<p>Last fall, I started my first year of public school, having been homeschooled up to that point. However, because homeschooling is, by nature, unaccredited, I was set back from Junior year to Sophomore year, and I've had to take a number of pass-or-fail Credit by Exams to get (most of) the credits I need back. So I will be staying in high school at least one semester late.</p>
<p>Since entering public school, my unweighted GPA has stayed at 4.0, and 6/8 of my core classes have been AP/PAP where the option was available. From now on, I'll be taking AP/PAP whenever possible. I'm also in the PSAT Team (an invitation-only PSAT prep class for those who made over a certain score), and I'm averaging 210+ on the practice tests. So academically, I'm doing alright, but I'm worried about a couple things.</p>
<p>First, will high ranking colleges (or any other colleges, for that matter) be understanding of my late graduation or is it going to hurt me significantly? I want to aim high like everyone else, but I'm worried that my chances are subaverage—like the average person's high reach is my don't-even-bother.</p>
<p>Second, I'm lacking in extracurriculars. There was minimal focus on them when I was homeschooled, so they're pretty paltry.
- French Club
- Philosophy Club, Founder (possible president)
- Pianist/composer (only at a self-taught capacity, no awards or notable recitals)
- Lead writer of a play for my homeschool group (if that counts for anything)
I've joined the UIL Social Studies team in an effort to improve my extracurriculars, so we'll see how that goes. But I know that I still really need to improve here.</p>
<p>Basically, I'm clueless of what I should be doing to make sure I get into a good school. I'll talk to my counselor when I can, but I thought I'd ask here first. Any advice would be very much appreciated.</p>
<p>Just here to bump.</p>
<p>Contact the individual colleges admissions department directly. </p>
<p>I would object to being moved backward to sophomore year when it is clear that you are academically prepared, given your GPA and your PSAT prep course scores. There is absolutely NO reason not to accept home school credits if the student can demonstrate having been prepared. Did your Mom not prepare a transcript and indicate materials used? This is a fight I would take on for my kid. Your GPA is 4.0 and the school wants you to backtrack to be a sophomore again? I don’t think so. I would present a good case that this situation is unwarranted and require the school to present the criteria on which the basis for this decision rests. Will it hurt you? I don’t know, but it might, especially since it appears to be unwarranted. If you said that you were barely getting by with C’s or worse, I’d agree. </p>
<p>Now if you agree that you should be a sophomore, that’s a different situation. But do not permit the school to simply decide based on no evidence that you are automatically “behind”. It is my experience that the home schooled students generally outpace the other students, sometimes by a larger margin, or sometimes in certain areas only. </p>
<p>Home schooling can actually be a benefit, assuming high achievement, as you appear to be demonstrating. Home schoolers generally have had extra time to pursue different activities of interest and develop their passions. </p>
<p>Stop diminishing your achievements! You are a club Founder, a pianist, and a playwright! Just keep doing what you are doing and go deeper, not wider. Don’t join another unrelated club unless you are particularly interested. Write another play! Have some events with your Philosophy Club. Have a recital! You can do a lot with what you have written so far. Make the most of it! </p>
<p>@TranquilMind</p>
<p>My mom did put together a transcript. I’m not sure of whether she listed the materials used, but I know they weren’t accredited. I think the two main problems concerning my placement were that I couldn’t test out of elective courses (the tests don’t exist) and that I was lacking some core credits (which I could have tested out of, if I had them). My mom seemed to have a plan separate from the Texas graduation standards and focused on English, Math, and electives, but it came to the point that I didn’t feel like I was really doing anything (part of the reason I chose to go to a public school to begin with). So I’m not sure of whether my placement was justified, but it’s been a year; I don’t think there’s much we can do about it at this point, unfortunately.</p>
<p>I’m glad to know you think my ECs are fine. Like I said, I’m just kind of clueless and freaking out. I mean, I know my grades and scores when taken alone put me in a reasonably competitive position; but I worry that, because of my placement, they may be meaningless. Maybe I should start contacting the admissions offices as colleges, as observeraffect said. Perhaps they can clue me in on what they and other colleges are likely to do.</p>
<p>@commontime - You could also see if it’s possible to take more classes in your free time to get back onto track. You would need to contact your guidance councilor for this, but you could consider Florida Virtual school, though I don’t know if the credits would transfer in Texas (but it is available for out of Florida students). If you are in Junior year now, you could try to take some classes over the Summer. </p>
<p>I don’t think you should worry about the lost year. Kids lose time due to illness, moves, even being redshirted by their parents. Just go forward. You can explain the gap in your essays. You might make a good story of how you asked to go to school because you felt like there were holes in your education, or that it wasn’t moving forward enough. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about ECs either. Do what interests you, don’t do things for your resume. </p>
<p>@observeraffect - Thanks, I’ll look at the Florida Virtual website. I have taken Comm App online over the summer (should have taken more), and I may do more this summer. My main issue is that AP courses seem to be limited online. But I’ll look into it.</p>
<p>@Lizardly - I had wondered whether it would work for an essay. Glad to know it may work out.</p>
<p>@commontime - If the number of AP Classes is an issue, then you could consider taking only those not offered at your school or that you wouldn’t be able to fit into your schedule.</p>