<p>I and my family are way below the poverty line, I have ADHD, and I am homeschooled. I've applied to several Ivy Leagues (Cornell,Brown, Harvard, Yale, Princeton )and some other safety schools (Duke, Vandy, etc). I've looked at some other posts where they say that the colleges are need-blind and stuff like that, but I'm not sure if these apply to me-it looks like I have three strikes against me. I don't think all Ivy Leagues are liberal enough to tolerate homeschooling, and if I don't get full or near-full scholarships, then I can't go.</p>
<p>I guess my questions are: am I disadvantaged enough to get discriminated against in the admissions process? And do the Ivy League schools discriminate against homeschoolers?</p>
<p>Maybe I'm hyperventilating over nothing, but I really am anxious to know if I'm screwed or not.</p>
<p>I have no idea about college admissions to begin with. Personally, however, I think you should try not to worry about it. I assume you have finished your applications already and there is absolutely nothing you can do (assuming you are not going to cure cancer in the next couple of weeks). You will soon enough whether you were accepted or not. Even then you will probably not know for what reasons, no matter the decision. </p>
<p>Zzwicker, I think all the ivy league schools do admit and provide aid to kids who are homeschooled. There is a homeschool forum here on CC you could look through for information. Also the college websites generally list requirements for home schoolers. I would imagine they expect high academic achievement and high test scores from home schoolers just as they do from everyone else. Being home schooled, you may also have the additional burden of demonstrating you have taken full advantage of your academic freedom with compelling studies and activities.</p>
<p>I don’t think they will discriminate against you for being from a modest background. Many (if not all) of these schools actively recruit economically disadvantaged students. </p>
<p>For most applicants, Duke and Vanderbilt are not considered ‘safety’ schools. Did you also apply to some local public colleges?</p>
<p>Thanks, arwarw, book05. I guess you have a point when you say Duke and Vanderbilt aren’t safety schools, but my parents would REALLY like me to get into at least one. They didn’t go to college at all, you see. But yeah, I have applied to several state colleges, like UT Austin and UTSA (I got relatives in San Antonio/Austin area) …if that’s what you mean by ‘local public colleges’.</p>
<p>@arwarw: How would I demostrate I’ve taken full advantage of my academic freedom? Do you mean extracurriculars?</p>
<p>You sound like you have a few chips on your shoulder. </p>
<p>“I’ve looked at some other posts where they say that the colleges are need-blind and stuff like that, but I’m not sure if these apply to me” Your homeschool status won’t affect your need-base financial aid. If you need a lot of money, I hope you and your family have used the online web calculators the colleges provide to estimate what you’re likely to get.</p>
<p>“I don’t think all Ivy Leagues are liberal enough to tolerate homeschooling”. Those schools aren’t often accused of not being liberal enough. </p>
<p>“do the Ivy League schools discriminate against homeschoolers”. I don’t think you’re asking the right question, and certainly not with the right attitude. You’ve chosen to take an unusual, individual, educational path. It’s up to you to show the schools that you’ve taken a very rigorous and advanced program, and that you have the preparation to be successful in their program. Have you taken college classes with success? Or have you taken some AP tests to show your level of achievement in your areas of interest? Are your standardized test scores very high? They’ll probably be looking at these external academic measures to help validate the evaluations you have from your family. Have you demonstrated passion, involvement, and leadership in your areas of interest? Have you won awards or other recognition? Do you have strong letters of recommendation?</p>
<p>@mathyone: If you mean am I holding a grudge against these universities, no I am not. I am regurgitating all the fears I and my relatives and family have about these colleges from the beginning of the world to date. I have taken no AP’s, I have no awards/recognitions. I have several recommendation letters from librarians and a few teachers that know me. I have high ACT scores - 34 my first time out- and high SAT 2 scores, 790 for Math 2, 800 for Biology, 800 for World History. I have taken no accredited college courses from a college. I have taken COLLEGE LEVEL courses at home (Calculus, Physics, etc). My extra-curriculars are not sports. My family and I have no money to spare for these things. I have helped several friends code their websites (personal blogs, political websites, etc) and I am an expert in Python, Perl, Ruby, JS. </p>
<p>@MaineLonghorn: Em…well, I have only been living in Texas for 3 1/4 years to date. Does that count? </p>
<p>@arwarw: How would I demostrate I’ve taken full advantage of my academic freedom? Do you mean extracurriculars?</p>
<p>Many home schooled kids are home schooled because of heavy time commitments in sports, work or the arts that can’t be worked in to a traditional school schedule. For example, someone training for the Olympics or someone who works in theatre or television often needs the flexibility of home schooling. Or maybe a deep interest in two or three academic areas; where the student can go much deeper than a regular school schedule might allow - with research and publication. Or heavy involvement with the local community or politics; Or caring for a disabled and/or dependent family member. Etc… </p>
<p>@arwarw: I guess your reason of a deep interest might work for me. I’ve studied heavily in International Studies, 'cause that’s what I wanna do, like a kind of diplomat/activist. But if that doesn’t work…is ‘religious reasons’ a reason? </p>
<p>@oldmom4896: I did read all the financial aid pages for my colleges, but between a sprained ankle (very painful) and my mom’s vicious bout of flu, I kind of forgot. Temporarily, anyway. </p>
<p>ZZwicker. You have impressive test scores and a very intriguing background; but I worry about your writing skills and style from these few posts, but I understand it’s just a forum and you’re writing informally. </p>
<p>You have applied to some of the toughest schools in the world to get admitted to, and it’s hard for everbody from all almost all backgrounds. There is really nothing more to do now but try to relax and wait. After you get your results in April, regroup and perhaps come back to the forum for advice on your next step. </p>
<p>@arwarw: Thanks. I can write real fancy when I have to (ie., my admissions essays) but generally I don’t around my friends or family. In fact I don’t even speak English to them, just Kannada or maybe Marathi. My dad speaks perfect English, but my mom prefers Kannada. I had to learn English as a second-actually third- language, and my dad made sure I learned all the rules or Standard English, so I know English well. I guess I could try writing more formal on this forum. And thanks for the reassurance. You and the others were really helpful. As for returning to this forum, I certainly will.</p>
<p>I wish you had come to this forum before applying. Some schools will give extremely generous financial aid, some covering the entire cost of attendance, typically based upon extremely high test scores. It would have been wise for you to apply to some of those schools in case you don’t get enough need-based aid. I expect the colleges will think your test scores validate the rigor of what you’ve accomplished in your home-schooling classes. An unusual cultural background and speaking unusual languages will also help you stand out. I hope you discussed that and also your computer work on your application. Good luck.</p>
<p>@mathyone: I thought the Ivies gave generous financial aid, but I may be wrong. Remembering such details has never really been my strong point. I have applied to several colleges I’ve never mentioned here as well. My Common Application includes my computer work and collaboration on the political website my friends and I work on. Please note I have never stated the details of my application on this forum. However, I appreciate your concern about my application. </p>
<p>Yes, the ivies are known for giving generous aid based on financial need. Some other schools give generous aid based on other things–sometimes it is “merit” aid for very high standardized test scores. I am glad you applied to some other schools as well, since the schools you mentioned are very hard even for students with scores like yours to get into.</p>
<p>@entomom: Thank you for that clarification. Also to mathyone: Most of the universities/colleges I have applied to do not give merit-based aid, except for the University of Chicago. </p>
<p>Please have your parents visit the financial aid pages of the colleges you’ve applied to and get the aid estimates. If the numbers they are seeing do not seem affordable to your family, you might still have time to put in a few other applications. </p>