If your parents can’t pay much look at schools with guaranteed merit. I know Alabama is one. What state are you in? Check the websites of some of those schools to see what they offer.
@austinmshauri Thankfully my parents will be able to pay but I would like to keep costs down as much as possible. I’m in MA and due to health issues don’t want to be more than 2 hours away from Boston where my doctors are.
What MA school are you interested in? Call admissions and most can tell you if your scores automatically make you eligible for a merit scholarship. It sounds like you would get at least the Dean’s Scholarship at UMass Lowell and the Chancellor’s scholarship at UMass Boston. My friend’s daughter received a guaranteed transfer to Cornell and is doing her first year at UMass Boston. She chose to go there so it would be cheap. She is surprised at how much she enjoys her classes.
If you decide to do dual enrollment at a cc look at articulation agreements, commonwealth honors program and the commonwealth commitment program. I don’t know if dual enrolled students are eligible for all.
I agree with those who say to take college courses as a homeschooled high school senior, and apply to colleges as a freshman. You’ll be eligible for more scholarship aid as an incoming freshman than as a transfer student.
Or, if your health issues continue and you want to stay home for a while, you could do your first two years of college at community college, and transfer to a four-year college after that. Community college would give you more flexibility with potential health issues.
@momtogirls2 I am still trying to figure out what colleges I am interested in but I have looked at Westfield State Endicott and Curry so far in MA and UNH. I might start a separate thread for more suggestions on schools.
@“Cardinal Fang” My health issues are chronic unfortunately, but I would like to go to a 4 year school within a 2 or 2.5 hour radius from Boston where my medical providers are. I am definitely going to look into taking some classes at the community college to fulfill some remaining high school requirements though!
If you still need to do the equivalent of two years of high school, you have plenty of time to consider colleges. But based on your freshman and sophomore experience, Westfield State and Curry would be aiming low.
In my area, it’s routine for teenage homeschoolers to go to community college for some or all of their education. Some of them get community college degrees and then transfer to four year schools. Some of them count their community college courses as high school, and enter college as freshmen.
For your first community college classes, consider a writing class and a math class. You’ll probably have to take placement exams for both. One or both classes might count as remedial for college students, but you’re still a high school student so they wouldn’t be remedial for you.
@“Cardinal Fang” I definitely want to take math and writing. I think I would probably want to enter college as a freshman to increase chances of merit aid and also to have an easier time socially. Do you have any recommendations for other colleges? I posted another thread in the search and selection forum. I know I have time but I like to be prepared haha. I had already started looking since I was originally going to apply in the fall but plans changed.
I suggest you contact the colleges and universities that you are hoping to attend and get their feedback on what they feel is the best way to proceed. I know some colleges do not accept CLEP, do not consider GED grads and have other issues that are to your disadvantage in terms of admissions, college credit and scholarships. You should proceed in the way that your top choices would give you consideration, mindful of what minimum standards that the less selective colleges on your list may have.
Homeschooling, IMO, for high school without a knowledgeable adult guiding the curriculum can be problematic if you are looking for admissions to a highly selective college. It’s not a matter of just picking a path through high school, if you want to include that possibility. AP exams and SAT2 tests figure heavily for homeschoolers.
@cptofthehouse I have reached out to some and gotten varied answers regarding the best path. I don’t have too many colleges I am interested in yet, but am hoping to find some more through this site and other research I am doing. I am not looking at any extremely selective schools at the moment, but I definitely don’t want to take a path that limits my options if that makes sense.
Dual enrollment is your best option, IMO. Look at the credits required for HS graduation in your state. See what courses you need to meet the requirements, and just take them at community college. You may have to declare as a “homeschooler” but just take the credits at CC.
You could also use an online school if you need to (e.g., FLVS Global or another school - look up the list of top online high school programs so you choose one that is respected by colleges).
Having some CC coursework will also show the 4yr colleges you are ready for college work - and you may be able to finish in a year. You can take a couple courses this summer…look into it soon as there may be an “Early summer term” that starts in May.
@sunnyschool I will look into this thank you!
Have you looked at online high school programs? I believe there are some options in Mass that are available to residents for free. You could complete a Jr/Sr year from home. These are the two programs that I found:
TEC Connections Academy Commonwealth Virtual School
Greenfield Commonwealth Virtual School
@maybearobot I actually did do an online school several years ago to fill some knowledge gaps. The TEC one didn’t work great for me, but another one did. I am leaning towards doing community college classes to finish and am waiting to see if that’s an option at my old school. Thank you though!
I work at one of the community colleges in Massachusetts and feel that homeschool augmented with dual enrollment courses is your best route. You then preserve your opportunity to compete for first year merit awards. Have you looked at some of the other schools in Boston such as Emmanuel or Simmons?
@MAandMEmom I am going to look at Simmons! I definitely want to be able to compete for some merit scholarships. Thank you!
Bard at Simon’s Rock is a good college and the campus is lovely. But if your medical issues are ongoing or serious, you should know it’s in the middle of the Berkshires and difficult to access in winter months.
@Aster5623 It does look nice but it is outside the 2-2.5 hour radius from Boston that my parents and I have agreed on. Thank you!
I think you are getting a lot of good options to research and consider. Our family has dealt with medical issues prolonging high school, and homeschooling was the best way to go for us. Dual Enrollment was free for us, I think a number of states are now offering free college classes for high schoolers.
GEDs can be okay in a number of situations, but if you are considering military college, I believe they do not like GED.
@powercropper I will have to see if my state offers free classes! I don’t think so though. I have had a prolonged school experience too so it’s tempting to just finish quickly but I think in the long run it will hurt me. Not considering military colleges but I know the process of applying and getting into schools is harder with a GED or adult diploma from what I’ve researched and heard from admissions counselors. Just a little worried about fitting in as a 20 or 21 year old freshman which it looks like will be the case at this point. I look young for my age though so I guess that’s a plus! Thank you for your input!
My son will be 20 when he begins his freshman year of college this fall. I think it will be a strong positive factor, more mature and level-headed. And all ages blend in well in the college years. You don’t have to offer your age right off the bat, go with the “I’m a Freshman” phrase and no one will care how old you are.