<p>I go to a public school in eastern Kentucky and am homeschooled on the side. I have a 3.6667 GPA at the public school and a 4.0 at homeschool. Homeschool is actually harder than the public school....the public school is one of the worst in the state. But for Columbia and Cornell would it look better to apply from the public school with a separate transcript from homeschool or just apply straight homeschool?????</p>
<p>anybody???</p>
<p>You can't choose. You have to give the colleges your entire history. If you've gone to a public high school, you're not a homeschooler. You may study on the side, but you are a public high school student.</p>
<p>I think this is one of those questions that none of us really know the answer to because it's such an anomaly. I would call up the admissions office at both Cornell and Columbia, explain your schooling, and see how they want you to submit transcripts, etc.</p>
<p>My son is homeschooled (or was up until next year) and I have done quite a bit of research on this. You will be judged on your official high school transcript. Your homeschool classes must be included on that high school transcript to have any effect -- and I am guessing that they aren't accepted by the school.</p>
<p>When you say that you "homeschool" what you are actually doing is afterschooling (if your parents are involved in teaching you or setting up the curriculum) or self-studying. That is not the same thing as homeschooling -- a homeschooled student does not also attend public school.</p>
<p>There are some students who are homeschooled who also take one or two classes each semester at their local public school -- is this what you do?</p>
<p>When you say you homeschool -- are you studying things at home, or do you take actual classes online, at the CC or via correspondence?</p>
<p>Most schools do not pay much attention to grades and GPA for home-taught classes since your parents are the ones giving you the grade. For a homeschooler who has mainly "mommy grades" the schools take a much harder look at the grades for outside classes (like ones at the local high school, CC or online classes) and at the test scores.</p>
<p>I would also caution you greatly about applying to Cornell and Columbia with a 3.67 from a poor school in Kentucky. Unless you have a high rank in class, fantastic test scores and great ECs -- I don't think you have a great shot. Make sure you have some realistic schools on your list.</p>
<p>The subtext of your question seems to be this: "My teachers at one of the worst schools in Kentucky rate my work A minus, but my parents give me nothing but A's. Should I pretend that I was completely home schooled?"</p>
<p>No, you shouldn't. And you should be ashamed for asking.</p>
<p>You are definitely required to report your high school work. I am going to assume that you were unaware of that.</p>
<p>Little information was given about your homeschool classes. If, for example, you have taken rigorous courses online, and perhaps taken AP tests for them, then that would certainly be a valuable thing to assemble a homeschool porfolio around. </p>
<p>The burden of proof for homeschool work is intense, and adcoms are experienced in evaluating such applicants. Like in a regular transcript situation, there are ways to fairly assess homeschool performance. Putting together such a portfolio is a complex and time consuming project. But if your situation is valid, then go for it. </p>
<p>In some states there are strict viewpoints on homeschooling versus regular schooling. I live in an area where things are very relaxed education-wise, and absolutely any and all combinations of regular and homeschool educations are looked at favorably.</p>
<p>If you did a substantial amount of rigorous work at home, and can prove it, you should definitely include a homeschool portfolio with your regular application. Your regular hs grades are low for the schools you mentioned, but without more information on the rest of you as an applicant I can't say that you shouldn't try. Of course, you should do careful research on other schools and have solid safeties.</p>