<p>Actually Zenkoan, it IS a hook. I read an article on Stanford’s website in which they discussed home schoolers. They mark each home school app so that they can find them in the midst of all the other apps. They really want home schoolers. Would you like the article? It was VERY encouraging!</p>
<p>And I have pretty respectable test scores. Granted I teach myself, and I’ve done well with APs.</p>
<p>^Sure, I would like to see the article. But I think the reason they mark the homeschool applications is because they have one designated staff person in the admissions department assigned to read the homeschool apps. Stanford certainly welcomes homeschooled applicants, as do all other schools, but truly, it’s not a hook in and of itself. A hook gives a substantial boost to admissions chances, and just being homeschooled doesn’t; the admissions office has said on several occasions that homeschooled applicants are accepted at about the same rate as traditionally-schooled applicants. If it were a hook (like URM, recruited athlete, etc.) then they would be accepted at a higher rate than the applicant pool as a whole.</p>
<p>really?? it’s a hook?? That’s awesome!! =) Where did you read that?? I really want to read the article!!</p>
<ol>
<li>yea, home-schooler isn’t a hook in itself at stanford. they do like home-schoolers and try to get many to apply, but i wouldn’t say they particularly “favor” home-schoolers in admissions.</li>
<li>i’m not sure if they do/dont look at fb</li>
<li>there are ways to get around private settings on facebook. several people at stanford know ways lol (but maybe because some people here work at facebook?) with that said, stanford won’t use illegal measures to get your information…</li>
<li>some stanford admissions staff do look at college confidential, but i don’t think they care. i think its more for curiosity</li>
</ol>
<p>Maybe hook is too strong a term, but they definitely welcome homeschoolers more than any other school. I’ll find the article when i get home this afternoon. It was very encouraging even though it was written 10 years ago.</p>
<p>If it was written ten years ago, I wouldn’t be at all sure about accuracy… I mean, that was before acceptance rates plummeted, right?</p>
<p>True, there are other articles on the web about Homeschooling and Stanford though. They’re a lot more receptive than a lot of schools i’ve looked at!</p>
<p>I think I found the article you were talking about, Jason. Is it this one?</p>
<p>[Stanford</a> Magazine: November/December 2000: In a Class by Themselves](<a href=“Page Not Found”>Page Not Found)</p>
<p>Too bad I didn’t read it before sending my applications…
It really is encouraging, but I am trying to find something more recent.</p>
<p>Don’t know, but it would be safe to say that they wouldn’t begrudge the 50 seconds it would take to check an applicant’s facebook. After all, they are reading like 20 essays.</p>
<p>Yeah, that’s one! It is very encouraging.</p>