<p>Hey, if this thread looks familiar, it’s because I posted it in the College Admissions forum. But I wanted to post it here in the Parents Forum as well to see what parents think.</p>
<p>Let’s say that you, as a high schooler, had an opportunity to work in the federal government for a semester in a special position created specifically for a high school-aged youth. However, let’s say this was 2nd semester and that this position placed minimal importance on academics but more focus on politics. Let’s also say that although you took a 1st semester of US History, a 1st semester of German, a 1st semester of English Lit, etc. but you didn’t get to finish the 2nd semester of any of these subjects because you had to leave school to work in this position. So there is only 1 semester for each subject on your high school transcript, and you never got to finish them up because it would mean re-taking 1 semester each 7 subjects, which you didn’t have enough time to do.</p>
<p>Considering what I just said, how much would this lack of 2nd semester hurt you in college admissions? I mean, it IS a once-in-a-lifetime, awesome opportunity, but what if it kind of screws up your academics?</p>
<p>I mean what if it’s your DREAM… I know people say colleges want to see people do things they love, but does this hold true even if it interferes with your academics?</p>
<p>If you don’t finish your second semester courses, will you GRADUATE from high school? That is pretty important. Are you saying you have the credits to graduate after that first semester your senior year? How are you fulfilling four year requirements (in our state that would be English and PE…no exceptions…four full years or you don’t graduate). </p>
<p>You need to answer those questions too. Some colleges will accept students who do not graduate from high school. BUT most require a final transcript that shows you were awarded your diploma.</p>
<p>Have you talked to the High School guidance office about this? That might be good place to start.</p>
<p>It doesn’t require me to drop out of school. It just requires me to discontinue the courses I’d be taking at my home school because the same exact courses would not be offered.</p>
<p>And yes, I’d graduate because the credits I’d get would transfer over. I’m kind of bad at explaining this I can see, but for example, at my high school, I’d take a 1st semester of US History and in the position if there were no US History, I wouldn’t finish up that course of US History and instead would take a 2nd semester of US Government or something else that was offered to me. </p>
<p>The problem I have is not with credits, but rather discontinuation of SUBJECTS that I’m worried about in college admissions…</p>
<p>If anyone is familiar with the Page program, that’s what I’m talking about…
I just stated it so vaguely in my first post because I wasn’t sure how familiar everyone would be with the Page program.</p>
<p>Well…when my kid applied to college, she listed the courses she was taking both semesters…and they were not always the same.</p>
<p>The only problem I see is IF a course is a full year course, are you positive your home school will award you credit for only completing half of it. For example, at our school…English is a full year course and you have to complete BOTH semesters to get the credit.</p>
<p>Is this a well established, well known program that colleges would be familiar with??</p>
<p>Yeah, it’s the Page program. So for example, I might take World History 1st semester and if that weren’t available to me as a page, I would have to take another social studies course like US Government. This would happen for SEVEN courses, so I’m worried about that…</p>
<p>So you’re saying colleges won’t think it’s a big deal if you take 2 different courses in each semester?</p>
<p>Why would you imagine that the experience of college is going to be in any way better than the experience you are being offered now? And do you really want to go to college where they can’t see the value of your pursuing your passion without neglecting your academics? Colleges are quite used to students who have participated in the Page program.</p>
<p>(By the way, and I had two homeschoolers), there are very, very few colleges in the nation that actually require a high school dlploma.)</p>
<p>That’s true, mini, I never really thought about it that way.</p>
<p>So is it worth causing damage to my academics to be a page? I don’t know if many people who become Pages are in the same situation as me, taking more than 1 math course and more than 1 english course…
Right now, I think it is. But I’m probably young and immature and acting on impulse…</p>
<p>I don’t see that you are damaging our academics in any way. All I see is that you will have different academics, which may be better or worse than those you are already enrolled in. (And all the other pages will be in virtually exactly the same boat.)</p>
<p>OK…now that I know the page program…yes, it is well worth doing if you are accepted into it. Go for it…great opportunity.</p>
<p>Mini, I believe you…but in BOTH of my kids cases, the colleges were very specific…final transcript had to indicate that you fulfilled all the requirements for graduation.</p>
<p>I worked on Capitol Hill in high school and it was very enlightening, I can’t imagine that your high school wouldn’t work with the page program to make sure that you’ll have the credits you need to graduate. I wouldn’t hesitate.</p>