The scholarship is certainly attractive, but OTOH we had some misgivings re the dominance of Greek life at W & L.</p>
<p>Fortunately, the other places he’s applying to don’t seem to be so demanding re number of subject tests.</p>
<p>applicannot how in world did u get into stanford come on give up some pointers! So if your a accredited online school you fair better right?</p>
<p>In my online homeschooling community, I know of two homeschooled kids who got into Stanford. Stanford was one of the first schools to reach out to homeschoolers. They have pointers on their site. </p>
<p>Homeschoolers get into lots of impressive schools, and many of them are more traditionally homeschools. My son is at Caltech. He also got into MIT, UCLA, Berkeley and UCSD. He stopped sending in applications because he got MIT and Caltech EA.</p>
<p>About 1/3 of his high school classes came from a couple of online providers. He self studied for others. He had 7 AP scores after 11th. He also did very well in some national academic competitions. </p>
<p>Virtual school is not at all necessary to get into top schools.</p>
<p>Anotherparent maybe not…but but I sure it easier and not all parents are good teachers…and I homeschool myself soooo…</p>