OP HERE:
I think I should’ve been more clear in my original post. I am technically being homeschooled right now. I called it “dropping out” because my parents don’t actually teach me anything–but on paper I AM homeschooled. My parents can issue transcripts and a diploma. The reason for switching to home school school is still the same–I had horrible attendance and my parents thought it would be the best course of action to help me.
What should I be emphasizing in my essays to explain my situation?
You don’t address this in your essays.
Get that Fiske Guide and read up on what colleges say they want in terms of classes taken. Look at the requirements for a homeschool application.
Please be 100% clear. I am skeptical about your story now, because it isn’t the same story you started with. You are not in CC right now? You are being homeschooled? That’s not the same as being a dropout. Most colleges have a section pertaining to homeschooled students about what they expect to see.
You aren’t a “dropout” if you properly switched to homeschooling. Sure, lots of homeschool kids use DE.
You have a lot to catch up on and until you start to, you aren’t helping yourself. We can’t tell you the A to Z. You asked about prospects to top 50 and they want the sort of kids who have the energy and savvy to learn the basics on their own. Then we help with clarifying or advice.
We don’t know your summer or present courses. For all we know, you’re dabbling (common among many DE kids who don’t have a plan.)
Look up several T50 colleges’ expected 'high school prep." (you may need to try other wording.) Then tell us how you are progressing to reach that level of prep, the courses. Tell us if you WILL get a high school diploma based on these DE courses. Apply some savvy to all this.
Regardless, of what really happened, you need to present it that you were home schooled. You also need a GED. I would apply to CSUs and weak UCs now and see what happens.
Consider Earlham College. They have a very good bio program with amazing stats for med school acceptance but they are fine with quirky applicants. I agree, though, that if you hate cc, you will just hate college. It’s not going to be any different, even at a top school. It’s a grind. My daughter left HS after 2 years and is doing an Associate’s now. The school is incredibly helpful. There ARE research opportunities for students in community college. It CAN be a fabulous bridge if you want it to be. But, if you hate it and are not seeking opportunities where you are at, I guarantee you any college will not be your cup of tea.
If OP is properly in a homeschool arrangeent, he would be headed for a hs diploma, not need a GED. Otoh, if he’s just calling this homeschooling, he may not meet the 4-year college requirements, academic and other.
I missed the homeschooling part. Yes, homeschooling can be a great place to “hide out” and mature until you figure out what you need to do. It’s better than truancy court. A semester-long college course will satisfy the yearlong course requirement for HS transcript purposes. If you are waiting for your parents to “teach” you, you are on the wrong track, though. By your age, most homeschoolers are learning independently. Google “deschooling”. It sounds like you need to get out of the school mentality and figure out what really makes you tick. Volunteer in a hospital. Train as an EMT or even a lifeguard if EMT is not on the table. You will figure out if you are cut out for medicine. I still think if you hate your cc classes, you will hate college no matter where you go.
I’ll summarize - correct me if I didn’t understand:
1)Your parents pulled you out of HS because you were skipping.
=>THIS is the sticking point: did you skip to do drugs? Sleep because you spent all night on videogames? What caused you to skip? Use this forum to write up a satisfactory answer - the response needs to make sense, try us.
2) they declared you officially homeschooled.
=> Junior year? Later?
3) you started back at cc as a homeschooler, during the summer session, and took 3 classes.
=> What classes? What grades?
4) junior year, during your ‘unschooling’ period, did you have a job? Visit museums? Read books? Sleep all day? Were in detox? In counselling?
5) you’re currently dual-enrolled as a HS student at the cc.
=> what classes are you currently enrolled in? What grades are you getting?
6) prove stability by getting a job and sticking to it + find a volunteer position.
If your parents declared you homeschooled your junior year (unschooled for what it sounds like) and this year (repeat junior year), YOU ARE NOT a drop out. You’re a regular homeschooled junior. You need to take 4 or 5 classes per semester at the CC, get as many As as possible, and, in Fall 2019, apply to universities. Which universities will depend almost exclusively on the grades you get and courses you’re taking right now at the CC. Your essays, explanation for the “unschooled” year (please answer question1), and cc recommendations will all matter. As a homeschooler your subject test scores will be used to confirm mastery of subject matter. Plan to take a few more in other subjects.
And take the courses in the array a college expects (science, English, social sci. math, and foreign lang.) Continue ths through the next academic year. And be working toward some degree, HS or GED.
You don’t get to “age in,” so to say. Nor just take classes that interest you.
You may not be ready to apply in Fall 2019. You have a null period most kids don’t and need to get back on track, count the classes needed, in total, and compare it against what you have/will have Next fall, you may have just completed what amounts to junior year. Or not even that.
Highly reccomend you to look into UPenn LPS, Harvard Extension School, and Columbia GS. LPS isn’t really a good fit for you, but Harvard’s Extension School awards degrees in Bachelor of Liberal Arts degrees and Columbia GS offers degrees in everything.
I’m not understanding your “story.” There are plenty of homeschoolers in the US. I doubt that the majority are just hanging around home doing nothing for 6 months. You’ll be competiting with kids who have 4 years each of English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language whose essays won’t be about skipping school. Unless you have a compelling reason, I don’t see how that’s going to come across as a reason to admit you.