<p>Sorry for intruding into the Parents 'sanctuary', but I would like some mature insight from experienced adults, so here it goes.</p>
<p>I'm a sophomore that is homeschooled due to numerous complexities.
And I live abroad in Japan, but am only considering to attend college in the States. Well this is because Ive been attending international school all my life, and Im totally "Americanified". Anyways these two factors (international+homeschooled) give me 2 "dehooks" to start off with already...</p>
<p>I am currently contemplating on what I should do with my form of education in my junior year. As a homeschooler I have 2 options. One is to study independently without taking courses of any sort, however this will leave me with no high school diploma which is clearly disadvantageous. If so I plan to take a lot of APs, as I have already completed 5 this year. In addition I can the GED test, which I am not fully aware of.</p>
<p>The other one is to take online courses from a distant education high school, so I can attain a 'high school diploma'. But the downside to this is that the highest level to a class is 'Honors', so I believe its kind of a waste of time+money to study for these while I self study AP Courses that correspond in material and are more challenging. Plus I am afraid that the grades that I obtain from this school will look dodgy/unreliable.</p>
<p>Which do you think is a better way to carry out homeschooling? I plan to apply to top notch schools where financial aid is very generous, I am definitely in need of this. My standardized test scores should be solid with abundant prep, in fact I plan to take ~6 SAT subject test to appeal my all-roundedness.</p>
<p>The homeschooler forum of this website is relatively inactive, so I thought I can get more helpful feedback here. Thanks for actually taking the time to read this :)!</p>
<p>You don't need a high school diploma to get into the selective schools. Why don't you send a message to Mini? His daughter was homeschooled and is at Smith. She did college level work as a homeschooler. I believe you just need to present a record of your study plans and projects.</p>
<p>Wow, I didn't expect such a quick response thanks! I'll try PMing Mini.
Its comforting to be acknowledged that colleges don't require a high school diploma, but Im afraid that colleges will look down on this, if you know what I mean. I want to avoid any situations in which my already slim chances belittle :(... Elite schools admissions are a crapshoot anyways, and I hold the mentality that because the majority of candidates are qualified, adcoms avidly search for minute flaws to reject their applicants. </p>
<p>As long as you have done some interesting activities (research, ECs that you've started, pursued some intellectual or EC passions in some ways) and have high scores and have taken somehow the requisite coursework for entrance, elite colleges won't mind that you were homeschooled.</p>
<p>In fact, your being homeschooled could make you stand out as the adcoms pick and choose from an overabundance of outstanding applicants in order to select a class that represents diversity in all meanings of the word.</p>
<p>Are you Japanese or American? If you are Japanese, your previous experience in an international school will be a plus as your knowing American culture would be seen as an asset. If you're American and know Japanese culture and the language, these would be seen assets.</p>
<p>I agree with the others. Also elite schools accept homeschoolers and they do not have diplomas. I think your AP and SAT2 scores are another way to document the level of learning that you undertook. </p>
<p>I also agree with Northstarmom's last paragraph, though don't know which one is your situation but either one could be seen as interesting or different, as compared to typical US suburban high school. </p>
<p>We have very dear friends who are in the U.S. Foreign Service who lived in Africa during their D's high school years. She took correspondence courses (through, I believe, the University of Nebraska) to get her high school diploma (she even got to participate in a "high school graduation" in Nebraska during a summer visit to the States). She is now in her third year at Yale, where her younger brother will start next year. (He did his last two years of high school here in the States, but his first two thru the same correspondence course while living in Africa).</p>
<p>Are you a U.S. citizen? I really don't know, but it seems to me that your having been homeschooled and educated thru American schools in Japan would be very interesting to colleges if your stats are strong, if you're a U.S. citizen. If you're a citizen of Japan I don't know if that holds true...</p>
<p>But I do know from my foreign service friends' experience that correspondence schools coupled with outstanding performance can get you into a top US school (in this case, Yale)...</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the advice and encouragement! And please excuse from me for my atrocious grammar/errors up there (it was late at night).</p>
<p>I hold Japanese/UK dual citizenship, and am 1/2 Japanese, 1/4 Carribean, and 1/4 Italian. Therefore, things are complex as it can get... Not to mention my name+ domestic status aggravate these already existing entanglements :)</p>
<p>I guess I can go straight to college courses, if I will be self-studying numerous APs. If so, then I can take courses that truly interest me like ones that university extension schools offer. For one, Harvard offers Anthropolgy and World History III which are two classes that I have been wanting to take forever!</p>
<p>Will GED suffice for a high school diploma? When applying to colleges, I can take in addition to what I will have (college credit, plenty of APs/SATs). However, people say the diploma is looked down upon as a lower form of degree than an actual high school diploma, so is it not worth taking then?</p>
<p>Given your citizenship, you will be applying as an international applicant to US schools. Be sure to check the schools you will be applying to, to see what their admissions and financial aid policies are for internationals. International status may be more of a difficulty for admission at some of the elite schools you are considering than will the homeschooling aspect.</p>
<p>Yes, I am aware of the international factor that will give me a hard time. I haven't started constructing a list of schools I will be applying though, so I will execute a thorough research and check out their policy on GED, internationals, etc soon. Thank you!</p>
<p>Rexer: There was a discussion in November of aid for international students. Do a search for "Schools with full tuition for international students." Some of the schools with aid were University of Virginia- 1 full ride, Carleton- 6 full rides, Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Scholarships, Hollins (women only), Susquehanna, and Illinois Wesleyan. Our guru, Carolyn, recommends compiling a list of schools that fit and then contacting the schools to find out what aid is available. Best of luck.</p>