Unusual Circumstances?

Applying to College
21

<p>Some comments referring back to your original post, just to clarify.</p>

<p>I don’t know if you understand the concept of need based aid. It is dependent on a formula with your income and assets. It has nothing to do with whether a student is homeschooled or not.</p>

<p>Need blind is a separate concept. That means they don’t consider need when making admissions decisions. That has nothing to do with homeschooled or not.</p>

<p>So if you are truly low income you will get a lot of aid, if accepted. You should run the Net Price Calculator to get an estimate. </p>

<p>Now getting accepted is another story. Many qualified students do not get accepted because there are not enough spaces for qualified students. So they look for unusual or interesting students who stand out, or who they think will contribute to scholarship, student life, diversity and other aspects the universities value.</p>

<p>So, as mentioned, the colleges are going to look at and evaluate the qualify of your home schooling and preparedness. Also the same thing they look at with everyone, test scores, extracurricular activities where you show your interested and accomplishments whatever they may be. Essays. The colleges may be very excited to find a talented homeschooled student. It can make you stand out. But you have a certain burden of proof. </p>

<p>Duke and Vanderbilt cannot be considered safety schools for anyone because they too have a very low admission rate. True safety schools are where you are sure to be accepted and can afford. Usually you will be in the very top rank of accepted students, or where your grades and scores ensure automatic acceptance at the few colleges that give automatic acceptances. Sometimes this is your instate flagship, but other times those are too selective.</p>

<p>I suppose you are going to like to think of it as discrimination if you don’t get accepted, but the admission rates indicate that most applicants, most of which are qualified are not getting admission.</p>

<p>So the big question for you is: do you have true safeties or are you willing to not have an acceptance this season?</p>

22

<p>@mathyone: We have done this and have applied to numerous state colleges in Texas, ie UT Austin, UT Galveston, UTSA, UT Dallas, etc.</p>

<p>@BrownParent: It was a mistake of mine to list Duke and Vandy as safety schools. I have applied to some state colleges and I believe they would be true safeties, as their acceptance rates are high. As for the financial aid calculators, we have run them as well. We are willing to incur debt to send me to a good school, however, we would like to avoid this if it is at all possible. Hence my questions on this forum.</p>

23

<p>UT dollars have merit scholarship, if you apply early. My daughter got presidential scholarship. They offer many to high test score. But you have to apply with different application. Where do you live in tx?</p>

24

<p>@xukui811: Currently, I am in Dallas, but I got CAPed at UT Austin. I didn’t get any scholarship, which is OK, I guess…</p>