<p>I have an unusual academic background and have opted to be home-schooled this year, i.e., my senior year as I am having to balance work alongside studies (I SHALL earn a high school diploma after completion of school). How many SAT Subject Tests would I be required to take for the Ivy League schools and the other top notch colleges and universities?
Do I need to take more subject tests than the no. of tests regular applicants have to take?</p>
<p>P.S. I am also taking AP courses as a home-schooler.</p>
<p>Three is the maximum number required (Georgetown), but many of the top schools require two. With students who are homeschooled–or have “an unusual academic background” as you have indicated, the standardized testing is a good way to verify what you have learned. Having said that, AP tests will give you credit, so if my child were in your situation, I would have her concentrate on AP and take however many SATIIs are necessary for the schools she wanted to apply to.</p>
<p>You may want to post your question to homeschoolers.</p>
<p>Students who have done their entire high school via homeschooling sometimes take extra SAT2s to prove that their curriculum is the equivalent of high school, but I see no need for that in your case. No one is going to expect you to have had enough of a senior year course under your belt by the middle of the year to take SATs in the courses you are taking this year. I’d take three - at least last year that was how many Georgetown and Harvard required three - no one else required more than two. It doesn’t sound like you need to worry about it, but some engineering programs will ask for math and a specific science (usually chemistry or physics).</p>
<p>Maybe you should ask this on the homschooling forum.</p>
<p>It was my impression that for homeschoolers the more SAT IIs you have, the better, as it is the only “objective” way for the colleges to see that you are adequately prepared. I would guess that this is even more so for international students.</p>
<p>APs can give you credit, but the scores are not in soon enough for college admissions, so they do not replace SAT IIs in that regard.</p>
<p>I almost forgot to mention that my school (correspondence) will be issuing me a transcript and granting me a high school diploma after graduation. The school also has a CEEB code. Does this make my situation any different from that of other home-schoolers?</p>
<p>Oh…phew! In that case, should I, at all, be using the CommonApp Home School supplement? Even for the AP courses, I’ll have people/a local organisation tutoring me and shall, hopefully, be able to submit a transcript to colleges.</p>
<p>Also,would you be aware of any distance learning programs for gifted students? I’ve passed the entrance test at IMACS, but the course (as well as the ones offered by EPGY) seem to be too expensive.</p>
<p>The advantage of using the homeschool supplement to the Common App is that the “homeschool supervisor” submits the Secondary School Report and writes the counselor evaluation. If you don’t have a high school counselor at this point who can submit these, then you should consider submitting the homeschool supplement.</p>
<p>My kids were homeschooled and I submitted the Secondary School Report along with the Homeschool Supplement. (This was a few years ago, and I’m not sure if it’s organized exactly the same way with the current Common App.)</p>
<p>Along with the homeschool supplement you would submit your transcript from the high school and also the correspondence school. You are not technically a homeschooler, but might be served by using those options with the Common App.</p>
<p>My son took 3 SAT Subject Tests and got into a very selective school (he only needed two). But as others have pointed out, check each college’s website for definitive info.</p>
<p>Aleks.com is a great option for math through pre-calc. It is self-paced, doesn’t make you learn what you already know, is inexpensive, and has no commitment.</p>
<p>Thank you so much everyone! I’m having a look at the Aleks.com courses. Can anyone suggest other ways to make my application stand out/ improve my credentials?</p>
<p>Most universities and colleges have summer programs for high school students, do any offer fall/winter programs?</p>
<p>You can do dual enrollment at most community or state colleges, meaning you get both high school and college credit for the courses you take.</p>
<p>You can also take classes as a non-matriculated student in many schools, often through continuing education departments, including both online and on campus classes.</p>
!</p>