Keystone online school and NYU

Pre-College Issues Home Schooling and College
1

<p>I just enrolled in Keystone online school the other day, but I haven't started yet so there are no grades. I am sending NYU my transcripts in the mail from when I was traditionally homeschooled. I'm also sending the course descriptions for the classes I'll be taking this year. How do I explain my lack of grades so far for senior year? I am applying early decision so, I don't think I'll be able to start my Keystone courses and have enough grades to send in by the deadline.</p>

<p>I also missed the SAT last month because of family circumstances. I just took the ACT today, but my test scores won't be in by the deadline either. On their website it says I can have a guidance counselor send in my predicted scores. Will they look unfavorably upon that? Its my only option If I want to apply early decision. </p>

<p>Can I still have my mom fill out the counselor's forms? She was the one administering my homeschooling before I enrolled in Keystone. I don't plan on obtaining a diploma from them either, I'm just using them for the AP classes. </p>

<p>Last Question: Do you think I have a chance with NYU? I don't think I did well on the ACT today. My composite score is probably around a 26 or 27. I think my essays are really great and I have a 3.95 gpa. I was absent too many days in ninth grade when I went to an actual school. Because of that, I got incompletes and I had to retake the classes sophomore year. When I took the classes again sophomore year I got an A+ in all of them. Junior year I got an A+ in all of my classes too. I enrolled in 9 courses with Keystone this year and 7 of them are AP. I wrote for the local school paper in tenth grade, I'll be taking classes at a community college in January, I've volunteered, and I've been playing violin for 9 years. I also have really great recommendations. I feel like I'm kind of all over the place, but I explained on the common app why I was absent so much and how dedicated I am to my education. Do you think I have a chance at getting in despite ninth grade and my ACT scores? </p>

2

<p>I’ll answer the specifically homeschooled questions first:

  1. All colleges that I’ve looked up allow a parent to be the guidance councelor for a homeschooler. You could email NYU to confirm this.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Again, you could email them to explain why you are missing grades and what you recommend. However, I think you’re better applying RD, but I’ll cover that later…</p></li>
<li><p>Having your mom send in your predicted scores is an option, but I feel like it may hurt you a bit. It seems less…I don’t know…official? than if you were in public school and had a GC do this. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Okay, now about homeschooling and test scores:
I don’t know that much about NYU specifically, but many colleges want standardized test scores (SAT, SAT II, ACT, AP, etc.) for homeschoolers because grades usually make very little sense. For you, since your time in public school does not appear favorable, that will matter even more. If you have taken any AP tests and have the scores it will help, but your ACT score may be an issue.</p>

<p>I won’t chance you (I don’t feel qualified to do so), but if your essays can tie everything together it’s not out of the question. I think you’d have a better chance if your ACT score was certain, but since you can’t have that if applying ED you could always try. Emailing them won’t hurt, and it’s what I would do.</p>