<p>Behavioral adaptation is a HUGE part of school (including college) success. But, I disagree with you that it is the only thing demostrated by an "A" in a given class. Clearly, it indicates at least some knowledge of the subject taken, in a more obejective setting than a home school. Not a perfectly objective setting, just, on average, more objective.</p>
<p>^"Behavioral adaptation. . . success."
I homeschool so that my children will NOT adapt to behaviors found at public schools.</p>
<p>Generally there are no stiff requirements for homeschoolers.
Simply submit what you have done and who you are - just like public school kids.</p>
<p>I suspect many share your motivation for homeschooling (although that was not my reasoning). Nonetheless, when your child enters college, to be successful, he/she will adapt their behavior to the norms present. That is, they will show up in class, learn the info expected, interact with professors and students in the expected manner, manage time in the expected manner, etc.</p>
<p>If your child wants to go to a specific school then do what it takes to get them in. If that means 5 SATII's then so be it. So what if it is unfair, life is unfair.
My older son got into a large Christian University and they did not ask for anything different even though he was homeschooled. The younger one wanted to go to the Naval Academy. There were many hoops and obsticals to overcome including $7000 for a prep school. It was all worth it in the end and taught perserverence when working toward a goal.</p>
<p>Hi, new here.</p>
<p>I don't mind the extra admissions requirements in terms of tests, etc. They are what they are and the schools get to set them. In fact, I find it helpful when they are really explicit about what they want to see, so that way it's easier to know they won't look at your app and toss it aside for lack of the kind of supporting information they feel they need.</p>
<p>I was however looking at a specific college's forum here on College Confidential just now because my daughter's best friend (homeschooled) is planning to apply there, and an admissions officer posted that he expects homeschoolers to explain why they choose to homeschool if reasonable public education was available. Geesh. I hope they hold private schoolers to the same standard! (I'm thinkin' they don't.)</p>
<p>
[quote]
an admissions officer posted that he expects homeschoolers to explain why they choose to homeschool
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Which college does he represent?</p>
<p>He's from Tufts. I get the feeling that he's just really young, with limited exposure to alternative education, and has little to go on about the different ways people can homeschool, so he naturally, I guess, assumes the stereotype of a kid locked in the house, never setting foot in a classroom. I think the posts are in a thread called "things you don't have to worry about" or something to that effect. It's on the Tufts board.</p>
<p>Georgia Tech:
"What factors led to your decision to home school?"</p>
<p><a href="http://www.admiss.gatech.edu/homeschool/%5B/url%5D">www.admiss.gatech.edu/homeschool/</a></p>
<p>GTech appears to have set the admissions bar higher for home school students.</p>
<p>Canadian universities have even stricter policies:
<a href="http://www.ontariohomeschool.org/universityCanada.shtml#McGill%5B/url%5D">http://www.ontariohomeschool.org/universityCanada.shtml#McGill</a></p>
<p>Believe it or not, Georgia Tech used to require 5 SAT II tests of home school applicants. They've never required SAT IIs (now Subject Tests) of other applicants. This at a school that accepts about 70% of applicants.
I think they likely have received complaints and now believe they are being more reasonable.
While the tone still doeesn't feel friendly, I don't think it is very difficult to meet their stated requirements.
I wouldn't feel intimidated. They likely have had some positive experiences with home school students by now.</p>
<p>My D, a HS sophomore, is electing to homeschool her junior and senior years. She has taken private voice lessons for 4 years, is in a Fine Arts High School half day now and will go full-time the next two years in theatre and voice. We will have to pick up the rest of our academic requirements on-line thru a state-operated program. Plus she is at a local college working on her French, German and Italian. (opera) I have emailed a couple of counselors to try to understand if what she is doing will be viewed as a positive or will we be jumping thru hoops because it's not the norm. She has a good resume on vocal/theatre accomplishments and her grades are good. Any experience in this area would be welcomed.</p>
<p>My advice would be to visit the websites of the colleges to which she may be applying. Look at their admissions requirements and plan her courses accordingly.</p>
<p>You may want to contact some college admissions people at a school or two. I would wait until the craziness of this season passes; maybe late April.</p>
<p>Also, try posting on the music site to see if others there have taken a similar path.</p>
<p>I think homeschooling in general, at least in this state, requires much more of the student, and certainly of the parent, than brick-n-mortar schools. For instance, every year, we have to teach PA History, Drug Awareness, and other subjects. In addition, while the local high school requires only 2 years of Math, one of which must be algebra, as a homeschooling one must teach math every year. So, there are many more hoops to jump through.</p>
<p>I have found that a sit-down discussion with admissions will generally open their eyes to the possibilities of homeschooling. A great portfolio of work also goes a long way toward opening doors. But, when meeting with the adcom, make sure you ask for an extended interview - say 2 hours. Then they can have an in depth discussion with you and your child, and determine for themselves how much, how well, your child has done.</p>
<p>Also, even with state colleges which were usually standoffish during the applications process, once they meet your child and review their materials face-to-face, the adcoms usually looked quite favorably on the well-spoken homeschooled applicant.</p>
<p>My son is currently a trumpet performance major at Indiana University. He homeschooled high school part time, also taking some classes at the local high school and some at the community college. He had no problems with his applications. One school did mention that they usually were suspicious of homeschoolers, but since he had good test scores and had taken college classes already, they were quite happy to admit him. Some colleges seemed to favor him because of his homeschooling. Others didn't seem to care one way or the other.</p>
<p>If your daughter is planning to major in music performance, as it appears from her activities, the audition will be the determining factor at most colleges/conservatories, so I doubt the homeschooling will be a problem at all.</p>
<p>I'm a Junior in HS and am homeschooled. I'm aiming high for colleges next year but want to make sure I do not have any holes... I have a high GPA, tons of AP, a lot of reputable recommendations, am a member of MENSA, an active Volunteer, hold a part time job, am a cancer survivor, and am a working actress in Hollywood. But, I have yet to take SAT/ ACT/ SAT IIs. I know some of these attributes make me unique, but fear I will not score extraordinarily well on SATs, etc... How important are they, when I exceed in everything else, plus some? </p>
<p>Do I need to do anything else? Am I on the right track? Is any of this relevent? Help! Thanks! =)</p>
<p>Well, in spite of what some may argue, the SAT test is one that can be prepped for with review & practice books. They are widely available. You can probably do quite well if you give yourself enough time to prepare yourself for the kinds of questions asked.</p>
<p>It's best to take your SAT Subject Tests (SAT IIs) just after finishing course work on the same subject, while the information is fresh in your memory. However, definitely pick up a book of practice tests for those too.</p>
<p>As to how much these scores matter -- that will vary by college. Some say they look a bit more closely even at homeschoolers test scores because there's often less "objective" assessment of their course work. I don't think that's always true, but certainly it's true in many instances.</p>
<p>I'm going to bump this out of a semi desperate need for help.</p>
<p>I read through this thread, and I saw texas137 say this: "Those folks would not associate the term "homeschooler" with someone attending community college full time, for instance, but we might."</p>
<p>So what exactly might someone doing this put on a college application? Currently my main form of schooling is a full time course load at my community college, and this will continue until I go on to a four year university. I'm also self studying for 5 AP courses right now. My parents are completely uninvolved in both the schooling and the college search. Is there a definitive list of colleges most receptive to homeschooling that I can find? My school and personal life have been really really turbulent over the past several years, and while I have things on track for the most part now, I didn't so much in the past. Any help would be really really appreciated.</p>
<p>My sympathies about your current situation. It sounds like you are challenging yourself, and that is always good. In an application to college, you will routinely have to submit transcripts of all previous secondary or higher education classes, so the community college transcripts will be part of your admission file. Self-reporting AP test scores will also be persuasive evidence that you are challenging yourself academically. </p>
<p>We've had a rough year here because my dad had YEARS of being paralyzed and helpless before he died last spring. Our "homeschooling" had our children doing a lot of things on their own while my wife and I cared for my dad. We're still catching up from that. It sounds like your situation is rough too, but keep hope, apply widely, and compare offers of admission once you get them, as I'm sure you will.</p>
<p>Christi, I'm going to PM you with more information, but a quick answer is nowadays all schools are receptive to homeschoolers, and taking community college classes is one well-accepted way to homeschool.</p>
<p>THANK YOU!</p>
<p>I definitely appreciate that. :)</p>