UF. Home School vs High School grad.

<p>So I've got a difficult decision to make. I'm currently Home Schooled, have a 5.0, 11 AP credits and am actively involved in many different clubs, mock trial, fundraising groups, etc. For a long time I thought I'd be going to public school by this point. I am enrolled in an online program that allows home school students to gain regular high school credits like any other kid would, besides physically being at a school. That would all be great, except the program doesn't grant diplomas and I'd still have to get my GED. I don't want to do that for the obvious connotations and typical view of people who have one in place of a traditional HS diploma.</p>

<p>In order to remedy that situation, I assumed I would just go to the local High School for senior year (or the second semester of such) and all my credits would transfer over. In fact, I was promised by administration on the public HS's end that they would accept all credits earned. The problem is that they don't, and a close friend of mine just had several AP credits turned into something similar at the general level, because the school doesn't offer those classes. I obviously wouldn't want to lose all those APs.</p>

<p>In addition to that, most of the AP/DC students at my school are applying to UF. I'm afraid that despite my GPA and involvement, I will not compare to these other kids. I've heard multiple times that UF pools the applicants from a specific school and will only take a certain number from each, instead of pooling all applications received. I don't want to worry about that. Does UF accept many home school students? Are the requirements any different? What should I do?</p>

<p>What are your SAT/ACT scores? I think this may tip the scales in favor or going one way or the other.</p>

<p>1800 SAT. So kind of meh. I know that many kids at the high school will have better scores than me.</p>

<p>I would go to high school and not do the home school/GED route with your scores. Or try to get the scores up. And if you “lose” your AP’s, you can always include your homeschooling transcript with your application and explain in the additional information that you did take the AP classes but where not calculated as such because they were not offered at your high school. I would definitely get into high school though if you don’t want a GED, and you can’t raise your test scores. It may add a level of credibility to your application. But I am no expert. I just know that a girl here got burned in your situation by staying home schooled with poor ACT scores (25) and her mom said she should have had her graduate from the brick and mortar high school.</p>

<p>Certainly there’s a difference between a 23 and a 28, though. I wouldn’t call my scores incredible by any means, but they’re not “poor”. UF accepts SAT scores until December, and I’m pretty sure the next testing date is very soon. I’m actually going in for surgery in a few hours. I don’t know that I’ll be in any condition to take the test or return to school, or if standby is even available.</p>

<p>As a hypothetical, what would be the better test score range to send my transcript from home school, do you think? I guess my only reservation with it is getting compared to other kids. I would think that if I were home schooled, I’d be looked at as more of an “individual”, unless what you’re saying is they’ll lump me in with the other home schooled kids. In which case - oh crap.</p>

<p>I would say 32+ but I’m no expert. Just going by what parents talk about here who’s kids are homeschooled. Oh and I don’t think your score is “poor” just that the 25 that the girl I was referencing got is not too good. Good luck on your surgery. :)</p>