Homeschooling and College Admissions Difficulties

[Anonymous]

We've homeschooled our eldest through HS due to her medical issues and have faced much difficulty with the college admissions process so far. The process at most colleges espe those in the top tier doesn't seem homeschool friendly. Plus the lack of good advice of a decent guidance counselor during the 4 years of HS planning has made things even more difficult. We don't have the money for private college counseling. My husband remembers the process from the 1980s and thought the journey would be similar for our daughter. We were so deluded and didn't realize until too late that getting into to top colleges has become magnitudes more difficult than in our day. Applicants are expected not only to have top grades and test scores (understand that standardized test scores are even more important for homeschooled kids) but multitudes of meaningful extra-curriculars and/or athletics and strong evidence of leadership skills. Our D has been rejected from all her early action/early decision choices including the college my husband attended and are fearful for her regular decision outcomes. We realize now that we didn't prepare our D well for the whole college admissions process and feel awful that we've given her poor advice. How do the rest of you successfully navigate the college admissions game?

[Anonymous]

There are still colleges that have rolling admissions. She could apply to those attend for a year or two and transfer.

[Anonymous]

In your situation, I would do community college for a year or two and then transfer.

[Anonymous]

Parent of a chronically ill kid - not homeschooled but I did HS other older DK a long time ago.

Yes, college entrance is radically different these days and as you know from having an ill child, readjusting expectations is a constant theme.

Our oldest applied to 2 colleges last year because we insisted even though she intended to take this year to pursue an interest. Here are some tips.

Once you drop below the top tier or two you will find it to be easier to get in - I would scour the Well Trained Mind forum and other HS forums to find out what colleges appreciate or accept homeschoolers. There are so many great colleges out there. Perhaps your kid would do better at a SLAC and can 1) aim for Ivies for grad school, when it really counts or 2) transfer up after doing well at the first school, if that's her passionate desire.

We struggle with whether to disclose the health issues as our younger DK who was so ill approaches college. It is conundrum for sure but it also has matured their outlook and forced them to face what is essential in life - that would make a great essay topic.

You can look at schools where they do reads and don't just cut off by scores and GPA (William and Mary is one I believe).

Good luck - student and parents should be encouraged to keep an open mind and yes, however frustrating it is, realize that getting to the place she wants to be may take and extra step or two.

[Anonymous]

GW has a handful of homeschooled students.

[Anonymous]

this post could have been (and is being written) by parents of kids not homeschooled. It is much more competative for the top schools. But there are tons of great schools out there. Thsi is basically what a guidence counselor woudl ahve told you. Your dd's list of school would likely be more expansive. Can you do a gap year - get something meaningful on her application (spend that year involved full-time in a local organization whiel taking a class to two at a community college to show she can do teh wrok)

[Anonymous]

If your child has an illness that prevents her from attending public school, how do you expect her to survive college? I say this as a parent of a college student who has a chronic illness. I would think a community college pathway program would be best. If your child does well, she should be assured of acceptance into the top state school. It’s better to make it through a great school instead of just into a top school.

[Anonymous]

OP, you better have a real good reason for homeschooling. You say, "medical issues". That is not enough information, not for colleges. As pp noted, if your DC's condition prevents them from being able to attend public school, how is it they will ok going away to college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you better have a real good reason for homeschooling. You say, "medical issues". That is not enough information, not for colleges. As pp noted, if your DC's condition prevents them from being able to attend public school, how is it they will ok going away to college?

DC has POTS which we had hoped she would grow out of. Not sure at this point she is healthy enough for college unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Patrick Henry College in Purcellville.

Your normal path is probably not going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Look into small liberal arts colleges. I attended one and was able to do several independent studies my junior and senior year. Don't worry if it's not top tier. I was a fellowship for grad school at a top tier school. Good luck to your dd.

[Anonymous]

My friends have had the opposite happen, OP. They have been able to tailor the application to specific colleges and emphasize all the amazing things the kids were doing during their HS careers. Lots of colleges have a dedicated homeschool admissions person. The kids all got into Local State U Honors College or nice private universities.

Did you have a homeschool network? Our offers homeschooling through high school and how to get in to college panel discussions, so I think maybe you guys were a bit isolated and I'm sorry about that. But a little bit of on-line research would have let you know that college admissions are different now.

I think local community college and then transfer might work for you. Or a gap year with some stand-out experiences and try again next year now that you know what it's like out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Patrick Henry College in Purcellville.

Your normal path is probably not going to happen.

No - many colleges appreciate homeschoolers, including the top tier. But the Ivies are taking kids who homeschooled so they could train for the Olympics or win the National Spelling Bee, etc. You will have to adjust your expectations just like every other parent out there. Do not settle for Patrick Henry. Give us your DC's test scores and level of courses/GPA and we can make suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Also ask yourself why you're so interested in "top tier." Think beyond the name and prestige and academics. Think about what the student body will be like, what the culture and environment will be like, what the classwork and exams will be like, etc.

+1 for a small liberal arts college. There are plenty that are still highly ranked and extremely rigorous. It may be better for your DD, who had an atypical high school experience, to be a big fish in a little pond rather than just another minnow at an Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Homeschooled neighbor (all through HS) went to a not-too-far-away state U last year. Strict religious family. Now she's back home. Guess being sheltered didn't prepare her for college life.