myapologies

Hi, I've been home schooled most of my life (except for a brief 7 month stint freshman year) and am a bit confused by the college application process. I'll be applying this fall, and would really appreciate some advice. I took classes at the local university this year and will continue do so next year. I'd like to apply to some top liberal arts schools. As a homeschooler, what do I need to stress stress on my application? What pitfalls should I look to avoid when applying? It would be very helpful if past homeschool applicants/parents/anyone knowledgeable could lend me their wisdom. Thanks much!

'rentof2

It's pretty much the same process as any other applicant, myapologies, with a few adjustments. First check on the websites of the schools you're interested in and see if, in their web pages on admissions, there is any specific information for homeschooled applicants. There frequently (but not always) will be some information or suggestions there that will tell you what they'd like to see in terms of test scores, letters of recommendation, etc.

You'll need to put a transcript together ---help from a parent is useful here--- showing what you've studied over the last four years. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, but organize it by year or by subject and list all the coursework. Many schools would like to see, in addition to that, brief descriptions of the "course" including topics covered and texts and other materials used. Also a reading list for literature studies, etc. I think you can find some decent samples of "homeschool transcripts" on the internet if you Google it.

You may or may not need to assign grades to your work. If you don't, the college may come back to you with a request that you do so. Not all colleges do this, but I have had friends to whom this happened. I gave grades to my own kids for their transcripts, but in some cases I just made it Pass/No Pass depending on the course.

You'll also need to have an official transcript from the college where you've been taking classes sent in addition to your complete homeschooling transcript. (They will validate the college courses you've listed on your own transcript, and show proof of grades.)

You'll need to have your SAT or ACT test scores sent directly from the testing agency to the colleges you're applying to. It's easy to order score reports online.

If you're applying to top liberal arts colleges you will almost certainly have to fill out the Common Application (it's a "universal" application they nearly all use for admissions -- you can fill it out online and submit electronically.)

Along with the Common App there are various supplements. One is called the Secondary School report, this one is normally for a high school guidance counselor, but in the case of a homeschooler a parent would fill this out. Some of the questions won't be pertinant, but the parent can fill it out best they can, and also write an evaluation of the student.

There is also the Homeschool Supplement, which is self-expanatory.

You may want to write up an activities resume. It's for "extra-curricular" activites; clubs, hobbies, sports, jobs, community service, etc. There is a little space to list these things on the Common App, but if you have something to brag about, that shows you off positively, I'd definitely recommend writing one up.

Finally there are letters of recommendation. In your case, probably your best bet is to ask instructors from classes you've taken at the local college to write you one. Other choices can be other adults who know you well and worked with you in some capacity outside the home; coaches, ministers, tutors, employers, etc. But academic references will carry the most weight. Normally schools want 2 of these, but check the colleges' websites to confirm that. These are usually sent directly to the college by the person writing the letter (provide them with a stamped, addressed envelope), although sometimes they are given to the student by the writer to copy and send as they please. It should be left up to your letter writers how they want to do that. There is also a page from the Common App that can be included with the letter, but take a look at it. If you're asking someone other than a teacher to fill it out, it probably doesn't make sense to use it as it's very school-y.

Pay attention to application deadlines. Most Regular Decision apps to liberal arts colleges are due around the 1st of the year or just after.

Good luck! If you have any more questions (and you will!) there are people here who can help you.

'rentof2

Oh... and often the schools will individually have their own supplement to the Common App asking about a few more things, often requiring an additional essay, or such like. If they do, it will be apparent as you go through the Common Application website -- the website will direct you to any additional materials a school may require.

myapologies

Thanks so much for the advice!
My education has been primarily directed by myself, and I doubt my parents will offer much support. How large of a problem will this pose?

'rentof2

Probably not too much. Technically the Secondary School Report portion of the Common App. is filled out by the "homeschool supervisor" (usually a parent) with homeschool applications, but you could contact the schools you're applying to and ask them how they prefer you deal with that in the event your parent(s) don't want to be involved. Would they at least write an evaluation of you and sign off on the forms which you can fill out for them? That would make it pretty easy if they'd do that, but if not, then ask the schools how to deal with it.

You will need your parents' involvement with financial aid applications if you need to appy for aid, though.

I know my list of application-things-to-do up in that long post seems like a ton of stuff, but as you go through it step-by-step, it's sorts itself out. Get ahead of the deadlines by making sure to get all your testing done by the fall test dates, and approach teachers or others for letters of recommendation also fairly early in the fall.

This summer you can hammer out a transcript and course descriptions where necessary, also an activities summary.

Make sure to list on the transcript the classes you plan to take (and/or subject matter you plan to cover outside of traditional classes) for the upcoming year also.

anotherparent

I think you should really stress how you have directed your own education. Dont make it a negative about your parents, but emphasize more that you were able to do it, and do it successfully. It really is quite am impressive acheivement.

danas

I agree entirely with anotherparent. Very impressive.
Sometimes home schoolers feel a need to get conservative and demonstrate to admissions people that their experiences aren't so different from what kids do in school. I understand the anxiety behind this. But in my opinion it is throwing away the advantages of a life lived outside of school. Trying to cram oneself into school boxes is tactically suspect and, for many of us, dishonest about the reasons we and/or our kids chose to home school in the first place.

myapologies

Alright. How "different" a transcript is acceptable? I've never really had "classes"? I just studied pretty much whatever interested me. Sometimes, I'd just ride the bus around the city or memorize poetry or argue/discuss with a wide variety of well educated friends. What do I do about my total lack of classes? Will I be able to get away with my parents not writing anything about my education?
I've spent a great deal of time playing a sport (it's an Olympic sport, but doesn't receive a lot of recognition/participation in the United States) and am curious as to how to present my participation on my application? It's been my main extra curricular activity/passion, and I've trained overseas and received a fair amount of national recognition.
I'm sorry for all the questions, and thanks much for taking the time to help!

'rentof2

I think your sport would be a great thing to highlight. You can write a personal essay about it for the Common App.

The lack of classes or other organized course work will be looked at differently by different admissions officers, but you can't make yourself into something you're not, so go for presenting your uniqueness. I know some selective college admissions officers have recently made public comments about how incoming freshman classes of hyper-prepared SAT/GPA superachievers are flattening out the variety of students, backgrounds, perspectives, etc. that make up their student bodies. So embrace what who your are, the path you're traveled, and what your passions are in your application.

danas

My kids never took any courses and succeeded by listing their reading, generally organized under subject titles that might make sense to an admissions person. This worked fine for them.
The devotion to your sport, which might have been difficult to achieve with a school site and schedule, could be a very important part of your application. My daughter danced ballet a few hours a day six days a week and was accepted at a well-known program in NYC. She also worked in the mammal department of a major museum many hours a week taking apart wombats, tigers, bobcats, bats and other mammals, as well as re-classifying the collections under a new system. These things would have been next to impossible were she confined in school.
You must have a coach or instructor in your sport who could speak to your skill and your qualities as a person. In my daughter's case, she had no academic recommendations, just two from ballet teachers who had known her for many years in a variety of settings.
You do need to find someone to help you prepare and sign the "School Report". If your parents aren't appropriate, do you have a relative, adult mentor of some sort, coach, religious figure or someone else who can take the time to help you put it together and sign it?
Be broad minded about recs. In my son's case, he had no academic recs either. His were written by the head librarian of our local branch (and a home school mother) and by a neighbor. The neighbor had had different roles in education over the years and was a big skeptic of traditional education and a man who probably had a couple dozen lunches with my son over the years. He had graduated from Exeter and Harvard and was a Rhodes Scholar. But the pivotal experience of his educational carrier, he says, was as a student in a one room schoolhouse in upper New Hampshire. The teacher realized he was a bright boy and left him alone to read whatever he wanted.
Please keep asking us questions as you go along. We can be giving you different and even contradictory advice and still have it be well based and worthwhile.

anotherparent

There are many different ways to write a transcript. One that has worked well is a more narrative approach - for each subject, explain what you did, read, etc. Do not be too verbose - a few pages will do. Also include mention of your college classes, etc.

Clearly you are a very self motivated autodiadact. As other's have said, the schools love to see students like you. Make sure you emphasize it. Since you education is so different than the typical high school student, dont even both to try and show how much you are like that. Emphasize the differences.

You could contact your top choices and speak to an adcom for advice.

myapologies

I've heard that I'll need much higher SAT/SAT II scores than that of a traditional applicant if I want to be considered at most schools. How much higher will they need to be? Please bear in mind that my GPA from my state university last year was only 3.85. (got a B+ in precalc). Will having a low SAT math score (600s) hurt me a lot? (CR and writing 750+)

anotherparent

I think the less outside confirmation of accomplishments, the more they will rely on your SAT scores.

I think from grades/SAT scores, they will see that math is your weak point, yet still above average. It really depends where you plan to appy (you can cross off MIT and Caltech ;-))

I think you could also buy a SAT math prep book and retake the test. The math is not difficult, just a bit tricky. Practice helps a lot. If you got a B+ in precalc, you certainly have all the math you need.

'rentof2

I agree with anotherparent. It isn't so much that your SAT scores would be expected to be higher than a traditional student, but that in the absence of other "objective" measures (such as grades from a school) there isn't as much room for weaknesses in your SAT scores.

My son got into Amherst with a high-600 range score on the math portion of the SAT I. He is a social science guy, so math/sciences is not his intended area of major. However, he had so many traditional grades from a variety of places --including, like you, classes taken at the local univ.-- that he had his high GPA to fall back on, including high grades in advanced math classes. He also took the SAT Subject Test (Math2) and scored in the lower-700 range on that.

It also really depends on where you're applying. You mentioned "top liberal arts schools" but there is some range in median SATs depending on whether you're talking about a top 5 liberal arts college or a top 20. (I use those those "top 5/10/20" tags hestitantly because the ratings and rankings are based on all kinds of things, many of which may have nothing to do with what makes a particular college perfect for a particular student.)

myapologies

Hi again. I'm wondering if my lack of AP tests will hurt me. I planned on taking several this past year but was only able to take one due to the fact that I was out of the country when the majority of them were being administered. Should I mention this on my application?

I'd like to take my SAT II over again as I think there's a good chance I could raise my scores significantly. I've been told there are drawbacks to this. Could someone elaborate?

Also, who is best to approach about writing academic letters of rec? Grad students for classes I've taken at the University? Professors? People with whom I've interacted in an academic setting?
Thanks again for the help!