<p>hi, i'm in a distance learning program( aka, a credible school, who's diploma is accepted by many well known educational organizations such as SAC's) so my grades are considered credible by the marority of colleges, i would assume. </p>
<p>however i've constantly been worrying about whether or not colleges will look at me differently. is my form of schooling going to hurt my chance of getting into a decent college? i'm not really into any form of sports or clubs either.</p>
<p>You'll probably be applying as a homeschooler and as such, colleges will want to see grades of some sort from sources outside the home. It sounds like you have that covered. However, it's a little disconcerting that you don't think you have been involved in much else.</p>
<p>Homeschoolers often have more time at their disposal than schooled students do. Extra curriculars are a big part of a college application, and homeschoolers have a potential advantage because of that extra time. Those who apply and get accepted to competitive colleges, are often those who use that extra time to pursue their passions.</p>
<p>Have you used your time to pursue burning interests? These things need not fit the standard mold, like sports or school clubs. They can be things that are quite unique or off the wall. What have you done with the extra time homeschooling has afforded you?</p>
<p>i'm incredibly into politics?</p>
<p>There you go -- you can write that one up as an extracurricular!</p>
<p>Given my daughter's schedule, she didn't have time for regular volunteer work. What she did do was join a number of political action organizations and respond to their frequent action alerts -- writing letters, etc. This was worked into her application in the summary of the home study program and when colleges asked, "Is there anything else you can tell us about yourself?" This wasn't tutoring orphans in India each summer, but it at least showed a connection to community concerns.</p>
<p>Is there anything else you regularly do outside school? For instance, say you have a group of friends that regularly comes over and you watch movies and talk about them -- sounds like a film club to me! Be creative. If you study a subject outside your courses, even if no one else is involved, you can list that as an EC -- it is something you are doing outside your curriculum. My daughter studied music history -- we had a number of Teaching Company courses, season tickets each year to the symphony and opera, watched some other operas at home, etc.</p>
<p>I don't think your being in a distance learning program will be held against you by colleges. They may want to know why you did this, though. It could be something you could work into an essay. Some may want to know that you did get out of the house occasionally -- it is that darn stereotype of homeschoolers not getting "socialization."</p>
<p>I agree. That's just the sort of thing I had in mind. I think it's common for homeschoolers to be involved in things that seem very normal to them, but which are actually more unique than they realize. </p>
<p>Start keeping a detailed list of things like that you've been involved with, and it will make it easier to put together your college applications when it's time.</p>
<p>Can you let me know which one you use, or where I can get a list of other good ones?</p>
<p>Sushi, my daughter took classes through the University of Nebraska Independent Study High School (ISHS). It's one of the most respected distance learning high schools in the country. You can enroll in individual courses, but they also have a high school degree program.</p>
<p><a href="http://eeohawk.unl.edu/ishs/%5B/url%5D">http://eeohawk.unl.edu/ishs/</a></p>
<p>My son has taken several courses through EPGY. The courses, tutors, and tech support are all excellent, although admin can try a saint's patience.</p>
<p>I used to have a link to distance learning programs but I can't seem to find it. If you google using the term you will find lots of links -- maybe even that great one I can't find :(</p>
<p>I know that a number of colleges have distance learning programs. For instance, my son took a world history class that way from the University of Kansas. If you have a particular course in mind, you could try googling on the course name plus distance learning. As I recall, this is how I found the KU class.</p>
<p>My son also took EPGY. Yes, the administration can be trying. But then he was in a private school and I had even more problems getting them to agree and do what they had to do to set up the program. However, I didn't really see an alternative way to continue with math (he took Calculus BC in 9th grade and the school had nothing more to give him).</p>
<p>My daughter took some correspondence courses with the British Centre for Egyptian Studies, but this is just for afficionados like her. (You need your own basic Egypt library or access to a good one.) They don't issue transcripts -- and the administration is way worse than EPGY.</p>