Help A Homeschool Junior Out?

collegesearch10 · May 8, 2009, 12:19pm

Okay, so I have a pretty good idea of where I CAN get in to, but I really need an outside, UNBIASED opinion on it, too. Please read it the entire post and don’t stop if anything defers you. :)

So a little about me: 
I’m a junior, a year ahead(just turned 16). I’ve moved a lot: Born in Boston MA, moved to NY, then VA and now here to FL (great states huh?!). Florida has a lot of great schools like UF and UM but I’m not afraid to look out of state too…I’ve moved so much already. 
I do ONLINE schooling at Florida Virtual School, the leading virtual school in the nation(is this interesting or hook? btw they don’t offer many APs at all), since 8th grade and I was homeschooled starting in 2nd.

GPA: 4.0 unweighted(all A’s) and 4.3 Weighted so far

Transcript:
Eng 1 honors - A 99
Eng 2 honors - A 98.5
(currently) AP Eng Lang. & Comp A 91
(next year) AP Eng Lit

Biology honors - A 98
Chemistry honors - A 96
(currently)Physics honors - A 96
(next year) AP Biology

Global Studies - A 99
World History - A 96
(.5 credit)Economics - A 96
(.5 credit) Phsycology - A 97
(next year) AP Gov& AP Macro Ec

Algebra 1 honors - A 93.5
Geometry - A 95
(currently) Algebra 2 - A 94
(next year) either AP Stat or Pre Cal…any suggestions?

Spanish 1 - A 98
Spanish 2 - A 97
Web Design 1 - A 97
Critical Thinking/Study Skills - A 93
(next year)Spanish 3
(next year) Personal Management

My SAT scores aren’t that great. I don’t know if it has anything to do with being homeschooled and NEVER taking a test in a classroom with other kids and a teacher before. I know I need to work on it, especially math, over the summer. I will do the best I can(any tips?).
CR- 600
M- 500
W- 610

Extra Curriculars…finally the juicy part!

-Chosen for a program with the State Department sponsored by a international program PH International as part of 30 Americans to work online for 18 months to learn about social media with 60 Armenian and Azerbaijan students
-THEN chosen to be part of the TOP 10 students of the program to go on a 4 week trip to DC and Vermont summer 2009 to create socially conscious media THEN go overseas spring 2010 to Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Georgia for 10 days to present our media in front of organizations which includes UNICEF (all I can remember now)
-Video World Affairs Challenge (VWAC)1st place winner 2007, 2008 and 2009 (created 7-10 minute videos depicting world issues)
-Full length page in local Newspaper, article about winning VWAC and about doing school online/homeschool
-Upcoming interview for Newspaper article about the State Department program

-300+ community service hours from the following:
-Two years of tutoring new Florida Virtual Students (74)
-Volunteer at Vacation Bible school 3 years (75)
-Attend Mission Trip Catholic Heart Work Camp 2 years (100)
-Volunteer as Peer Advisor for church’s Confirmation Candidates 2 years (95)
-Volunteer at Middle School Youth Group (too many to count)

-Tennis 10th Varsity Tennis Team 11th & 12th
-Swimming 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th Varsity Swim Team 11th & 12th
-Danced Ballet for 7 years
-Attend High school youth group 9th,10th, 11th, 12th
-Lead Gift Bearer at church
-Other minor activities with the youth group such as carwashes, bakesales, nursery care.

-International Club 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
-Newspaper Club 11th, 12th

-Job at community clubhouse
-Internship at Emergency Medical Center summer 2009

I really want to major in science(ie physician assistant) but I am trying to think of a way to incorporate things like the State Department Program and my community service into my major to help me get accepted…
Thanks for reading!

Endicott · May 8, 2009, 12:27pm

Definitely work on those SATs–without knowing anything further, it’s hard to judge how well-regarded your virtual education program is. You might also want to take a couple of classes at a local university or community college. The State department thing is neat, some of the other volunteering is pretty standard issue. I think schools are sick of kids going away for two weeks to build things in other country. It’s more impressive to them to see consistent effort locally on a weekly basis. The Azerbaijan experience MIGHT help in an essay or something like that if you have something intelligent or unique to say about it, maybe something kind of technical. See if you can get a tutor or take an SAT prep class (Kaplan, etc?). I’ll bet colleges find homeschoolers interesting and like to see evidence of them as independent learners, but would also like to know how they fit into a classroom as well. Obviously, homeschooling ranges from extremely wonderful to complete nonsense, even more than schools do, so you have to put together a pretty strong portfolio that presents yourself well. Keep doing volunteer work in hospitals, whatever you can get, if you’re interested in being a PA.

collegesearch10 · May 8, 2009, 1:20pm

Oh and
-Venture Scouts (Co-ed BSA) 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th - Position of Crew Guide 11th and planning on VP for 12th.
-Each week we play volleyball and help out at SHARE food distribution program

Thanks for your imput edicott!

ams4550 · May 8, 2009, 3:53pm

I was homeschooled, and I believe that it really helped me get accepted into top 20 colleges. I think it really displays that you’re an independent thinker. It also makes you stand out. When I was younger, people told me that I should go to Stanford, Duke, or Rice. I use to think, “I’m homeschooled. I would need to go to a good high school to be ranked and to have actual grades to have a chance.” In most cases, I don’t think it hurts not going to high school for homeschoolers. If the college isn’t familiar with the high school someone goes to, a rank and GPA doesn’t mean to much. However, colleges do need some type of standard to judge you. I really don’t know about the online school you are apart of. In my case, I went to a local college for dual credit classes. The SAT and SAT subject tests are given a lot of weight. Indeed, some colleges require SAT subject tests for home schooled students, which has led to charges of discrimination. It’s funny because your SAT is pretty much the same as mine was when I was a junior. I got mine up to 2100. So you can do it. Finally, many admission officers would say a homeschooled student needs solid ECs. They want someone who is interacting with the world and engaged with the community, not someone who never gets out of their room.

lolcats4 · May 8, 2009, 4:16pm

Great to see another homeschooled kid on here

I’m currently a homeschooled senior, and I’ve had a lot of success with my college admissions (including acceptance to Ivy League/top ten schools) thanks to this website, so if you want I’d be happy to help you. Depending on the schools you apply to, there are some things that I’d recommend doing differently in your application as a homeschooled student (feel free to send me a personal message anytime).

To start, your standardized testing will be very important, especially if you’re applying to prestigious schools. It’d be much easier for me to tell you where you should look at applying/bolster your application if you can give me a couple schools you are considering

HomeschoolGA202 · May 8, 2009, 6:39pm

another homeschooler here!! all I can say is you’re gonna go far kid an ivy would love you…just raise those SATs.

applicannot · May 8, 2009, 7:08pm

First of all, does your school have a CEEB code? Then you are NOT homeschooled if you take a full courseload there. Homeschoolers can (but don’t always) experience anxiety with applications because supplements, recommendations, and other elements of the application can create a hassle for homeschoolers. If you take a full courseload at the Virtual High School and that high school is well-accredited, it may be to your benefit to consider yourself a high school student. I attend Keystone National High school full-time and consider myself a private high school student.

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