<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>This is a fairly simple advice kind of thread, but I’m fairly inexperienced as far as college admissions go and would like a helping hand deciding what to do as far as standardized testing and other things go.</p>
<p>So, I just received my scores back for the January SAT. I received a 2160. (770 CR, 750 M, 640 W: 65 MC 8 E) I haven’t fully decided which schools I want to apply to (I’m a Junior) but for a vague idea (ordered from most selective to least selective): University of Pennsylvania; University of Maryland, College Park; University of California, Irvine; Pennsylvania State University; University of Missouri, St. Louis. UPenn is my first choice. I want to major in criminology (which is why I’ve chosen the schools I have). </p>
<p>First off, should I retake the SAT? I’d like to be competitive with applicants at UPenn and 640 on writing is below 25%. I’m satisfied with my critical reading and math scores, and I’m fairly confident I could do better on the writing section, so I’m mainly just asking to see whether you all think it’s necessary. </p>
<p>Second, (this part is more complicated) I’m homeschooled. I wasn’t up until about a year ago. I was at a private school for three semesters, where I made great grades (mostly A+'s, highest GPA in my class) but, for reasons I’d rather not go into detail about I had to home school. I also couldn’t take the AP tests for the AP classes I had been taking. Now, my current schedule (which I just study on my own) is: AP Calc AB, AP Physics B, AP English Lang, AP US History, and Latin I (I need to fulfill my language requirement). The AP courses I had been taking sophomore year were Chemistry and World History. Should I try and take those AP tests this year in addition to what I’m already taking? </p>
<p>So, how does being homeschooled affect my application process and chances of being admitted? (to any of these schools, not just UPenn) I understand there’s a homeschool supplement, but it worries me a bit because it assumes one is homeschooled by choice. I have to out of necessity. Is that a good enough reason? </p>
<p>As far as extracurriculars go, I kind of have bizarre, untraditional things. I lift weights and am a fitness model. (Not sure how much you need to know about this, but I am very good at this. I have been “nationally recognized” sort of) I volunteer at the local police station, mainly doing busy work. That’s unfortunately about it. I know that’s not very much, but I’m not at a traditional school, so I can’t just join clubs.</p>
<p>Another thing I have been considering, if I get rejected from my first couple of choices, is doing something I didn’t think I would do until after college. That is, join the Navy and try to become a SEAL. That has been my dream, but my parents wanted to me to get a college degree before joining. I’m in incredible shape, and I think I have the mental discipline. And, it recently occurred to me that I don’t necessarily have to follow their advice. Plus, if I served and ended with an honorable discharge, I could still get an undergraduate degree and with a sizable financial advantage. I guess it’s just something to think about.</p>
<p>Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read this! I know I ramble a bit, so forgive me on that. But, I look forward to hearing your advice. </p>
<p>eerily</p>