Out of hope.

Pre-College Issues Home Schooling and College
1

<p>I really need some help, guys.
I graduated homeschooling back in 2011, at 17. I'm almost 20 now. For the past year, I've been preparing endlessly for college. My parents and my tutors say I'm an exceptionally bright student. At this point, I don't know what to believe.</p>

<p>I finally began the college application process. I took many SATs, spent months on essays, applications, etc. Applied to 13 colleges...4 of them were Ivy Leagues, the rest: NYU, Fordham, RPI, Webb Institute, Duke, and some others. A wide variety of schools. I spent tedious hours, days, weeks on my essays and questions. I had an SAT score of 2020, because it was a last minute test, and I only had a few months to prepare for it. My other SAT scores ranged from 670-740. (Not the best of course, but good enough for many schools). </p>

<p>I have so many extracurricular interests. I'm an aspiring genetic engineer. I am also a digital and traditional artist. I speak nearly 4 languages; English, Russian, Italian, and learning Armenian (the last two on my own). I worked as a translator and a marketing manager in several companies. I used my high school years very wisely. Yes, my scores were not the best...but I tried. I took many AP subjects and college courses while in high school, including courses students rarely take. </p>

<p>I have a strong, solid background... but I was rejected to every single college. Even schools with 50%+ acceptance rate. This cannot be right. It does not make sense. It's outrageous; unbelievable. All my effort down the drain. I tried so hard in high school...my parents set me on the path to know that I will be attending an Ivy League. I could not even get into RPI.</p>

<p>What could this be? I am turning 20 in a couple of weeks and I am nowhere. The only place that will take me is community college, or the local state school. What happened?... What do I do now? My only plan now is to attend ASU, and try to transfer to a better school next year...hopefully Columbia or NYU (I'm from NY originally)... ah, I feel done. I feel absolutely miserable.</p>

2

<p>You are obviously very bright. Ivy League is hard to get in for everyone. I’m sure there are numerous colleges you could get into. Did you visit any of the schools you applied to? Always important.</p>

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<p>This year, registration for all serious universities has ended…so I have to wait until next year, when I’m 21…but what will be the difference? I didn’t get accepted into any school this year, neither will I next year. Should I go ahead and just apply to community college or state school? </p>

<p>And I haven’t had the chance to visit any of the schools, I moved from NY to AZ almost 3 years ago :(</p>

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<p>What’s wrong with the state school?
Not to be harsh or anything, but getting into an Ivy League school is near impossible. If you didn’t get in this year, your chances next year won’t really be much better. Make the best of your situation and go to your state school!
Or apply to schools with higher acceptance rates. They may not be highly ranked, but if you’re as intelligent as you say you are, you’ll stand out.</p>

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<p>Do you think that I could still transfer to a better school even if I start out at Arizona State University? I want to get back to New York. I’d be extremely happy if I could even get into NYU as a transfer.</p>

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<p>Could you afford NYU? It is extremely pricey.</p>

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<p>Machguy,</p>

<p>If you’re intelligent and accomplished, it really doesn’t matter where you attend college. The cream always rises to the top. I am currently training under an ex-marine earning over $300k/yr. He has a GED.</p>

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<p>I’d say to f Ivies if they won’t accept you and go to a school where u can reach ur full potential & be happy,regarles of prestige. Youre’ exceptinaly bright so don’t worry. even when it seems COMPLETELY impossible, everything plays itself out just perfectly. Widh You luck! Keep Us posted! :-bd </p>

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<p>Not hopeless. You will just take a different path. Go to ASU. Study hard and do well. Since you are an older, unconventional student, you may be happier at ASU since it is big.</p>

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<p>It sounds like you only applied to reach or dream schools. What about a safety? And why do you not seem to consider state colleges “serious”? You are putting down a ton of students who attend community college and state universities.</p>

<p>It is fine to have the dream to head back to NY, but does it have to be during college? How about earning your degree (wherever, maybe right there in AZ) and make the goal to get a job in NY afterward? There is absolutely nothing wrong with attending ASU. Obviously, since their attendance numbers are high.</p>

<p>Can you/your parents afford the tuition numbers of private or OOS colleges? You are not old enough to be considered “independent” so hopefully all of you are on the same page.</p>

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<p>Homeschoolers applying In NY state are supposed to have a high school diploma or pass the GED. One of the only states in the country that require that. Juilliard is a school that could not care less about your transcript, for example, but you have to show that you graduated highschool or the equivalence. That might have been an issue in your applications. It appears as though you applied to all NY state schools of varying selectivities and then only highly selective schools that re not in NY.</p>

<p>Some questions that have arisen are quite relevant, IMO. What are your parents willing and able to pay for college? Private colleges, particularly the ones you have listed have sticker prices of $60K+ and if your family doesn’t qualify for financial aid, that could be a big issue. You should have that talk with your parents.</p>

<p>Do look up the rules regarding a high school certificage, diploma, etc in NY. This was a while ago when I came across that and there may be other schools with similar requirements. </p>

<p>As for transferring to a NY school, again, there is the money issue. If you do well in whatever college, with your test score stats, and if you get the diploma/cert thing taken care of, yes, it is possible to transfer to any number of schools in the state. </p>

<p>The other issue that can arise is that fact that you are a non traditional student with your age. Columbia’s school of General Studies does cater to that. Though it’s not always an issue, this can be one. Schools will want to know what you have been doing with your time between age 18 and now </p>

<p>It wasn’t your test scores that kept you out of some of those schools. Do make sure you aren’t lacking other things in your applications. THough it’s understandable you did not get accepted to the reach schools, there were some schools on your list that were possibilities. One of the draw backs of being homeschooled is that you are doing these apps in isolation, without classmates, school talks, teachers counselors keeping you aware of what you need in your packets. Do look this board and other places in terms of how to get your applications together.</p>

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<p>Thank you for everyone’s reply!</p>

<p>You see, I considered only elite schools because of research opportunities. I am going into a scientific field, and those schools are where all the action is at. You rarely hear about state schools in the news, but you always hear about Columbia publications on new findings and research. I am not going to have a regular day-to-day job with the same duties, but a career in biology. I don’t feel as if I would get far at ASU.</p>

<p>Getting into an Ivy League or similar university would be the most practical for me because my parents are immigrants and have literally no money. None. Those schools offer full tuition and housing for students (no loans, just scholarships and grants) as long as their parents make under a certain amount. I’d qualify for absolutely free education. ASU does not offer that, and I would only be burdened with loans, loans, and loans.</p>

<p>cptofthehouse, I do have a high school diploma (home-schooled students’ parents make it themselves). I’m not sure what I did wrong on my application. I think I’m going to apply to Barrett Honors College (at ASU) as a last resort, as it is the only school in the area that accepts applications until April 30. It is my last chance for this year. </p>

<p>As these forums are pretty much anonymous, I’d also like to mention a fact… I changed my name legally last year in the beginning of 2013. On the Common App, I put “No” to “Have you ever used any other names?” because I want to keep it personal. I was born “female”, as listed incorrectly on my birth certificate, but transitioned to male during my teen years, and finally had a name change at 18. (I was born with XY chromosome, but it did not show with primary characteristics). Could this have caused rejection? </p>

<p>I also hid the fact that I attended a complete bs school “Full Sail University” and have taken out loans ($5000) on my old name. I did not want to count as a transfer student, because I really am not…that school gave me no credits at all…it was unaccredited, and I only stayed 3 months before completely withdrawing and then being burdened with wild costs.</p>

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<p>No, they’re not “supposed” to do either. In order to receive a college diploma in NYS, home schooled students have to meet the high school equivalency, which can be done in several ways. </p>

<p>Students can get a letter of completion from their district superintendent certifying completion of their state requirements.</p>

<p>Unless they’re NYS home schoolers, they can have a diploma from a private or correspondence school accredited by one of these agencies (“The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools,; The New England Association of Colleges and Schools; The North Central Association of Schools and Colleges; the Northwest Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities; the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges”). </p>

<p>They can also have 24-college credits (NYS requires a specific combination of Eng, sci, math, & hist).</p>

<p>NYS home schoolers can meet the requirement by passing 5 specific NYS Regents, but they don’t get diplomas. I suppose it’s possible other states give them, but we don’t have them. </p>

<p>Home schoolers can take the GED, but many of us avoid it because so many seem to be prejudiced against it. </p>

<p>It’s important to note that NYS regs require proving high school equivalency to be AWARDED a NYS college diploma, NOT to be ADMITTED to a NYS college.</p>

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<p>This isn’t any more accurate than saying every public school student is guided in the application process by guidance counselors and teachers. From what I’ve read on these threads, public school families do applications in isolation too. I run a NYS home school network that runs south from Albany to NYC, and east from Syracuse to Connecticut. We have hundreds of families who are happy to share information with anyone who wants it. Do some families work in isolation? Sure. But it’s not a given because they’re home schooled.</p>

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<p>OP, have you checked the sticky threads to see if any schools have automatic admission and/or aid for a student with your stats?</p>

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<p>@machoguy, go to community college and then transfer.

By this logic, there is nothing wrong with attending the University of Phoenix.</p>

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<p>There’s too much going on here to comment right now. You need to do a clinical postmortem and try to figure out what is the issue why no acceptances. Eligibility issues, transcripts, essay, etc? Not enough realistic colleges? At least it sounds like you are working on Plan B.</p>

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<p>You must not lie about facts on your materials. They may be in rights to deny admission and they would reserve the right to expel you. This is so that records can be checked in the national student clearinghouse and with federal aid to be sure there is no double dipping and any number of other reasons. Even if you don’t have intent to defraud, presenting false paperwork may show that you can’t be trusted to show integrity in any other matter. If discrepancies were found.it is possible you got a decline with no explanation. Don’t do this going forward. Call the school to ask about confidentiality with regard to your admission materials.</p>

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<p>Now you have gone into the ‘intent to defraud’ area and are digging yourself in a legal hole not just with the schools but with the Federal Government loan program. Full Sail is accredited*, although it is a ‘for profit’ university, it is not the worst. You would have not been given credits if you didn’t finish the classes, and yes at any college you still pay for the classes you drop out of.</p>

<p>When you apply for another college, THEY determine if you are a transfer or not and if you get credits transferred or not. You must supply this information. Call Arizona, you can be anonymous, to ask them if you have to apply as a transfer or not if it isn’t apparent from the website.</p>

<p>*The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, a national accreditor, recognizes Full Sail. But it is not recognized by a regional accreditor or by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. As a result, most traditional colleges would not honor credits earned by transferring Full Sail students or those who attempt to continue their studies after earning an associate degree from the university.</p>

<p>The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, a national accreditor, recognizes Full Sail. But it is not recognized by a regional accreditor or by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. As a result, most traditional colleges would not honor credits earned by transferring Full Sail students or those who attempt to continue their studies after earning an associate degree from the university.</p>

<ul>
<li>It does not have an accreditation from a Regional agency, but that is not the same as Unaccredited. It is accredited by a national career colleges agency and credits are unlikely to transfer to Regionally accredited university.</li>
</ul>