<p>Hey!</p>
<p>Anyway I was scanning all the threads on this board and it got me really worried because my situation is so different from most of the applicants here! So I really need to know how important outside validation is in college applications.</p>
<p>I know most homeschoolers do the same few things, either community college courses, APs, or online courses etc. I'm currently residing overseas and those options aren't really available to me. What I do have is a 9th and 10th grade transcript from a local secondary school here in Singapore (one of the top schools, actually, where I was concurrently enrolled), SAT scores, and I'll be taking SAT II's and the ACT in a few weeks! By the time I apply to college I should have about 6 SAT II's and maybe a couple of DSSTs since CLEP exams aren't available here. I'll also have LORs from my teachers at my old school and I'm trying to get AP courses approved so I can list them on my transcript, although I'm not able to take the tests. </p>
<p>I'm looking to apply to some highly selective colleges (not HYP standard) and I'm worried that it'll affect my chances of admission. Do you guys think what I'm doing is enough? Or should I be doing something more? I have loads of ECs that I'm dedicated to and won lots of awards for (district and national level, couple of international ones) and I do lots of community service too, and I'm involved in sports, arts, and music.</p>
<p>This isn't a chance thread so please don't tell me whether you think I'm going to get in, rather I'd love advice on how to improve my academic credentials (like do I need more outside validation, and what I should do to improve all that), thanks guys :)</p>
<p>Also if it helps, most of my homeschool coursework is taken from reliable places like MIT Open Courseware, and my final grades on my transcript are given based on my performance in assignments and a final exam, which are all available online, so would that prove to colleges that I’m capable of college work if I explained this on my transcript? Also, would it count as external validation of grades since the course material is provided from an external source? Thanks :)</p>
<p>bumppppp someone help please ! :)</p>
<p>MIT OCW does not give official grades, do they? </p>
<p>Anyway, I will take a stab at this - you probably have enough outside validation. I know a lot of kids who got into good colleges with no AP or CC classes. </p>
<p>Selective colleges are looking for strong academics, but they are also looking for a lot of what you speak of in your penultimate paragraphs. Strong academics is often not enough these days. Make sure you really showcase how HSing allowed you the freedom to pursue your other interests, and you used that time well.</p>
<p>I agree with anotherparent. Having lots of SAT II tests and the SAT I as well as APs is sufficient validation when combined with letters of recommendation. Your amazing awards should speak for themselves, as well. Congratulations on a great high school career!</p>
<p>Don’t worry, you have plenty of credentials.</p>
<p>@anotherparent: Nope they don’t but I was thinking that if I listed that under my course description, colleges would recognise that my syllabus is really college-level work, regardless of the grade given! I’m hoping that it helps because I have no outside validation of my ability to complete college level work.</p>
<p>On another note, thanks guys :)</p>