<p>Hola! Right now, I am being homeschooled in the 9th grade. I plan on attending a university after I graduate high school. What can I do, as an homeschooled 13 year old, to make myself attractive to colleges.</p>
<p>Use the flexibility you have with your time to get involved in whatever interests you. If it’s music, dive in head first, if its athletics or art or writing or community service or science or travel, let your curiosity lead you and take that interest to places that kids who are obligated to full-time institutional school cannot go.</p>
<p>As far as basic academic requirements, stay focused on covering core subject areas in a mindful and rigorous way – English, math, science, social science and foreign language – and plan on taking SAT subject tests in two to three of those areas, along with your regular SAT or ACT test.</p>
<p>Start now to cultivate relationships with teachers, mentors, employers, etc. who can write you terrific letters of recommendation in a couple years.</p>
<p>No need to be in distress. You can easily end up being very attractive to colleges depending on how your use these years. And I think you’re smart to being giving this some thought early on.</p>
<p>Also take AP exams. You can contact local high schools and jump in on their exams as well. I recommend it because it’s a great way to enter college with some college credit (since so many colleges give credit for 4s and 5s on AP exams). It also helps prove that you’re capable of college-level work AND that your parents aren’t just giving you A’s on your transcript. If I could do high school over again I would have taken more AP exams than I did.</p>
<p>For the same reasons, I echo the suggestion to take courses at a local state college or community college.</p>
<p>I would suggest if you’re thinking about college now, and know what you want to major in start looking up colleges on the website that offer your program of study. Then contact the admissions office of those schools and explain to them yor situation and ask them personally their recommendation for you. It’s good you’re looking now. Also as you get closer to narrowing down your college selection ask the colleges to pair you up with a recruiter. Most colleges have recruiters that work in several states, and from anything to athletes to academics to those in between. They can also help you with what courses you should be or can be taking now to prepare you for college. Also many colleges offer summer programs for High Schoolers you can attend to get a feel of the campus and it’s lifestyle. But contact the college(s) of choice to answer your question to assure you have accurate information.</p>
<p>Interesting. I agree wholeheartedly with 'rent of 2 and schnp. I don’t disagree with 2011bsaccepted, but we didn’t go to that much trouble and my son had good results.</p>
<p>I would stress again the importance of outside validation - letters of recommendation, SATs, APs, and community college classes. </p>
<p>IMO, homeschoolers are pretty attractive to colleges - it isn’t a drawback to mitigate, but a beautiful selling point. As a homeschooler, you can usually cover the topics in less time than in school because you get to go at the pace that’s exactly right for you. Use the extra time well (as 'rent of 2 described), and have fun!</p>
<p>Props to you for starting early :). I was a lot like you and was already planning ahead in 9th grade (I’m a senior in college now). What you can start doing right away is just being faithful to the process of learning. Keep on top of your “homework.” Don’t let math or science slip because they’re hard, delve deeper into things you’re interested in, and keep good documentation of the things you’ve done for school. You can already start taking practice tests for the SAT/ACT (I used Kaplan). </p>
<p>Also, definitely look into AP and dual enrollment. I never did AP, but I know a lot of homeschoolers who have had great success with it and you’ll need it if you’re applying to a Top 10 School. I didn’t have my sights set on Ivy’s, but I did want to be in the running for good schools and scholarships. Test scores will matter a lot (unfortunately), but taking college courses in your junior and senior year will add validity to your homeschool transcript/GPA. This is what I did. By the time I graduated I had taken over 20 college classes in fields I was really interested in. It helped me hone my interests down and gave me a strong sense of purpose, which all colleges look for in prospective students. I also was so used to college level writing that I was able to write excellent app essays. Plus I even had a few of my college professors give me recommendations.</p>
<p>But you don’t have to take college classes early to look good to colleges. Being really involved in your community and having focused extra curriculars also looks really good. Volunteer at a homeless shelter, join a club, or get a tutoring job. Whatever you decide, make sure it’s first and formost something that you love doing and keep at it. Colleges love passionate people capable of making long-term commitments, so show them that you are just that kind of person.</p>
<p>Finally, don’t worry! You’re young, so enjoy this time and freedom to explore what makes you passionate! It’s easy for overachievers and hyper-planners to get caught up in whirlwind of academics and forget to smell the flowers. Don’t let that happen to you. Enjoy being 13!! :)</p>
<p>Anyway, hope that helps, and good luck!</p>
<p>Wow. Thank you all so much for your answers. I feel like I can do this!</p>
<p>Thank you all so much! This has helped me tremendously! :)</p>
<p>Anymore suggestions?</p>
<p>Hi tofugirl101! I am so happy that you are thinking about college early and found this site so young (I just found it this year!). I am a high school senior and have been homeschooled since kindergarten. The admissions process has been an incredible journey. I feel like I was very prepared but I still could have done even better. I actually want to write a book about college admissions from 9th grade to graduation.
Anyway, to stay on track, I will try to summarize some of the most meaningful things. </p>
<p>First, I would grab a couple of college ranking books (like US News and World Report) now and read through them. Not only will they give you valuable info about the admissions process, but they will also help you pinpoint what type of school you want to go to. This is very important because if you want to shoot for a very difficult school (like an Ivy or top liberal arts college) then you want to have all of your information in advance.
Second, take SAT Subjects Tests the year you take that subject! VERY important. I didn’t realize I had to take them until last year and that fell two years after I had taken those classes, so be sure to do that. Make sure your parents keep very good record of all the textbooks you use, curriculums, books you read, etc so that the transcript, high school profile and anything else a college will ask for can be gathered quickly. If you don’t have a school mission or philosophy now, have your mom or dad write one. If you can take courses online or at a community college, this will just look better to the universities when they see you’ve done classwork somewhere else (it’s not necessary, I got into 7 schools without ever taking classes anywhere else).
Activities are really important, it can be anything: volunteer, work, sports, music, arts, you name it. It’s nice to appear well-rounded but also show commitment. This is also important because you will need recommendations from people who are NOT related to you (although colleges will take recs from your parents), so you want to build good relationships with people in your neighborhood and activities. As a home-schooled student you really have to research these things because it’s not right there in your guidance counselor’s office.
Take the PSAT 9th and 10th grades-MUST. 9th will prepare you for the SAT and next year’s PSAT. 10th grade year will make you eligible for National Merit scholarships and recognition, which look really good on your application. taking the PSAT will also allow schools to contact you, and that opens a whirlwind of possibilities. SAT or ACT in junior year will let you see if you need to re-take it. This all depends on what kind of school you’re trying to get into. Research scholarships in junior year and be sure to find local ones- national are extremely hard to get. Watch for scholarships at the individual schools you apply to, many require that you apply around Oct or Nov, so look for that early.
At the end, be sure to visit schools and go where it makes sense, and you will happy. The process is hard, enjoyable, stressful at times, but fun. Since you’re 13, enjoy the ride and continue to keep working hard and asking these questions. So many people will help you along the way and the work will pay off. I am so happy to be home-schooled and this year I’m going to be a Tar Heel! You are doing the right thing, it’s never too early. Shoot for the highest things possible. I didn’t realize I had written so much! 
Hopes this helps, good luck, feel free to ask me anything else.</p>
<p>nc2011grad, thank you so much! Tons of information. I also hope you get the book out!
I just have one question: I’m considering taking my SAT II Test in German. Don’t I have to do 2 years of German first to take the test?</p>
<p>According to the College Board, the exam will test you on everything basic that’s taught in a classroom, regardless of how you gained your knowledge. I don’t think it maters how many years you’ve studied it. Here is the link:
[German</a> SAT Subject Test - German Practice Tests and Questions](<a href=“http://sat.collegeboard.com/practice/sat-subject-test-preparation/german]German”>http://sat.collegeboard.com/practice/sat-subject-test-preparation/german)</p>
<p>This should answer your question I hope!</p>
<p>Also, I forgot. Be sure to keep a diary or journal that includes all your life experiences, big and small, quotes, books or movies that inspire you, things that make you think, whatever. It’s a big help when it comes to essays, which also reign supreme during college admissions season. really work on essays in 11th grade if you can-senior year is a blur of 500 word statements!</p>