Homeschool Parent Looking for Admission Advice

Pre-College Issues Home Schooling and College
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I have some questions and hope I can find some guidance here. </p>

<p>My daughter is homeschooled, and has been since kindergarten. Her 9th grade year, we were involved in a co-op in which her science classes were taught by a certified teacher, her English and humanities courses were taught by a Ph.D. and her math was taught by a Ph.D. candidate. The summer of her 9th grade year, she took English Comp I at our local community college, and made an A. This year, her sophomore year, she has taken a full load both semesters, including, English Comp 2, US History 1 and 2, Biology 1 and 2, Precalculus Algebra and Precalculus Trig, and Spanish 1. Next year, I think she plans on Early American Literature, Calculus 1, Spanish 2 and Chemistry 1 fall semester and British Literature, Calculus 2, Chemistry 2, and I guess the next level Spanish course for the spring. I am not sure about her senior year. I think she plans to take Calculus 3, more Spanish, American Government and Economics and probably another science. Currently, she has an A average.</p>

<p>She has only taken the ACT once, in 9th grade, and made a 25. She plans to take it this spring again, hoping it will increase, with more confidence (she freaked out) and Precalc. under her belt. She has a few years, plus plans to take a prep course next year, and has a goal of a 30 to a 32. Don't know if that's high enough, but that's just being fairly realistic, at this point.</p>

<p>As far as extracurricular activities, she has been a competitive dancer, both in a group and as a soloist for years - lots of stuff to list there, as far as awards as a company member and in competition. This coming fall, she will be focusing more on ballet and modern and plans to audition for local professional companies for various performances, as well as compete in the competitive ballet arena. So a lot to fill in there.</p>

<p>Last year, she started a ballet dance program in a local inner-city school, and they were invited to perform at a Project Grad function (a local organization that encourages kids to stay in school). She also assisted the kindergarten teacher in the school and helped children with reading issues. During the summer, she volunteered in a local organization called SOAR, in which many of her dance students attended, in which they offered reading help and instruction to the local children.</p>

<p>This year, she has continued the dance program and has grown it. They hope to perform this spring at several functions. </p>

<p>So, going into the summer of this year (sophomore year), she plans to probably work with the same organization in the same inner-city community with their reading program, as well as get involved in a local Hispanic organization and help with their festivals, etc., since many of her students are Hispanic. She also hopes to get an internship this summer, either with our local university or a local lab, or if possible, volunteer with the local inner-city medical clinic that assists in the same community where her dance students live. We aren't sure that she is old enough (just turned 16). We felt that would be a good goal, since she is looking at a science-related or pre-med major (probably with a dance minor).</p>

<p>Next summer, she will probably apply to our local governor's school, either for science, engineering or dance, or if finances permit, spend the summer in Chile, focusing on language there in order to better communicate with the parents of her students in her ballet program.</p>

<p>So - any further suggestions for her, going into 11th grade next fall? She is stressing - she has her sights set on Bowdoin. She plans to apply there early decision (obviously, she has several back-up schools, as well).</p>

<p>Sorry to go on and on! </p>

<p>Thanks for your help!</p>

2

<p>You might find it helpful to read the homeschool applicant section on the Bowdoin admissions website, including the homeschool supplement and required testing information.</p>

3

<p>Wow. Your daughter seems well-achieved. </p>

<p>Any advice?

  1. Maybe you can consider taking the SAT. Many colleges accept both ACT and SAT, but maybe it can be a back up of some sort.
  2. Consider taking AP exams. Most competitive colleges ASSUME you have taken AP’s and done well in them. With all the academic information you listed for her, I’m sure she’ll be successful in them.
  3. Also, SAT Subject Tests are good. You don’t have to take the regular SAT to take these, but many colleges require home-schoolers to take at least 2 of these.</p>

<p>That’s all I can think of for now. BTW, I’m a 9th grader being home-schooled. Maybe you can share some tips for me!</p>

4

<p>It is a good idea to have her take the SAT as well as the ACT, but with all those dual enrollment credits, she doesn’t need to take AP exams. I do suggest she take two or three SAT II subject tests. Since there is a wide range in quality of CC courses and these are standardized tests, it will give colleges a better idea of her achievement. </p>

<p>Your daughter’s ECs are quite impressive!</p>

5

<p>Are all those courses you named with the college? If so, then other than the ECs (my son had very few), your daughter’s path sounds a lot like my son’s. He had excellent admissions results. </p>

<p>I don’t know why you would want her to go to the governor’s school (we don’t have one so I don’t know much about them) since she’s got such lovely activities and classes and projects going on already. Wouldn’t that take away time for the dancing and dance projects?</p>

<p>I’d highly recommend SAT IIs. Many / most selective schools require two, and some schools require additional ones for homeschoolers. It would seem like college classes or AP tests would substitute for SAT IIs, but they really don’t; colleges want to see numbers that compare to other applicants’ numbers, and the SAT II is the standard. I agree APs are good; in my son’s case, we felt like the good AP scores validated not only the matching classes, but all the classes at the cc.</p>

<p>SAT IIs and AP tests and CC classes and recommendations are all very important as outside validation. </p>

<p>Very important - don’t “graduate” her from high school even if she is taking a full load at the CC. Keep the CC classes dual-enrolled and on her homeschool-high-school transcript so you don’t find out that she’s a transfer student, because it’s much harder to get into selective schools as a transfer student than as a freshman.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

6

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>Thanks for the insights. Everything we’ve read coincides what the information you all provided. She is planning to take two of the SAT subject tests in the spring (I am not sure which - I think she said maybe US History and Biology, maybe?), plus we are really trying to keep track of her tests, textbook information, syllabi, etc. in order to validate everything. We will look at doing the SAT, as well, per your suggestions!</p>

<p>And we don’t plan on graduating her early or anything - she will be looking at starting as a college freshman. She just realizes that the dual enrollment thing is her best option to provide credentials AND get a solid foundation for a really good school later. </p>

<p>I guess she and I both worry, should she do more? Is she academic enough? Is she well-rounded enough? It’s all so confusing! Yet, I don’t know how she could do more. And we feel that, at least in her situation, her ECs should be consistent - not bouncing over here and doing this, and over there and doing that. But is that right??</p>

<p>Financially, we can’t afford to do more. We know homeschool kids that were accepted to MIT, etc., but their families spent a fortune on programs with Stanford, Cal-Tech, etc. We just feel that if she can do her very best to take advantage of the opportunities that she has as a homeschooler, that should help.</p>

<p>Incidentally, we are from the south (Tennessee) - is that a factor in admissions to selective schools? I have heard that it is. True or not?</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

7

<p>Her EC’s are great in my opinion. You shouldn’t jump from one thing to another in EC’s. It shows stamina and variety, but it’s very tiresome to the student, the parents, and the admissions officer because the long list he has to read. Remember: Try to be like the locusts-they eat the whole plant before they’re finished; grasshoppers on the other hand bite here, then bite here, then over, ect. Try to be like the locusts.</p>

<p>I don’t think you should worry about living in Tennessee.</p>

8

<p>Actually, since my daughter is looking at selective schools in the northeast, we were hoping that it may be a positive to be a southern homeschooler(?)</p>

9

<p>fishymom,</p>

<p>Do you think it is necessary to take both the SAT and the ACT? My homeschooled son got a 2320 on SAT I (800M 790CR) single sitting. We would like to be done with it but I know colleges are uber competitive. He’s willing to take the ACT as he rather enjoys tests but we’re getting short on dates since he’s a junior.</p>

10

<p>/\ No need, that’s an amazing score.</p>

11

<p>

Your daughter, if she continues her current ECs and her current plans (and earns matching SAT/ACT scores), will be as competitive as any other top applicant. We didn’t spend a fortune on programs (and he was not a part of an umbrella school at all), and my son was accepted to Caltech, Rice, Harvey Mudd (didn’t apply to the Ivies or MIT - too big for him).</p>

12

<p>@sbjdorlo, with your son’s SAT score there is no need to take the ACT. I usually suggest taking both tests because some kids do better on one than the other. Also, the ACT with writing satisfies the requirement for SAT IIs at many schools, but as a homeschooler, it is better to go ahead and take the SAT IIs, even if the kid had taken the ACT with writing.</p>

<p>For clarification, my daughter was homeschooled through 8th grade and then entered our local public high school. We had already done all the research and had a plan in place for her to continue homeschooling with a combination of dual enrolled and online courses. We had a schedule of SAT, SAT IIs and ACT exams mapped out for her that would satisfy the requirements for all the schools she was looking at. But she decided she wanted to go to
the high school and we supported her decision, so I didn’t end up with a home schooled highschooler.</p>