<p>I recently had to leave my state's math/science high school for personal reasons, and I am back at my old school, but since I enrolled a month into the school year, they cannot put me in any rigorous classes (I'm in chemistry I here, but I was in AP Chemistry at the math/science school). As such, I'm considering switching to homeschool for the last two years (I'm a junior) of high school, and I had a few questions regarding homeschool in terms of college applications.</p>
<ol>
<li>Is homeschooling disadvantageous when it comes to college admissions? I want to get into MIT, Duke, or Harvard, and I'm worried that being homeschooled will make me seem odd or something. </li>
<li>Since I attended a regular high school for the first two years, can I get my counselor from those two years (and a math/science teacher from those two years) to submit counselor/teacher recs to colleges? I just feel that an actual counselor/teacher rec from a high school would hold more weight than my parents saying that I'm a good student.</li>
<li>If I am not a Florida resident, can I use FLVS as my homeschool curriculum so I can get a high school diploma from the state of Florida?</li>
<li>If the homeschool thing pans out, I'm planning on using all of my time to self study AP Chem, Physics, Cal BC, Govt, and maybe Lang/Lit while doing research. Would this be adequate in "proving" to adcoms that I didn't spend all my time not doing anything rigorous? (I've already taken my ACT and two of my SAT IIs; I'm just trying to find ways in which I can prove to adcoms that I took advantage of homeschool by doing rigorous stuff). </li>
</ol>
<p>Homeschoolers do get into high selective schools, but as with everyone else, it’s a rare occurrence.</p>
<p>The biggest issue for you, should you homeschool your last two years is why the change. You or your mom (and she will be the one to write your counselor letter, not the counselor at your current or previous high school) will need to be able to articulate why you are homeschooling.</p>
<p>You will need to get outside teacher recommendations, so in addition to self-study, you might want to take a class or two at a local community college, a homeschooled class, or use a tutor/mentor rather than your teachers from the high school, <em>unless</em> you know for a fact that they will write a killer recommendation. Typically, colleges want to see more recent teachers, but if you know that one or two of them know you well, think you’re great, and can write a great recommendation, then yes, you can get them to write the recs.</p>
<p>You can use FLVS without being a resident. You don’t necessarily need a diploma; it depends on the state you’re in as to what the requirements are for homeschooled students. Many of the top schools like MIT don’t require a diploma. If they do, your mom can issue you one if your homeschooling laws allow it.</p>
<p>Yes, good, strong test scores combined with great essay, LORs, and interesting ECs, go a long way towards proving you are a capable student.</p>
<p>Please remember, though, to have safety schools on your lists. These schools admit very few students-period.</p>
<p>One option is to work like hell at your new school. Study on the side and take the AP tests for as many subjects as possible. I think most high schools will allow non-AP students to take the tests, with a fee, of course. If your school does not allow you to take the AP tests, maybe another local high school will allow it. If you present a college application indicating you worked hard and made the best of a bad situation, you can possibly look better than you would have just being an AP student. If you have a local community college, or better yet a university, take classes in the evening.</p>
<p>The main point is that top colleges want to see what you did with your talents and opportunities. sbjdorlo is right, it is not easy to get in a top college, homeschooled or not. Whatever route you choose, you will have to fight to make yourself stand out. Prove you are tough enough and that you are someone a top college would like to have on their campus. AND have safety schools.</p>