Chance my son: homeschool to high school

Chance Me / Match Me!
,
1

My son was homeschooled through 11th grade, at which point he decided he wanted to go to school. He chose to repeat 11th grade. Choice of classes (APs) somewhat limited prior to school. His first year he was a bit nervous so didn’t take higher level classes. School does not offer APs, but they do have some higher level options.

Demographics:
US citizen
CT resident
Private school
Hispanic (mixed)

Intended Major(s)
Possibly: Environmental Studies or Marine Science
Also interested in Medieval or Classical Studies (possibly as a minor)

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.83
  • Class Rank: school does not rank
  • ACT/SAT Scores: waiting on scores, but testing not a strong suit. Hoping to apply test optional

Coursework:
11th grade:
U.S. History
Honors Biology
Spanish
Writer’s Life
Algebra 2
Art History
Art Studio

Planned for next year: (12th)
Chemistry
Complexity of Life (comparable to AP Biology)
Spanish
Honors Pre-Calculus
The Story (comparable to an AP English class)
I feel like I’m forgetting a class…

Over the summer:
Geometry
Summer program in environmental studies at Hobart College
Volunteering at local farm/education center
part time work

Awards:
Scholar award in writing and science (11th grade)
State champion 3 years in BMX racing

Extracurriculars:
Volunteer: New rider program in BMX (assisted in coaching and introducing new riders to the sport)
Internship: Bike and ski shop (worked in all aspects of repair and maintenance of bicycles and skis, organized and cleaned shop)
Volunteer: Farm and educational center
Sports: BMX rider 7 years (on both a national team and a factory team)
Varsity Cross Country (11th grade)
Varsity Lacrosse (11th grade)
Pole Vaulting (recreational)

Financial issues: Our efc is $0 and I am not currently able to work due to health issues so we are hoping for very good financial aid.

My son is getting a lot of help in this process, but we could use some other input. He is pretty overwhelmed and not exactly sure what he wants, but here are some possibilities (both suggestions from others and his own ideas)

Schools:
Hobart/William Smith (target)
Ithaca (target)
Colorado College (reach)
Lewis and Clark (target)
Bates (reach)
Connecticut College (target/reach)
Trinity (target/reach)
Ohio Wesleyan (target)
Colby-Sawyer (safety)
?Maybe Colby (reach)

**He recently started leaning towards studying marine science but is not sure. However, that would change a lot. We don’t have much here that offers that.

** Wondering is Bowdoin or Hamilton unrealistic?

** How will applying test optional affect financial aid?

Open to any thoughts or suggestions. Can’t wait to hear anything. Thank you.

2

I think your list is pretty balanced. A few others you might consider that are similar to Hobart are St. Lawrence and UVM. Your reaches may be really tough, especially TO, but his story is a bit unusual (homeschooling, BMX, Hispanic) that it could make him stand out.

Eckerd in FL might be one to look at just to see what Marine Science programs look like. Not sure if the Pacific Northwest would be an option, but there are a number of schools with outdoorsy, down to earth vibes that have programs that might interest him. Would you throw those in the mix or does that just complicate things?

Confirm that Colby Sawyer is committed to his interests - I think they were realigning their programs. Pretty sure Environmental Studies is “safe”. Also make sure you have financial safeties in the mix. Some of the ones that are the most generous with FA have single digit acceptance rates.

3

How about Hampshire college?

4

He wants more of a traditional college. Also, I would be hesitant due to the possibility of their closing.

5

I would love to hear some outdoorsy laid back options.

6

maybe Questbridge? The EFC 0 is perfect for QB. the GPA is a bit low but should be find, and QB is definitely holistic. QB, unlike the common app, gives more space to explain special circumstances related to being low income. will he be first gen? colorado college and colby are QB partners. so are bowdoin and hamilton.

7

I second Questbridge, this will give you potentially greater chances for acceptance at a meet full need school, but I am not sure the course curriculum and rigor will be competitive enough.

Regarding courses and rigor…what year of Spanish will he have senior year? Has he taken physics?

Regarding EFC and budget…can the parents contribute any $? If not, the budget will be the $5,500 first year direct student loan, plus full Pell grant of $6.4K or so (assuming the EFC 0 is accurate). That approximately $12K budget won’t go far…at some schools that won’t cover room and board, let alone tuition. Is there a community college and/or a four year school within commuting distance?

You should run each school’s net price calculator. It is unlikely that Colby Sawyer will be affordable, just to take one example. The NPCs may not be accurate if the parents are divorced, own a business and/or own real estate beyond a primary home…are any of these the case for you?

Thoughts @MYOS1634?

8

Some colleges on the list (Colby-Sawyer, Ithaca…) do not meet need. Run the Net Price Calculator on all of them.
Seconding Questbridge.
Seconding Eckerd if the NPC indicates it’s affordable.
Would he be recruitable at a D3 college for Cross Country or Lacrosse?
Perhaps post on the “specialty” forums → athletes, with a title like “national-level BMX athlete looking for colleges” - this would be a huge hook if a meet need college has a BMX team (he wouldn’t get an athletic scholarship, but with an EFC0 he’d have financial aid in excess of what he could get from an athletic scholarship anyway, and being supported by the BMX team/coach would make admission much easier).

9

Take a look at university of puget sound and Whitman. I know nothing about how the award FA.

10

Funny, I was just looking at The University of Puget Sound today. I will look into Whitman. I know nothing about it. Thank you.

2 Likes
11

I talked to him about Questbridge a ways back and he wasn’t interested because he didn’t want to apply ED anywhere. I’m definitely encouraging him to reconsider.

12

He will have 2 years of Spanish, although he studied it before he went to this school, he (and they) felt he should do Spanish 1 again. Sadly, his father is a native Spanish speaker but didn’t speak it enough at home for either of our children to have learned from him. He has taken Physics as a homeschooler.

Regarding EFC, we can contribute and the grandparents can as well. I’m just not sure what that number will be.

We are not divorced but do own a small business.

13

He is likely not recruitable for either lacrosse or cross country because he has only had one season of both. Cross country (due to covid) did not compete last year. He is not participating in BMX enough to consider that option (due to injuries in the sport) and the schools that have a BMX component of the cycling team are very limited. He might consider other types of cycling, though.

I really appreciate your (and everyone here) thoughts.

1 Like
14

Questbridge is like having 12 ED applications… and it means a full ride – tuition, fees, room, board, books.

Is he considering varsity cross country and varsity lacrosse senior year?
That being said, you’re right, if he only played one year, he might not be recruitable even at div 3 level… and then again, nor might a lot of young athletes whose competitions were cut short by covid. As a result, Summer/Fall 2021 is going to matterfor most of them.
Would he conskder competing fr div 3 I either sport?

There might be BMX clubs, would he be interested or no longer?

Being a heritage speaker is considered differently from being a native speaker who can read, speak, write the language. However, he would need to take a higher level than Level 2 Spanish for competitive universities. Dual enrollment can help if the HS doesn’t offer Spanish 3 or if you think he can handle a faster-paced course (College spanish 2&3 would cover HS levels 3&4 in a year).

15

He was thinking of not doing cross country in order to have more time for schoolwork and college applications, etc. Lacrosse season is in the spring, so too late to impact college applications. He would definitely consider competing at a d3 school, I just don’t think it’s realistic. I’m not even sure how that would work for him as the typical recruiting route is probably not an option for him. I think no to BMX on a competitive level.

What do you mean by dual enrollment?

16

To be enrolled at the same time in a local college and the HS, so that the college courses count toward HS credits but in terms of rigor equal AP classes.
For foreign language, because college courses go much faster than HS courses, it’d allow him to catch up if the HS doesn’t offer higher level Spanish. Or, alternatively, he could show his interest for Chinese or Japanese by taking either language at college Level 1 and 2 but the languages are extremely difficult so the classes would be very time consuming.
Dual Enrollment works for any academic area your child might want to show prowess or interest in – the best predictor of an A in a college course is… an A in a college course through dual enrollment :wink: What does his senior year schedule look like?

17

I think OP is at a private school so DE is unlikely to make sense.

1 Like
18

Oh, I understand. I’m not sure if that is possible at his school.
Senior classes:
Chemistry
Complexity of Life (Biology, comparable to an AP class)
Spanish
Honors Pre-Calculus
The Story (English-comparable to AP class)

And yes, he is at a private school.

1 Like
19

It is not realistic at the schools you have listed he’s interested in. Even those walking on have had years of playing lax, many of them 10+ years. To be of benefit for admission, he’d know by now if a coach was interested in helping with admissions.

20

Got it. Thanks.
If the private school has a special relationship to any college, run the NPC. The GC probably knows exactly where your son falls in terms of possible admissions but may not be used to students with a low efc (may, but can’t be taken for granted).
Yes, dual enrollment is not likely, and based on what you say no sports hook even for D3.(recruitment starting ~now, unlike d1/d2 where it’s almost over).