<p>Since the start of my sophomore year, I have been a program called Home and Hospital. Home and Hospital for students who are too ill to attend school on a regular basis. I have Inflammatory Bowel Disease the symptoms of which include constant diarrhea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, anal bleeding and you get the picture. I spent all of Sophomore and Junior year on home and hospital. Unfortunately, you are not permitted to take AP or Honors while on home and hospital. How will this effect my chances when applying for schools?</p>
<p>As you’re aware, colleges (especially selective ones) want to see that you’ve taken the most rigorous classes possible. You have a good reason you did not. Some colleges (smaller LACs) are going to be much more tolerant of this and actually take time to read your whole application and consider this, while larger state schools may not.</p>
<p>I’d recommend that you make sure that your guidance counselor makes a big note explaining your situation when he/she fills out the Common App GC report. You can also write a short explanation in the “Additional Info” section. Something along the lines of “Due to illness, for my sophomore and junior years I was taking classes at home through my school’s Home and Hospital program. Unfortunately, AP and honors classes were not available to me through this program. When I returned to school senior year, I took the most rigorous schedule available to me” (providing that is true!)</p>
<p>In case you are in the same situation next year: Does your school participate in Virtual High School (VHS)? At my D’s highschool, kids in your situation can take these classes. Honors and AP are both offered. <a href=“http://thevhscollaborative.org/”>http://thevhscollaborative.org/</a></p>
<p>First and foremost, I hope your illness gets under control. Second, you can certainly explain the situation (on the other comments section of the common app) and you can ask your guidance counselor to address it in his/her recommendation as well. I don’t expect that it will be held against you since you can only take the most rigorous courses offered to you and because of your health, the honors and AP classes weren’t offered. If you will be home for your senior year, do some research and ask your guidance counselor about taking one or two online college classes or maybe self-study/take an online course for an AP exam.</p>
<p>Most likely you have grown up quite a lot facing that much illness. I would suggest you write about it for your essay applying to college.</p>