<p>Chaos, I’m sure you can analyze the book for yourself. You don’t need me. Please make sure to read the PM I sent you. </p>
<p>I mean the tests… I don’t believe we qualify for a reduction in the price, although if someone would point that information out to me I’d be very appreciative. My county gives the money back if you make a 3+, but I would still have to come up with ~$252 or more if I self-study one or more, which I intend to do. They collect the money at the beginning of the year, and I wouldn’t get it back until at least the next June. </p>
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Do they not care even if I do extremely well in High School? I believe I’ll have the HYP level grades/classes and scores, and decent ECs.
I will see about being tested for a learning challenge.
I have no other stable family members.</p>
<p>"Do they not care even if I do extremely well in High School? I believe I’ll have the HYP level grades/classes and scores, and decent ECs. "</p>
<p>Yes, being able to do well despite major challenges would be considered a big plus by colleges, including places like HPY. It could help you get merit aid at colleges that give merit aid.</p>
<p>I hope you’ve got some adults in your life (relatives, teachers, mentors, therapists) who are stable and are able to emotionally support you. </p>
<p>I think colleges would care about that, and, like other posters said, I’d stick it in the application essay. On the IQ bit, I wouldn’t believe that your IQ could go from 99 to 130. The original testing was probably given under poor testing conditions (I have a similar story - I was tested at IQ 80 in kindergarten and am now around 140)</p>
<p>You might ask for interviews at your prospective colleges if they are within traveling distances or perhaps a local interview with an alumnus if the schools are far away.</p>
<p>You didn’t say what kinds of mental illnesses your parents have but you may be at higher risk of problems yourself and a lot of stress in the mid to late teenage years and result in mental health problems. Which may explain some of the advice from your parents.</p>
<p>Have you read “Running with Scissors?” Don’t watch the movie-read the book. It’s a true story. The kids in the book had incredibly mentally ill parents. They were essentially unsupervised and stopped attending school some time during junior high. But they were smart. When they were 18, they took the GED; one went to a community college but the other was admitted to a very nice LAC. Don’t know if that would happen in this day and age, but it shows that there are many different paths.</p>