Homeschooler w/ CC degree at time of high school graduation...college options?

Pre-College Issues Home Schooling and College
1

<p>Hi! I'm new here - hope I'm posting this in the correct place! </p>

<p>I have been homeschooled since 9th grade and am a Junior now. Since last year, I have taken the majority of my classes at the local community college. I currently have a 3.96 (out of a 4.0) GPA but I’m planning to re-take the one class I got a B+ in and get my 4.0 back. I am an active student on the campus; I participate in clubs, know many people, establish myself with professors, make my own arrangements…the list goes on. I have become more independent and studious as a result of the community college experience. </p>

<p>I will graduate from community college and high school at the same time (I will have my high school degree from Clonlara’s homeschool branch, where my community college classes and all the others count towards my degree). I am graduating with a degree in Liberal Arts, though I am going well beyond the requirements for the degree. </p>

<p>I have not taken any standardized tests and, for a number of reasons, don’t think I’m going to.</p>

<p>I have started looking into colleges. I would like to be accepted as a transfer student because I will have the degree. I am considering majoring in math. I once had a terrible foundation. In 10th grade I started from the very beginning with two remedial math courses and I took off from there with the help of a life-changing professor. Remedial math was the best thing that ever happened to me. I am at the top of my pre-calc class now, with a 98/99 average and loving it. Despite starting from scratch in 10th grade, by the time I graduate high school I will have had math through calc 1, stats and prob, discrete math, and calc-based physics. </p>

<p>I am currently looking into Rutgers and The College of New Jersey, two of my state schools. I was wondering which other schools I should look into. What is the best school you think I could get into without standardized test scores? </p>

<p>FRESHMAN –
1 American Government Honors [Keystone National High School] - A
1 Algebra 1 [Compuhigh] - B
1 Biology w/ lab [Compuhigh] - A
0.5 9th Grade Composition [University of Missouri Homeschool Extension Program] –
A
0.5 Literature Self-Study – A
1 Orchestra [Youth Orchestra of Essex County] – A
1 Figure Skating [through my club] - A
0.5 Spanish [Community College SPN 101] - A
0.5 Spanish [Community College SPN 102] – B+</p>

<p>SOPHOMORE –
0.5 College Composition 1 [Community College ENG 101] - A
0.5 College Composition 2 [Community College ENG 102] - A
0.5 Effective Speech [Community College ENG 109] – A
0.5 World History 1 [Community College HST 101] - A
0.5 World History 1 [Community College HST 102] - A
1 General Science [University of Southern Queensland Open Course Ware] – A
0.5 Introductory Algebra [Community College MTH 086] – A
0.5 Elementary Algebra [Community College MTH 092] – A
0.5 College Algebra [Community College MTH 100] – A <em>Summer I 2010 session</em>
1 Skating [figure skating through my club and hockey through another club] – A
0.5 Karate [through a karate club] - A
0.5 Art [Alpha-Omega] - A</p>

<p>JUNIOR –
0.5 US History 1 [Community College HST 111] – A
0.5 US History 2 [Community College HST 112] – CURRENTLY TAKING
0.5 Modern Literature [Community College ENG 215] – A
0.5 US Literature 1 [Community College ENG 221] – CURRENTLY TAKING
0.5 College Chemistry 1 w/lab [Community College CHM 101] – A
0.5 Intro Organic Chemistry w/ lab – CURRENTLY
TAKING
0.5 Intro to Trigonometry [Self-Study] – A
0.5 Pre-Calculus 1 [Community College MTH 119] – CURRENTLY TAKING
1 Karate [through my club] – CURRENTLY TAKING
0.5 Spanish [Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version] – CURRENTLY TAKING
0.5 Social Problems [Community College SOC 108] – A
0.5 Cultural Anthropology [Community College MTH 101] – CURRENTLY TAKING
0.5 Macroeconomics [Community College ECO 101] – CURRENTLY TAKING
0.5 Driver’s Ed – CURRENTLY TAKING
0.5 World Geography [Compuhigh] – CURRENTLY TAKING</p>

<p>SENIOR PLAN
0.5 Contemporary Women’s Literature [Community College ENG 264]
0.5 Journalism [Community College JRN 142]
0.5 Pre-Calculus 2 [Community College MTH 120]
0.5 Calc 1 [Community College MTH 121]
0.5 Discrete Mathematics [Community College MTH 136]
0.5 College Physics 1 <a href="algebra%202/pre-calc%20based">Community College PHY 101</a>
0.5 General Physics 1 <a href="calc%20based">Community College PHY 103</a>
0.5 Music Appreciation [Community College MUS 100]
0.5 Statistics and Probability [Community College MTH 101]
1 Karate [through my club]
0.5 Spanish [Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version]</p>

<p>If you are wondering, my instructor(s) assign me my grades for the sports  </p>

<p>EXTRACURRICULARS: </p>

<p>SPORTS:
Figure Skating (9th and 10th) aprox. 6 hrs/week
Junior Moves in the Field, Pre-Bronze Ice Dance, Pre-Preliminary Free
Hockey (10th) approx. 1 hr/week
Played on a beginner team
Karate (10th, 11th, 12th) approx. 3-5 hrs/week
Purple belt (at least), tournaments won in kata and sparring </p>

<p>CLUBS:
Essex County College Math Club (11th, 12th) approx. 0.5-1 hrs/week
Some volunteer work for my school thru the club. I’m going to run for an officer position, hopefully next semester. </p>

<p>VOULENTEER (so far):
-art program at my former elementary school (9th) approx. 0.5-1 hr/week
-math tutor (11th) approx. 2 hrs/week
-AMC Summer Program (11th) 40 hours in 1 week</p>

2

<p>

[Optional</a> List | FairTest](<a href=“http://fairtest.org/university/optional]Optional”>ACT/SAT Optional List - Fairtest) is a list of schools that don’t require SAT tests. </p>

<p>My son, who graduated HS and CC at the same time (with a bunch of excess CC credits), got into several very highly selective schools, but he took tests. </p>

<p>I don’t know exactly what you have in mind by “best school”, but most highly selective schools are easier to be admitted to as a freshman than as a transfer; you would in most cases be considered a freshman. If you want to be admitted as a transfer, you’ll need to talk to your schools of interest. Even if admitted as a freshman, you can get credits and start as an upperclassman in many colleges.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t recommend retaking your B+ - I think there are better things you could do with your time.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>I don’t know if this can be of any real help, but here I go.</p>

<p>Colleges, especially competitive ones like Rutgers, require an ACT or SAT test. And if you’re a homeschooler, they are going to focus on that even more. I just recommend taking at least the ACT-some say it’s easier than the SAT.</p>

<p>Your EC’s and cc classes are very good. I just say the ACT/SAT and your good.</p>

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<p>

Oh yeah - I forgot about that - tofugirl is right. I suggest you rethink your decision not to take standardized tests. OTOH, all the college courses should mitigate your homeschooler-without-standardized-tests handicap.</p>

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<p>Thanks so much for your advice everybody! </p>

<p>Our Spring semester just ended - my GPA went from a 3.96 to a 3.97. I spoke with a transfer adviser and she recommends re-taking the B+ class. She says that if I can replace that grade with an A and keep an A average, I could certainly be a top contender for Valedictorian. I really want this distinction. Also, graduating top in my class would make merit scholarships all the more accessible (I do not believe need-based is something we could qualify for). </p>

<p>After much thought, I have decided not to take any standardized tests. I feel that the tests are a reflection of the quality of preparation, not intelligence. It is too late in the game to switch my focus to these tests; If I had started preparing in freshman or sophomore year, it could have been different. I understand the potential limitations my choice comes with. However, I truly love what I am doing, am learning a ton, and do not believe I have already demonstrated my ethic in regards to schoolwork. </p>

<p>The worst that can happen is I stay at my community college a few semesters and get a degree in math from there, then transfer. But my adviser strongly believes that four-year colleges will look at me as a transfer student and be impressed. I am so much more optimistic about all of this!</p>

6

<p>I am in the same situation though I am a senior this year and will be receiving an AA degree when I graduate high school in May.</p>

<p>I’m not sure if this applies to states schools but if you are planning to apply to any private colleges GeekMom63 is right; be prepared to have to apply as a freshman. I contacted many of the private colleges I was going to apply to (Harvard, Stanford, Columbia and Pepperdine) and they all told me I would have to apply as a freshman because I would still be in highschool at the time of the application and that my credits would just be transferred after I was accepted (this seems to be the general rule when it comes to applying). If this is the case then you will still need to take the SATs and/or ACT in order to complete your applications for private colleges.</p>

<p>Is there any particular reason why you don’t want to take the tests other then you don’t feel like you focused on them enough? I barely studied (if at all) for the test and still pulled out an acceptible score (1870) and was accepted to my only/top choice school (Pepperdine) without a problem. Would it really hurt to take them?</p>

<p>Also I think being categorized as an incoming freshman helped with my application because my AA stood out more among the freshman applicant pool than it would have in the transfer pool. </p>

<p>Again, this may only apply to private colleges but I think this is also true of public schools.</p>

7

<p>What state do you live in?</p>

<p>I did much the same thing as you, finished my two years at a CC at 18, and applied to transfer to state schools ( I live in California, so the state schools are quite good) and got accepted into UCLA, and UC Berkeley, as well as a few others.</p>

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<p>No, the only reason I don’t want to take the SATs is because I would be vastly unprepared. I think that in traditional high schools, classes are geared to the test. I feel I would be already starting out at a disadvantage because of this. I would be uncomfortable taking the test without preparation via tutoring and prep books and I don’t have time for that! This summer, which is when I would have to study if I was going to take the test, I am taking 13 CC credits, finishing two online high school courses, getting things ready for my Clonlara graduation (exit exam, portfolio, book list…), and going on a volunteer trip for a week!</p>

<p>I think I’m going to focus exclusively on state schools. To me, it seems like a better investment, leaving money aside for future plans (like grad school). My father recently lost his job and even still, we do not qualify for need-based aid. I don’t want to put my family in any financial stress, as they are the ones who will be funding my education. I also don’t want to go into debt myself - I don’t want to be in debt before starting my career.</p>

<p>cali4life and theduck, what AA degrees are you receiving/did you receive? </p>

<p>theduck, I live in NJ, so we have some good state schools. I am currently interested in The College of NJ and Rutgers. Did you take any standardized or AP tests? Was your age a factor/problem when transferring? Did the schools consider you a freshman? I apologize for all the questions!</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>Alright. </p>

<p>You have your act together wonderfully and I wish you all the best, dear. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

10

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</p>

<p>I’ve found the best way to study for standardized exams is to take practice exams. As many as possible in as close to the actual test date as possible. If you take 10 full length exams in a one week period before the test, and review your answers against the key, you should smoke it.</p>

11

<p>Why not just register for the SAT and take it. It’s not that expensive and if you do poorly, you don’t have to send your scores to any school. But you may surprise yourself and do quite well. And afternoon spend reading about how to approach the SAT may be all that you really need to score well enough. You don’t need top SAT scores to be accepted into Rutgers.</p>

<p>Also, a word of advice. You may want to apply to Rutgers as a private school student. Since you will be a Clonlara grad you can consider yourself a private school student. Just use their SCCB code when you fill out Rutger’s application. Last I checked (this was a couple of years ago), Rutgers required homeschooled students to supply not only SAT scores but SATII scores also. If you are a private school student then you are only asked to send in SAT scores. As far as I know, Rutgers requires SAT scores, so I’m sure that it makes any sense to apply without the required scores. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>BTW, NJ has some very excellent community colleges. If cost is a concern, go there for 2 years and then transfer. Just look into the articulation agreements first and make a plan. My daughter did this and it worked quite well for her as she has a plan all worked out upon entering comm college. Her final college costs were quite low.</p>

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<p>Just wanted to give an update and share my experience with the homeschooling community:</p>

<p>I am two years into my math major at a state school (I will need a total of four years here because I changed majors upon graduating CC). I love the school environment, my department, my professors, and my major. Everything’s going well!</p>

<p>Since I had my AA degree, I was able to apply as a regular transfer student and not an incoming freshman. I was accepted without ever being asked for SAT or ACT scores (and good thing, as I never did end up taking them!). Perhaps this is partly due to the closeness of my CC and the school I now attend. I do believe I was asked for my high school transcripts, though. I received my HS diploma about half a year prior to graduating from CC. </p>

<p>The transfer process was long and stressful and I really had to navigate it on my own, but it all worked out in the end. I feel extremely lucky that it all turned out so well. </p>

13

<p>Fabulous update ChatterQuill!
NJ cc’s have many excellent articulation agreements with other schools in the state. </p>