Homeschooled Student

Colleges and Universities A-Z Barnard College
1

<p>I am a female, caucasian homeschooler who really loves Barnard. I love the area, the atmosphere, the dance program… but do I have a chance as a home schooled student?</p>

<p>*High School: Homeschooled. All academic courses are taken online through The Potter’s School, a college-preparatory distance learning program. I log in to a virtual classroom once weekly for each class, interacting with incredibly talented students from all over the world. The website provides detailed information at The Potter’s School</p>

<p>*Test Scores: SAT-2150 (Retaking and hoping to top 2200), ACT-31, SAT US History-780, SAT English Lit-760, AP US History-5, AP US World-4 (All self taught no history classes available) </p>

<p>*GPA: 4.0 Unweighted, in the most rigorous courses offered. No class rank available. </p>

<p>*Extracurricular Activities
• Happy Day Cards (Founder and president). I created Happy Day Cards, an organization to craft and collect handmade greeting cards, mailing them to soldiers in combat and those recuperating in hospitals such as Walter Reed in Washington D.C. Using my graphic art skills, I designed a company logo and enlisted a fellow Potter’s School student to help create a website. I have hosted card parties with retirement home residents, Boy Scout troops, and Sunday School Classes. A global card drive, enrolling digital artists from around the world to contribute card designs is also currently underway. Website: default.aspx
• Classical ballet (since age three, serious study since age ten). For the previous three summers I was one of 200 dancers chosen from over 2000, to study with Pacific Northwest and San Francisco Ballet (considered to be two of the top three programs in the nation). Currently Level 7A of 7- three classes a day, five to six days a week. Past two years performed the lead role as Clara in the Company’s Nutcracker. There were 17 performances, with an average audience of 1000.
• Church Children’s Ministry for 7 years. (Now teaching my own 2 year old class which includes coming up with lesson plan and controlling 12 screaming toddlers for 3.5 hours)
• Photography and digital art. I currently am “fluent” in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Indesign and have finished countless textbook on the subjects. I spent the summer at California College of the arts, in their graphic design program and have a pretty good portfolio. I recently designed a Fetal Alchohol Poisining Awareness poster and had it displayed throughout the community.</p>

<p>*Jobs
• I design and create custom ballet wear, selling them to fellow dancers. Ten percent of my profits support Happy Day Cards. The remainder funded a summer trip to France, where I explored art and architecture in conjunction with an online photography course.
*Honors
• Jericho International Honor Society. Unlike other honor societies that use only grades and scores as the primary basis for membership, recognition in the Jericho International Honor Society is based primarily on participation in service and ministry. However, a 3.0 GPA is required.
• Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth
• One of 12 out of 500 to win a 2008 scholarship for the graphic design program at CCA. </p>

<p>• My history papers have been published on hyperhistory.net, a website designed as a resource for high school World History students. I am currently working on a collaborative project two other Potter’s School students, one in Ulan-Ude Russia and one in Hawaii. </p>

<p>*Notes
• I live in a rural, mountain community and will be the first member of my family to attend college (my parents attended community college) and the first grandchild to graduate from high school.</p>

2

<p>Wow! With the standard cautionary statement (nobody here can really assess chances for admission), I must say that you sound to me like a great cadidate for Barnard. You certainly must be a motivated learner, you are evidently a talented dancer and would fit right in at Barnard in that regard, and you have a very interesting and "different" perspective to bring. Also, being the first to go to college and the first grandchild to graduate from HS is huge. Are you applying RD this year? If so, just bring out those unique qualities....be proud of yourself and highlight those differences in your experience that will certainly make you stand out.</p>

<p>Where else are you considering applying?</p>

3

<p>I wouldn't worry about retaking the SATs for Barnard. They have a much more holistic approach, and your scores seem fine. My D also cyberschools and at her interview with an admission officer this was addressed. The ad. officer did not see this as a drawback- my D emphasized how her independent learning would serve her well in college.
However- having just looked at the Potter's School website, although the classes look rigorous, the heavy emphasis on the truth in Bible, including creationism, may be a potential problem. I have no idea.</p>

4

<p>My first choice is actually Brown, then Barnard (RD), but I'm also applying to Yale, Amhurst, Pomona, Scripps, and perhaps Williams. Hence the reasoning behind retaking the SATs. Unfortunately, Ivy's don't have the holistic approach! :)</p>

5

<p>You are applying to all the right schools based on your profile. Yale is a holistic admissions school. You should also consider Princeton. A legitimate question can be raised as to why you were homeschooled. Obviously homeschooling was an academic success for you, but social growth is equally important--especially if you jump into the Columbia/Barnard/New York City culture. To answer your question as to whether or not you, as a homeschooled student, have a chance of being admitted to the nation's most selective schools, the answer is yes.</p>

6

<p>Brainyartist, I would say (in response to the above question that someone raised as to "why" you were homeschooled), I would imagine that your intensive ballet training played a significant part. And your success on the AP tests that you took, together with your decent scores on AP/SAT/ ACT's would indicate that your education was a good one...an even more significant accomplishment inview of your other activities. </p>

<p>The person that raised the question was correct, though: you need to make clear on your application that you are involved in things outside your home (seems obvious to me!) and that your educaiton was a well-rounded one.</p>