Unusual community college transfer-- help!

<p>I've heard it's relatively rare for a community college student to transfer into Rice, so I have no idea if I'm up to par. Add in my unusual background and I feel like I'm taking a complete shot in the dark. I'd appreciate any help!</p>

<p>TL;DR: Homeschooled, mediocre HS stats, planned on going to art school and then couldn't go so I ended up taking 3 years off. I built up a decent photography business, worked, and traveled before going back to school. When I went back to community college I earned a 4.0 and had decent ECs, but along the way I had to take developmental math courses. Classics and/or Government major with the eventual goal of attending a T14 law school. </p>

<p>My life story in a nutshell:
I was homeschooled from 3rd grade on and have been consistently employed in some capacity since I was 12. When I graduated I planned on becoming a photographer and was accepted into a couple different art schools, but due to family issues/money issues, I couldn't go. I ended up taking three years off after high school and supported myself in retail and then as a photographer. During this time I realized that photography isn't really what I want to do for the rest of my life and decided to go back to school to become a lawyer (huge childhood dream of mine).</p>

<p>Personal Information:
-White female
-Texas resident
-23 years old at the time of transfer</p>

<p>High school:
-Homeschooled, given a 3.8 GPA with a disclaimer that says that we didn't really do a traditional grading system.
-I took about 30 units of fluff classes concurrently at a community college. I had a 4.0, but I also received 5 Ws on my transcript. I am planning on sending in a letter with all of my application explaining why this happened. I have no Ws from my current school.</p>

<p>College:
-Cumulative College GPA - 4.0
-I will have an honors AA degree by the time I transfer, 64 units (plus units from another CC, see above).</p>

<p>Test scores:
-Never took the SAT/ACT, but I am planning on doing so before I transfer.</p>

<p>High school ECs:
-Everything is related to journalism or photography. I interned at a newspaper for two years, had my photography exhibited on websites and in a gallery, etc. I also volunteered for a lot of different organizations.</p>

<p>College ECs:
-Pretty solid work resume, I worked/interned all through high school and community college. During my three gap years I supported myself as a photographer.
-Volunteer ESL tutor.
-Founding officer and then elected President of Student Government.
-Officer in several clubs, co-founded a club.
-Departmental honors in Humanities.
-Will have completed the honors program at my school once I transfer (includes thesis project, service hours, etc).
-PTK enhanced member.
-Volunteered for teen court as an adult supervisor.
-Received a few different leadership awards and one scholarship from my school.</p>

<p>Future plans:
-Classics and/or Government major, maybe with a minor in Business
-I eventually want to go to a prestigious law school</p>

<p>Concerns:
-I basically want my old CC transcript to DIAF. I have re-taken a couple of the courses that I took and enjoyed (because it's old and I wanted to start fresh, etc), and I don't need the units. How horrible does it look that I have 5 Ws?</p>

<p>-After my 3 years off from school, I basically bombed the Accuplacer on math and had to take two developmental math courses. By the time I transfer, College Algebra and Elementary Statistics will be the highest math classes I've taken. I emailed Rice about this asking if I should try to go further in math but haven't heard back yet.</p>

<p>What do you guys think? Is it a long shot?</p>

<p>It’s worth a shot. Tell your story (but be careful of redundancy). Show your maturity through the process and what you have to offer Rice (not what they have to offer you). </p>

<p>Do keep in mind that your financial aid award will still be determined by your parents income until you turn 24.</p>

<p>Thanks for the input, crazymomster!</p>