Just generally how good are my chances?
Here is some info:
–I was in a program called Gifted from 3rd to 5th grade.
–I’ve made all A’s on my report cards with the exception of 3
–I was pulled into home school and am staying home schooled. I skipped a grade since i was able to learn at my own pace.
–I excel at Biology, Chemistry, and Math.
–Currently studying basic computer science and will, at some point, teach myself Cyber Security until i go to college (in 2 1/2 years).
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What are my chances? Say from 1 to 100. What do I need to work on in order to increase my chances?
Have you taken the ACT or SAT?
My understanding is that homeschooled students often have SAT subject tests scores that corroborate studies and in some cases CC classes.
GPA is only one factor.
Your pts 1 and 3 are irrelevant. Receiving merit aid depends on multiple factors but not those. Grad skipping, if it means graduating very young, can often be a negative. Schools do not give a a “bump” factor for age.
Different schools base merit on different factors, but they are usually based on some variation of GPA, test scores, courses taken, and strength of ECs outside of the classroom.
The biggest mistake you can make is to compare yourself to people you know and evaluate your chances based on your local perceptions. Merit, especially competitive merit (vs automatic), is based on national competition. There are superstar kids out there with amazing levels of achievement.
Fwiw, homeschooling can be a bonus bc you are not constrained by classroom options. But, you need to make sure you cover all your bases and have a rock solid transcript, course descriptions, and that your test scores match your achievements and you have some sort of outside validation for some of your activities/coursework if you want to be competitive for non-automatic scholarships. (For example, we homeschool and my Dd was awarded a competitive scholarship. She had international awards and represented the US in an international competition.)
Full rides are very hard to get, even with top stats.
If cyber security is your thing, see if you can join a Cyber Patriot team and win at the national level - or something equivalent. Many homeschooled students are allowed to participate in their local school activities, but you’d have to figure out what works for you. I don’t think self-studying would be as impressive as a proven record.
You’re obviously very bright, though, and you’ll find affordable options, I am sure of it.
No SAT or ACT score yet? No GPA? You are in the equivalent of 10th grade?
Full free ride? That’s what you want?
Let’s start here There are not a lot of those, and they are highly competitive.
Best thing you can do now…as a homeschooler? You will need tippy top SAT 2 scores and tippy top ACT or SAT scores. You will need some letters of reference from someone other than your parents. If you score very highly on the PSAT your junior year and become a national merit finalist, that could open some doors.
Skipping a grade and being in a gifted program years ago won’t matter one bit.
Is your family a low income family?
If you are talking about merit scholarships…make sure you are looking at colleges that give merit scholarships. Some don’t.
If you become a national merit finalist, you will have a chance at several full ride scholarsips. That is your best chance at full ride outside athletics.
I was told my 1st and 3rd points actually helped, so that sucks that it doesn’t matter. So high SAT, SAT 2, and ACT scores. A high PSAT score. A letter of reference. Is that all i can do, or just some main points?
As previously stated, your best shot a full ride scholarship is becoming a national merit finalist. You will need to score very well on your PSAT and then get a confirmation score on the SAT. If you need merit aid, the single best thing you can do is lots of test prep.
Full ride scholarships are very few and far between.
Being in a gifted program in elementary school and skipping a grade (your points 1 and 3 I believe) will have zero impact on scholarships.
Alright then. High SAT, SAT 2, ACT scores. A letter of reference and a lot of test prep. Is that all i can do? I kind of want to maximize my potential.
No. You need a solid transcript with courses covering all recommended courses (for competitive schools, 4 yrs of the same foreign language, histories, govt, etc.)
For non-automatic scholarships (not based on just GPA and test scores) you need outside achievements.
Extremely high grades in a very rigorous HS program.
Be sure you are taking the necessary classes. Many students on CC seem shocked that most colleges want at least 3 years of foreign language. Look up your dream schools and see what courses are required and be sure you haven’t skipped what you will need.
Have ECs that you enjoy. Volunteer in your community.
Please do not take advice on college admissions from the person who told you points 1 and 3 would help. Find an adult who has navigated this process before. Spend a lot of time studying the admission requirements for your preferred colleges, and take notes or make a spreadsheet of the information.
Do you have access to any type of academic counseling?
No. How do i get in contact with an academic counselor?
I’m not that familiar with the homeschool process.
@Mom2aphysicsgeek Are you able to offer the OP some advice?
You sound like you are fairly new to the college search process so here are a few tips:
- Colleges for the most part don't just want 'smart' - they want to know that a smart kid knows how to work. So it's not enough to have been identified as gifted when you were younger... that needs to be backed up by more recent proof (ie, SAT or ACT scores and GPA. Or as a homeschooler, by some other sort of verification like good grades in community college courses or from your online provider if you have one).
- There are not that many 'full ride' merit scholarships available in the US. Scholarships from the universities can be broken down into two types - 'need-based' (also known as financial aid) meaning that your family income qualifies you for grants or discounts or loans; and 'merit-based' which schools will give to top-performing students to entice them to come to their school over another school. Most of the very top schools don't give merit-based aid any more (although there are still a few who do)... you are more likely to receive it from a school that is easier for you to get into because they want to pull you away from a higher-tier school.
- Sometimes when you see on the news about some kid getting a full ride scholarship to an Ivy League or other high tier school, they are actually getting need-based aid because they come from a very low income family. They still deserve kudos for getting into the school, but the news does distort this piece of it sometimes.
I am very new to this actually. Your 3rd point alone just cleared up about %50 of my confusion. Thanks for the help.
Your 1st point cleared the other %50.
Merit aid and need-based aid are both financial aid. If someone is giving you (or even loaning you) money to help with your education expenses, that’s financial aid. It doesn’t matter if you’re getting the money because you have a high GPA and perfect test scores, because you come from an impoverished family, or because you’re a highly recruited Division I football player. It’s all money coming your way to help with college costs, also known as financial aid.