<p>You’ve got a long way to go to dig out, but I’m confident that someone with your motivation can do it. You’ve homeschooled yourself on a shoestring and with no support - if you can do that, you can do about anything.</p>
<p>It will be hard/impossible for you to get into MIT, Stanford, Cornell, NYU, etc. But that’s ok because there are lots of good colleges. Most people didn’t go to MIT, etc., and still make good lives for themselves. It is a complete fallacy that you must go to a top school to succeed.</p>
<p>Now for your questions:</p>
<p>1 - you can make your own transcript. You don’t need to do it since age 12, just for 9th through 12th grades. I used Excel to make my son’s. You can use Excel or a Google Docs spreadsheet. Examples can be found here: [HSLDA</a> | Homeschooling Thru High School : Academics](<a href=“High School & Beyond”>http://www.hslda.org/highschool/academics.asp#transcripts) There are also a few links about creating them on this site. I know there are transcript builders as well, but I didn’t use them.</p>
<p>2 - I don’t think ECs matter that much except at the very top schools. You should spend any extra time preparing for tests / getting a job, not with community service or math camps.</p>
<p>3, 4, 5 - Taking tests is a good idea, but you don’t need to take tests in all subjects for four years. I’d recommend working seriously on spelling. Your essays won’t be taken seriously with your spelling, though your grammar is mostly fine. I’d recommend the SAT or ACT, and a few SAT subject tests of your favorite / best subjects. The GED might also be a good plan if you really don’t have enough on your transcript.</p>
<p>6 - I don’t think learning a new language for fun is the best use of your time at this stage.</p>
<p>7 - You can only take AP tests during two specific weeks in May. AND they don’t help significantly with college applications. I don’t see much point. If you really want to get college credit without college classes, AP is ok, as is CLEP, I believe.</p>
<p>8 - Yes, you will need to get recommendation letters.</p>
<p>9 - When you go to college, they will have differential equations and quantum physics. You need to work on <strong>getting to</strong> college, not <strong>replacing</strong> college.</p>
<p>As for umbrella schools, I have no experience. I know they’ve been defined on this forum (perhaps even in this thread!) and elsewhere on the internet. Basically they collect / provide / grade your classes, and create a transcript and diploma for you. They are treated like a private school. Some people swear by them, others ignore them.</p>
<p>My advice:
Taking you at your word, you’ve done an astounding job of preparing yourself in math, and presumably science, with no support. However, your education is very uneven and you aren’t prepared for the top schools. There’s no reason you can’t go to them for grad school, if you do well for your BS degree. But for now, you have to make up for an uneven education. </p>
<p>Probably the hardest thing for unschoolers (I’m guessing, having gone to traditional schools myself) is to submit to the rigor and schedules and rules of learning at someone else’s pace and scope. You’ve had the time to watch MIT lectures without the responsibility of having to take spelling or tests or anything else you didn’t want to do. But to get a college degree, you’ll have to take the classes prescribed by the school.</p>
<p>I would recommend you consider starting in community college, not a four-year university. Community college is cheaper than university and often has smaller classes. They will be able to help you bring up the skills you are lacking. A good community college will have articulation agreements with local universities for transferring to after a couple years.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>