<p>I think it’s fantastic that you were able and motivated to spend the time you did with your grandparents. You’ll never regret it. I’m just concerned that you might regret taking too much time now before getting yourself into college, if that’s what you want to do. You haven’t said how old you are. If you’re sixteen or so, there’s plenty of time to spend a few years getting ready before you apply. If you’re already eighteen, you might think about taking SAT’s soon and applying to your local community college, just to get things rolling. I’ve seen it happen with homeschoolers that they put off college because they think they haven’t proved themselves yet, when really the door was already wide open.</p>
<p>If you have time, and depending on where you will be applying, you might want to take a few graded classes somewhere as part of your homeschool curriculum. They could be courses through a reputable distance school, community college courses, or even a few classes at your local high school. Colleges have growing respect for homeschoolers, but they still like to see a few grades so they can have some idea how you fit in with your peers. Some colleges won’t care about this, and will be happy with a standardized test score, but if you’re going to aim for a more competitive school (and why not?), a few grades from outside the home can be a big help. If you’re older, you could start taking community college courses soon, and apply to a more competitive one a little later. </p>
<p>AP tests can also be a help. Some homeschoolers focus on them, and build much of their curriculum around them. There are many options, and it helps to think about them early on, so you have time to pursue them before it’s time to apply.</p>