<p>Thanks for the reply Jimmyjam.</p>
<p>At first I was disappointed that I didn't get into Skidmore, I really loved it, but it turns out to be a blessing in disguise. My parents have turned around and told me that unless I am instate or in NC (where my coach is) I will not be able to keep my Grand Prix horse. He is very, very special to me, and we are planning on aiming for World Cup Finals the year after next, so it would be quite a blow to lose him, hence the reason I've now switched to VA/NC schools. </p>
<p>I know what I wrote sounds a bit jumbled, it is because it is a bit complicated to describe what I've done, and I didn't want to bore everyone with details. I will lay it out though. </p>
<p>I compete showjumpers at a very high level, and that means I spend Jan-March in Florida every year competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington. I generally spend June and July in Calgary competiting at Spruce Meadows, and two to three weeks (usually Tues or Wed through Sun) out of every month for the rest of the year competiting at various venues up and down the east coast. Due to all of this travel I enrolled in a distance learning high school. The program I used is fully accredited as a private school (based out of CA), but I did 99% of my coursework online. </p>
<p>I was naive, and if I did it again, I would do it differently. My course work was strong I think, I can compare it favorably to my friend's coursework at schools here in VA, and to other friends who go to very competitive high schools in NY, so I don't think I missed out academically in that regard. However, I think I did suffer in terms of SATs, and it has certainly made the college application process a bit more stressful. </p>
<p>I am the oldest child, and neither parent went to school in the States, so I went through HS pretty unaware of the process for PSATs etc. It is easy to get caught up in the horse show world on the road, and I never really thought about it. I got my work done, and did it well, and never thought about the PSATs or anything, especially since the school never once said anything about them. Therefore, last year when I was told I'd have the credits to graduate already, I realized that I had yet to take any form of standardized testing. I signed up for the SAT last January, and got the scores listed going in cold. It was a mistake to do it the way I did, I fully realize that now, but it is impossible to go back and change things now. My counsellor talked me into applying to Bowdoin college last year, despite the fact that I wanted to take a year off and go into college with everyone else my age, not ahead. I was waitlisted, and was again convinced that I was "guarenteed" to get in, and therefore didn't bother to retake the SAT last spring. I then found out I had been rejected, and decided to go to China for the fall to experience that, due to my interests in Asian studies, and to do some volunteer work that I thought was interesting. In doing this I missed the test dates for the standarized tests during the fall (another mistake, most likely, but I admit I don't regret it, China was an unbelievable experience.) </p>
<p>Now the test dates available to me are the SAT in Jan- which my counsellor tells me is a mistake to take, and the Feb ACT. Given my SAT scores I was intending to try my hand at the ACT instead. Math is a more difficult subject for me, despite my good grades. In class I was able to keep my grade strong using homework grades etc and didn't have to worry as much about the testing- my weakest point. I am currently re-thinking it though, and considering trying the SAT in Jan again, but I am worried that somehow my other two scores will drop... although I guess my worries are probably unfounded as my original score was, as I said, going in cold.</p>
<p>RE: Honors/APs- I suppose due to the way the school is accredited they did not offer AP classes, just honors classes. I did take Chemistry and Spanish at Piedmont VA CC last year though, so I have taken college-level classes. Grades were consistant with my prior grades in both subjects through out the year, and are included in my GPA. (Apologies, I didn't write that out clearly at all in my original post.)</p>
<p>The reason I added my dual citizenship was simply because someone I know who got into UVA last year (but didn't attend) also had dual citizenship and his counsellor told him that it made a difference with the admissions committee. I have no idea, I just figured I'd throw it in there for good measure.</p>
<p>-</p>
<p>Well, that was long and rambly, and props to anyone who managed to slog through it all. I hope I managed to clear a few things up. </p>
<p>I suppose I would qualify as an "interesting" candidate, but unfortunately interesting is not always a good thing! I get the feeling my "interesting-ness" could be compared to someone saying "Oh yes, he's... special," in that sort of tone. </p>
<p>Thanks again for taking the time to reply though, and Merry Christmas to you too!</p>