Unique Scenario: What do I do?

Applying to College
1

Hi College Confidential, here is my situation:

In 9th grade I was homeschooled. I took classes and had several private tutors and studied all of the core subjects (did math on Khan Academy, for instance). For 10th grade, I started at a private school. It went fine for the first year, but in May of the first year, they announced they were moving to a location around 2 and a half hours from where I live for the next academic year.

Regretfully, I decided to stay in the school and not to switch schools. This year (junior year), I have been commuting over 5 hours a day (by train, bus, and car) since August and it has been hell. I commonly get home at 9 PM and have absolutely no time for anything outside of school (I have around 2 and a half hours of homework a day, and I fall asleep on the train due to exhaustion). To add to all of this, the school’s size has decreased significantly (from 40 in the first location to 20 in the second location). Next year, they are predicting that they will have around 8 students.

From my perspective, there is very little point in commuting over 5 hours a day to go to a school (if you can even call it that; it will have as many kids in the whole school as my homeschool study group next year!) that will offer barely any classes that I want and is a pain in the ass to commute to. It would make much more sense in my opinion to save thirty-thousand dollars a year and just homeschool again. The only issue I have with this option is from the college admissions standpoint.

To delve slightly deeper into my individual situation, I have maintained a 3.7 or so GPA for my 10th and 11th grade at the school and have taken an AP class and some honors classes. In addition, I got a 30 on the ACT (with absolutely no prep, I barely even knew what the ACT was, I have not been in the loop, I will study and retake for a 32 or higher hopefully). I have some interesting extracurriculars as well that I can put on an application (I volunteer 4 hours every Sunday at my temple, I started a series of websites in 7th grade that achieved over a million hits in the time they were active, I operate an eBay store in the summer, and I will be helping my uncle, a Wharton professor, with research this summer) I have no grades from my freshman year of homeschooling and no formal credits. If I were to homeschool in senior year, I would likely self-study several AP classes (I would get the study guides) and study all of the other core classes (probably online through VHS or something like that).

My question ultimately is: How will this look to a college admissions officer? Will I look flaky and inconsistent having homeschooled in 9th grade, going to a school for 10th and 11th grade, and then having homeschooled again in 12th grade? Is this situation one that I could explain on a college application in some way (and make it sound reasonable)? Some schools I am looking at, just so you have an idea:

Connecticut College
Trinity College (legacy)
Haverford College (legacy, but still a humongous reach, I know)
University of Connecticut
University of Vermont (safety I hope)

I am really sorry for the extremely long-winded post. I appreciate any and all answers I get.

2

The Common App has a section for additional information–that’s where I’d put a brief explanation of your schooling history. Just facts (I was homeschooled; then I went to private school; then they moved and downsized, so I returned to homeschooling).

3

If you are worried about homeschooling? Why not try public schools or other private schools in the area, if they are available? Or boarding school?
I don’t think you will look flaky or inconsistent if you switch to homeschooling senior year; admissions officers will understand the problems with commuting, class size and classes. I’m. It very fanaliar with those colleges or homeschooling, so I am unable to give you advice in that respect, but I can tell you that you should NOT attend that private school if you have to commute that long and pay such a high price; it doesn’t seem worth it at all.

4

With real ACT studying you probably could get to a 36. I went up 6 points from my first practice test. Do you have trouble finishing the sections? If not that is a good sign. The English one can be learned easily from a class. Math and Reading not as much but can still be imporved with practice. Since you are a legacy of sorts at Penn, may be worth applying.

5

I tried the public school for my region for a week in 9th grade and it didn’t work out. There are no private schools in my area that accept applications for senior year, sadly.

6

I had no problem finishing the sections. My mom got me the red ACT book and I am going to start studying soon. My uncle has encouraged me to apply to Penn, but he doesn’t know my grades or course rigor (which aren’t on par for Penn).

7

No, it doesn’t look flaky. You can return to home schooling or try your local public school again. As long as you explain your situation, you’ll be fine. There’s a home school section of this forum which you can access for more information.

8

I think there are actual online AP classes you can take. Is there a ACT tutor that you can get? I think most people from more populated areas who score well have tutors. If your parents can afford private school (sorry do not mean to assume) they can afford a tutor to help with the ACTs. Also did you try SATs (practice test, PLEASE do not use a real test to decide if it works for you). As for Penn, you definitely will not get in if you do not apply. A 30 without studying can be a 34-36 with studying.

9

I found some online virtual AP classes from some VHS program that look decent. Do you think it is worthwhile to do that or just to buy some study books and self-study them?

I think getting a tutor is probably a good idea, money isn’t an issue. I took the PSAT and got a 194. My school’s counselor recommended I take the ACT as she thought the PSAT was low. I will probably end up applying to Penn, I don’t really have much to lose, even though I don’t think I have a shot.

10

For colleges, it’s worthwhile if you can combine
1° seminar-style classes that you build yourself or with your parents’ help. Include 4-6 full-length book readings, fiction and/or nonfiction. Be ready to submit the “syllabus” for the classes. This is very effective with colleges, who like to see that you read complex material at length, and not just snippets from textbooks.
2° CC or online learning.
CC as a dual-enrolled/PSEO student (ie., taking CC classes for the purpose of HS graduation) tends to be free or very cheap and proves to colleges that you can do well in college-level classes. Indeed (but unsurprisingly), the best predictor of college success is success in college classes ;-). Indeed, even if CC classes are not as “deep” as 4-year classes, they do move at a faster pace. Additionally, they allow you to accelerate (ie., calculus 1 is a semester-course at a CC, whereas it’s a year-long course in HS. Therefore you can take another level of math in the Spring. This works with all sequential classes, ie., foreign language, etc.) and does provide with more potential variety over the year.
Online is more flexible and does provide external grading certifying your level, so it’s a useful complement.
3° AP classes with online support. Beside VHS, there’s also FLVS and a bunch others.

Getting an ACT tutor is a GREAT investment.

I agree that Penn seems basically out of reach, but you can always apply (ED? But … that’d be potentially wasting your ED card). You do need to build your college list from the ground up, ie., start looking for safeties. Since you like Penn, they could be Temple, Pitt, and a few others. (You’ll cross them out in the Fall.) If you’re religious/homeschooled, think of the religious conservative schools like Eastern, Moravian, Houghton… which would be safeties and are very understanding with homeschoolers.
Then add a few matches (where your stats place you at or near the top 25% threshold for stats). Once you’ve got about 2-3 in the safety group (2 at a minimum, but since your path is unusual 3 may be better), and 3-5 in the “match” group, you can add as many reaches as you wish/can afford.

Go to the Homeschool forum on this website, adults there will have LOTS of advice.

11

The concept of taking community college classes was one I had not thought of and is a great idea.

I visited Penn, but I wasn’t a huge fan of it. It was in a 100% urban setting and was VERY large (especially in terms of my experience, having never been in a school with more than 40 kids in a grade). I generally liked the smaller liberal arts colleges I visited (especially Haverford, but Connecticut College was nice, too). I wouldn’t be interested in looking at religious conservative schools. We didn’t homeschool for religious reasons; my family isn’t very religious.

As a general point, from a college admissions perspective, do you believe that I would be better off just toughing it out for one more year at my current school or homeschooling senior year?

12

Definitely homeschooling for senior year, especially if you can do the combination above (ie., rigorous seminars with full-length reading + dual-enrolled CC classes/online classes.)

I listed Pitt and Temple because I thought you might like Penn because it’s big and urban… so, obviously, disregard these two! :smiley:

In the NYS/PA/OH area, there are literally hundreds of colleges. Since it sounds like money is not a huge concern (ie., “your parents can afford college even if merit aid would be nice”) it should be easy for you to find good safeties/likelies and matches.
Haverford is a reach-for-everyone, and Connecticut College can be a reach or a match (probably a reach).
So, what about safeties such as… Goucher? Guilford? Allegheny? Capital OH? John Carroll OH? Wheaton, MA? Wooster? Susquehanna? Ursinus? Hobart&William Smith? St Michael’s (VT)? Even Wells, since small sizes don’t scare you?
What about Dickinson, Muhlenberg for matches?

13

I am not really sure about schools like Goucher, Allegheny, and the other ones you mentioned. I know a student from my school who is going to Goucher next year and he has a 1600 on the SAT and terrible grades (definitely lower than a 3.0). Schools in that range get a really bad rap from people I’ve talked to.

I’m not necessarily disagreeing with you, but I’m just curious why you think Connecticut College is a reach? I was looking at schools like Connecticut College, Trinity College, and UConn as matches, but if they aren’t I would definitely want to know so I can adjust the scope of the schools I’m looking at.

EDIT: just saw the edit you made to your post (wasn’t there when I started writing this post :slight_smile: ). Dickinson is a school I was considering actually and it looked interesting. Hobart and William Smith is another interesting option. A friend of mine with similar stats to mine got in with significant merit aid, so that could be something I could consider looking at more.

14

The idea of a safety is not that you’re the average student there, but rather that you’re in the top 10%. You need to find several schools that you KNOW you’ll get into. Goucher and Allegheny, and some others, are good LACs for top students interested in colleges such as Trinity and ConnColl - they have a similar "vibe"and are much easier to get into. The fact a student you know got in with a 1600 may have made it a reach for them, and they lucked out thanks to filling an institutional need or terrific essays. You don’t have to like these colleges, but you must find a couple like them for your list.

UConn is another safety, and the Honors College a match; Connecticut and Trinity would be a match if you managed to keep A/B+ grades in community college or virtual classes + increase your ACT slightly, but since they’re quite selective, a 3.7 with one AP + some honors and a 30 ACT (ie., what you have right now) would make them a temporary reach (until other things improve). Better treat them as such.

15

Fair enough. Thanks for the advice.

16

@zorloth, What state are you in? If it’s NYS, you’ll need proof of high school equivalency to get a college degree. My son was able to get a letter from our local superintendent because we homeschooled all 4 years in the same district. You can show equivalency by taking the TASC/GED, or by taking a particular combination of cc classes (24 credits spread over certain subject areas), or passing 5 Regents.

If you’re not in NYS, check your state education regs and different college websites to find out what’s required of homeschoolers. I think taking courses at your local cc is a great idea. Make sure you have enough science (w/labs), foreign language, etc. to fulfill college admission requirements. I don’t think having pass/fail grades instead of numerical grades for 9th grade will matter, especially if you have grades for 10th & 11th, and 2 semesters of college credits. @MYOS1634 will know for sure, but I think a semester long college course is counted like a full year course at a high school, so if you’re missing a year of lab science you only need to take one course at a cc, not two.

17

I’m in Connecticut. I am going to check up on the state laws. Thanks for the advice.

18

I strongly encourage you to switch back to homeschool. You need a life beyond sitting for 5 hours a day just to get to school. And “school” may end up only being 8 kids!

We are a homeschool family, and the freedom to indulge in ECs and personal hobbies is a great stress relief to balance the rigorous academics. (We have our kids attend a one day a week homeschool study center, so there is great discussion and assigned homework. They read and discuss college level books.)

Dual Enrollment at a local college may be the best route for your situation. You need to make sure you are enrolling as a high school student. Otherwise you will lose your freshman status and the opportunity for most of the freshman merit scholarships.

If you can tell us your home state, there may be homeschoolers here that can help direct you to the laws and regulations of your state.

Letters of Recommendation can include background for your education choices and changes. And I highly recommend you plan for some college interviews, so your personality and intelligence can shine. You’ll have the chance to explain your school choices and tell some stories about the opportunities you have had to explore more in depth with homeschooling.

If you have the financial means, this might be one of those unique situations where an independent college consultant could be of help to your family. Narrowing the list to colleges that are more welcoming of homeschoolers and others who didn’t take a straight and narrow path, guiding you to ACT prep that best suits your style of learning, helping you with college essays–an independent college consultant can help you focus and keep you on track to make sure your courses are documented accurately and meet the legal standards of your state.

Good luck to you.

EDITED: Just saw your post that you are in Connecticut. Don’t know anything about their homeschool laws or opportunities for dual enrollment. Google and see what you can find, and also post questions in the homeschool forum here on CC.

19

Thanks for the advice! I agree that a big part of the appeal of homeschooling is the greater freedom in terms of extracurriculars. I’m going to do some more research into Connecticut homeschooling laws and I’ll check out the homeschooling forum. Thanks again!

20

The opinions of colleges and specifically of admissions counselors towards homeschooling can vary greatly. Check out the college websites and see how they mention homeschooling. Some will brag that XX % of their last freshman class were homeschooled. Some make admissions easier/harder on homeschoolers.

We spoke with one ad com at a college fair who told us it was okay that my D was a homeschooler. “We have remedial centers on campus and we’ll work with her to bring her up to college academic standards.” Needless to say, my D did not apply to that college.