Using tests to supplement transcript

<p>First off it should be known that I was homeschooled k-12 and have quote on quote "graduated". I've also taken the GED and passed with a score that gives me a top 10% national class rank. (If that matters, I don't know.) I'm now seriously thinking about going to college next year, however, after comparing the typical high school core curriculum to what I’ve done I feel ill prepared and I’m kind of freaking out. I’m a little worried that my plan to go to a good university all four years will have to be altered to attending community college for two years and transferring in order to make up for my skimpy transcript. For instance, I haven’t taken two years of a foreign language. My parents tried to get me to learn Spanish with Rosetta Stone but I didn’t really like the learning style they use. On top of that my English and science learning can’t really be summed up to specific course titles. Most of my would be high school science courses were taken during middle school. Honestly, my parents chose my curriculum to prepare me in passing the GED instead of catering my courses after what would make me most attractive to colleges.</p>

<p>Now my question is, can I take CLEP and SAT Subjects tests in order to supplement my wimpy transcript? If not what can I do to be more college material? Also is it acceptable to put my transcript in subject form and not mention what grade I took it in in order to cover up the fact that most of my English and science learning were done during my “extended senior year”?</p>

<p>Here is what I would do. </p>

<p>1) Figure out what you want to do with your life. If you don’t know exactly, but want to graduate from a respected college with a good GPA, then pick a likely college and major and go with that until you can make a more informed choice. You might want to take some vocational tests to help discover your natural strengths. </p>

<p>2) Hire a competent college advisor to examine your current transcript and recommend what you need to do to bring it up to par based on your goals. Or, you could call the admissions department and ask that question. “What do I need to take and what scores do I need to get to be a good candidate for this major at this school?” </p>

<p>3) Research how you can get those courses. A LOT can be done online, via self-study, or via community college courses you are not considering part of your “real” college program. Research everything so you find the free resources and can judge the others as well. </p>

<p>4) Depending on what you need to take, be ready either this coming December or the following December to show that you have taken the initiative to get a solid education despite not being provided it before “graduation.” Initiative counts. It will definitely help if you can get good scores on AP tests, SAT II tests, the SAT I test, and the ACT. You do not have to take AP courses to take the AP tests, but you should be very prepared before you do take the tests. </p>

<p>College admissions officers will be impressed if you pull this off, and I believe you can if you have drive, focus and a willingness to work hard. Then, you can hold your head high and apply to several good colleges and go prepared. </p>

<p>Do NOT worry about being one or two years older than the other students if you do this. My son looks several years older than he is, and the other students seem to admire it. A girl I know went a year late because she didn’t like the first college admissions results. She is just going in and not saying a thing about it. Now, if you take ten years to do this, college admissions committies won’t be quite so impressed. They will wonder why you didn’t just go to community college when you were 18. They might not want to put you in a dorm full of teenagers and young twenties. If you’re going to do it, do it now.</p>

<p>As for your original question, yes, include test scores, but work hard to make sure that they are impressive so that your homeschool record from previous times become irrelevant.</p>