What should we do to increase our chances for prep schools or SOHS? Is it too late?

Pre-College Issues Home Schooling and College
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D is in 7th grade and homeschooled. What can we do to increase our chances of getting into a BS, local prep school, specifically SF University High School, or SOHS. I know the chances are probably slim given a homeschool background, and we’re both fine with continuing homeschooling in high school, but D wants to go through this process to see what happens. Given her extrovert personality and intellectual goals, I think she could thrive in a small school like the way Exeter teaches its students.

She took the upper level SSAT a few months ago, but given the responses on another thread, she may have to retake it for a new academic year. Her result was 99%. She just made it into SET, if that’s worth anything for prep school admissions.

She has received awards for National Latin Exam for levels 1-3 and for National Greek Exam for levels 1-2. I don’t think these are significant awards, but D looks forward to them. She has been learning a few languages for several years, fences, and boxes.

I’m not sure what to do with transcripts. Here are classes for which I’ll have grades from outside source in 7th.

Spanish 4 (but I don’t think I’ll include this), outside source
AP Latin (outside source)
AoPS online math, probably a couple of courses
English 9 from Silicon Valley High School (enrolled for the purposes of getting a grade)
American Government from Silicon Valley High School (same as above)
Photoshop (not sure if I will include this either), outside source
Foreign languages (via online tutors)
Rest of the subjects are done at home

For 8th grade, here’s what I’ll have:

Ancient Greek 3, outside source
Latin V, outside source
Chemistry, outside source
AoPS online
English, outside source
Python, outside source
Intro to CS, Edhesive
Foreign languages (online tutors)

It’s probably too late to do anything now for 7th grade. Is there anything I can do to increase her chances or lessen admission officers’ suspicion of D’s study or social skills? And, for other subjects, I’m embarrassed to just write that she received an A, which is why I’m having her do more outside classes for 8th grade.

I’m happy to read any advice.

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Oh darn, I think I posted this question in the wrong group.

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@SculptorDad had a homeschooled Dd apply to boarding school. He might be able to help.

Fwiw, if she were applying to universities instead of high schools, I would encourage you to have a more positive view toward the application process and less embarrassment about choosing homeschooling as an educational option. It is a valid legal option and does not limit college acceptances. I am completely unfamiliar with BS apps, though, and high schools in general are more resistant to homeschool transcripts.

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I am not an AO, but I would want to see evidence of how the student did in a classroom setting with peers to have comfort that this would be a good environment. A summer program like JHU/CTY? And for BS, I would want to see evidence that the student would be comfortable. Any outside activity with a group of other kids would be fine. Interviewing on campus will be important.

Most BS turn down piles of academically superb applicants because they worry that they won’t thrive in a residential environment that requires maturity and independence. They also need to be active in the community in other ways.

I would make sure my strategy addressed these concerns. But go for it! Sounds like it could work for your D!

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Does your local middle school allow homeschoolers to participate in their after school sports teams or are there local clubs she could join? Most boarding schools require participation in team sports and joining a team would be a way to do something with her peers and to show she can be a “sporty” kid. It’s also just good exercise. As to particular sports I’d recommend field hockey or cross country. Every kid on the planet seems to start soccer in kindergarten but field hockey is a less common sport and prep schools sometimes struggle to fill their JV or sometimes even varsity squads with experienced players. If field hockey isn’t an option she could try running, even if she has to do it on her own.

If I were an AO looking at an application for a homeschooler my three main questions would be,

  1. Why did this family make the decision to home school?
  2. Why are they now considering prep school? and
  3. How will this student transition to a prep school environment?

IMO @gardenstategal’s advice is good. I would think about having your daughter do a program away from home so she could both try out a living away and prove to AO’s that she’s ready to board.

1 Like
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You might want to read this;
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/21361867#Comment_21361867

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Hey, You could also post this in the prep school admissions thread! A lot of the people there are really experienced with the admissions process and could help you :slight_smile:

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Thank you for all the thoughtful replies and advice. She is involved in fencing so there are many kids around, tutoring, was on a swim team and may rejoin if she has time, and karate where there are also kids. For several years now, she has been attending a 3-hour class on Saturdays along with 500 other kids to learn a foreign language. She’s very sociable, but I’m not sure how to convey that she is capable of being in a classroom and doing well academically. And, we didn’t homeschool for sports reasons, so we can’t go with that.

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@ananora With those skills I would not be concerned at all. One thing I would add, however is that you should apply to many schools. We have SET kiddos and I thought one applying in this cycle would get in most/ all schools. Only got in 1/2. If you are applying for financial aid apply to many schools, if you are full pay still apply to many schools. They have lots of great candidates but sounds like there is a fit out there for your daughter.