CA Homeschoolers...CHSPE and CC vs. SATSubject Testing route

[...................]

If you are not a homeschooler in CA please, please let the CA homeschoolers answer...(It seems people from other states love to chime in and are clueless as to the situation here.)

 

Anyway...

 

Eventually my son would like to go to CalPoly, or UC Davis for Software Engineering...he is already actually somewhat of a child prodigy in programming, has written his own programming language, contributes to several open Source repositories, as well as took and passed the HarvardX Comp Sci 50 Course and over 10 easy Programming courses and many countless books.

 

In academics, he is generally above the 90th percentile but not a genius.  

 

We are VERY stressed out in trying to understand the idea of the UC requirements for the Testing Route. Right now they require OVER 6 SAT subject or AP tests, as well as a high score on the SAT AND a specfic personal statement of why you chose to homeschool AND they also require leadership demonstration in your area of passion.  With this route, my son not only needs to be an amazing student, but he needs to study the Barron's Test Prep Books,

 

Edited:  Thankfully, it looks like getting seats for the SAT Subject tests is nota  problem, although it is still a problem for any AP tests, or the PSAT (Thank you Regentrude!)

 

This route seems extremely stressful to me, and to my son.  He asked, why not just take the CHSPE and start CC at 16?  He is pretty mature in some areas and immature in others.  Mostly , he is just innocent and I am sure the first semester would be a shock.

 

At this point, I don't really "get" why anyone bothers with the testing route...other than socially?  I would be sort of afraid with my son attending CC full time at 16...

 

 

[regentrude]

AND I need to be going crazy every year finding a place for him to test.  Our ISP only provides one test date, and since he would need to take one test freshman or Soph year, and up to two tests every year thereafter, I would have to go in person to convince local public high schools to give him a seat (which they HATE to do...they are total jerks about it here unlike back in FL...they were always accomodating!)  I have a friend currently who has called 4 private schools and 5 public high schools trying to find a seat for her son to take the PSAT in NOVEMBER, and they are saying, they have no space or do not accomodate homeschoolers.

 

I am sorry to violate your rule that only CA homeschoolers can answer, but I have pertinent information that applies to CA as well:

The bolded is incorrect for SAT subject tests. In order to take SAT subject tests you do not have to call any schools and beg for a seat, because the registration is done online through the CollegeBoard which gives a list of testing sites. The local school is not involved in setting up testing for the SAT or SAT subject tests; if they are a listed testing site and you register while they have still space, you are in.

This is completely different than for the PSAT and AP where students register at the school.

[...................]

 

I am sorry to violate your rule that only CA homeschoolers can answer, but I have pertinent information that applies to CA as well:

The bolded is incorrect for SAT subject tests. In order to take SAT subject tests you do not have to call any schools and beg for a seat, because the registration is done online through the CollegeBoard which gives a list of testing sites. The local school is not involved in setting up testing for the SAT or SAT subject tests; if they are a listed testing site and you register while they have still space, you are in.

This is completely different than for the PSAT and AP where students register at the school.[

 

Wow that is excellent pertinent info. I know many friends struggle to find seats for aP and PSAT so this is at least a big improvement. We would still have to jump through hoops for those but knowing we could just register for the SAT subjects is much better than I thought.

[Laurel-in-CA]

Here are some things to consider:

• How many credits can he take @ CC and still apply as a freshman to Cal Poly or UC Davis? This is the best way to be eligible for freshman scholarship money.
• What's the total cost for all those SAT tests vs. taking the CHSPE? My understanding is the SAT II tests don't earn you college credit either; with CC classes as long as you stick to the agreed course of study you take the credits with you.
• If he applies as a transfer student, there is more work and less money out there to find and apply for scholarships.
• Cal Poly SLO and Pomona are the two most selective of the CSU schools -- I do know of homeschool students who've gone to both as well as UC Davis.

My son took the CHSPE (twice because he didn't finish the math section the first time) and went to CC @ 16. He was there 3.5 years....partly because he applied spring semester for transfer and there wasn't space. He's starting at SSU this week, actually, with an AA and a certificate under his belt. We decided the savings at our CC more than balanced out the relative inaccessibility of scholarships. In fact, he'll be living @ home, paying most of his own tuition and graduating debt-free.

 

Blessings on your decision process!

[Lawyer&Mom]

I did the testing route almost 20 years ago. Admittedly the rules have changed somewhat, but I think I can offer some perspective.

 

Six SAT II's or AP tests wouldn't be that unusual for a UC caliber kid. If you are aiming to be admitted into a competitive program you will likely satisfy the testing route requirements anyway.

 

There are great reasons to do the CC route. I knew fantastic students who transferred to Berkeley, paid less tuition and usually had better GPAs than the students who started as freshmen. That said, I really needed the Berkeley social experience, and I would not have found that at my CC. (I'm sure of this, I did DE.)

 

Both paths have pros and cons, it depends on what your kid needs.

[...................]

Ok, so I sat down, and it turns out it's now 9 tests.  9 tests, and at least two DE courses...1 for Geometry becuase they no longer accept any testing for Geometry.  And one for Visual or Fine Arts. 

 

The point you mention about a UC caliber kid actually being able to pass the tests anyway, after they have done the course, is interesting.

[...................]

Here are some things to consider:

• How many credits can he take @ CC and still apply as a freshman to Cal Poly or UC Davis? This is the best way to be eligible for freshman scholarship money.
• What's the total cost for all those SAT tests vs. taking the CHSPE? My understanding is the SAT II tests don't earn you college credit either; with CC classes as long as you stick to the agreed course of study you take the credits with you.
• If he applies as a transfer student, there is more work and less money out there to find and apply for scholarships.
• Cal Poly SLO and Pomona are the two most selective of the CSU schools -- I do know of homeschool students who've gone to both as well as UC Davis.

My son took the CHSPE (twice because he didn't finish the math section the first time) and went to CC @ 16. He was there 3.5 years....partly because he applied spring semester for transfer and there wasn't space. He's starting at SSU this week, actually, with an AA and a certificate under his belt. We decided the savings at our CC more than balanced out the relative inaccessibility of scholarships. In fact, he'll be living @ home, paying most of his own tuition and graduating debt-free.

 

Blessings on your decision process!

 

All good points.  

1.  I think it's under 60 but I'm not sure.  However, he would have to Dual Enroll in order to be counted as a freshman, and our CC's down here are so overcrowded that you can't expect to get any classes as a DE unless it's a very obscure class - thus, dual enrolling is only now relegated to the homeschoolers that just want to supplement the Testing Route.

 

2.  Therefore, you either have to go the Testing Route with 2-3 DE's or, you have to take the CHSPE and become a Transfer Student, not a Freshman.

 

3.  Scholarships are not so much an issue.  If he can get into a good school, he will be able to pay off all his loans the first year of work, in the field he is aiming for.

 

4.  Thank you for your own story about your own family and son.  He has done well!  You should be very proud and it's very inspiring.  :o)

[Lawyer&Mom]

I see you are looking to satisfy the A-G requirements through testing. I initially thought you were considering admission by examination. It requires high scores, but fewer tests. It's what I did in 1997.

 

http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/freshman/minimum-requirements/examination/index.html

[Lawyer&Mom]

The point you mention about a UC caliber kid actually being able to pass the tests anyway, after they have done the course, is interesting.

I still think this is true, especially for the top schools.

[...................]

So admission by exam just means you need super high scores...

 

satisfying the A-G through testing means you just need above average scores on each of the said tests? 

 

 

[SeaConquest]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you take the CHSPE and still be in high school taking cc classes for dual credit? I thought you could dual enroll, but had to pay full cost (thus exempting you from lower enrollment priority) vs. enrolling for free (with low priority).

[chiguirre]

BYU offers UC approved courses to meet the A-G requirements. I don't know anything else about it, but it might be an option for Geometry.

 

https://is.byu.edu/site/about/uc/index.cfm?

[SeaConquest]

BYU offers UC approved courses to meet the A-G requirements. I don't know anything else about it, but it might be an option for Geometry.

 

https://is.byu.edu/site/about/uc/index.cfm?

There is also UC Scout.

[Laurel-in-CA]

All good points.  

1.  I think it's under 60 but I'm not sure.  However, he would have to Dual Enroll in order to be counted as a freshman, and our CC's down here are so overcrowded that you can't expect to get any classes as a DE unless it's a very obscure class - thus, dual enrolling is only now relegated to the homeschoolers that just want to supplement the Testing Route.

 

2.  Therefore, you either have to go the Testing Route with 2-3 DE's or, you have to take the CHSPE and become a Transfer Student, not a Freshman.

 

3.  Scholarships are not so much an issue.  If he can get into a good school, he will be able to pay off all his loans the first year of work, in the field he is aiming for.

 

4.  Thank you for your own story about your own family and son.  He has done well!  You should be very proud and it's very inspiring.   :o)

 

Actually, I've been told that kids can take the CHSPE (so as to go f/t to the CC and collect seniority/units so they can register earlier w/better chance to get classes) while still enrolled in your private homeschool or a psp. If you do that, you do have to pay full price @ CC...and we didn't file the FAFSA until he was an official college student, not a dual enrollment guy. They aren't "graduates" of high school until you say they are. So you could go to the CC f/t while still enrolled in private homeschool. As long as it's less than then 60-unit limit for transfer units (I do think that's the right #) they're still freshman to the accepting university.

 

My son chose to get the AA because he wasn't sure he'd want to go on and get a BA. We did finally talk him into it, but he wanted a completed AA rather than a "transfer AA" to hedge his bets.

[Laurel-in-CA]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you take the CHSPE and still be in high school taking cc classes for dual credit? I thought you could dual enroll, but had to pay full cost (thus exempting you from lower enrollment priority) vs. enrolling for free (with low priority).

 

You can take the CHSPE and use it as a high school diploma OR you can take the CHSPE and use it to back up your enrollment in CC while in high school (our lowest age to take classes here is 14). If you take the CHSPE, you aren't a dual enrollment student to the CC....they will charge you like a regular student AND (the biggie) you will accumulate seniority so as to register earlier and have a better chance of getting the classes you want. Dual enrollment students may not pay and always have to wait until last to register so they have less chance of getting the classes they want.

 

We were very fortunate that our area CC offered a fee waiver from a well-funded reserve so, in effect, ds paid only for books and parking during his whole time @ CC. That's unusual, I think, at least here in CA, but we are thrilled with our CC.

[quark]

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[Lawyer&Mom]

So admission by exam just means you need super high scores...

 

satisfying the A-G through testing means you just need above average scores on each of the said tests?

Yes.

[Mabelen]

Not a homeschooler but in California with a current UC student. My daughter had eight AP tests and three subject SATs plus very high SAT scores. This is just to say that I am in absolute agreement with regards to expectations for UC caliber candidates.

 

I did the testing route almost 20 years ago. Admittedly the rules have changed somewhat, but I think I can offer some perspective.

 

Six SAT II's or AP tests wouldn't be that unusual for a UC caliber kid. If you are aiming to be admitted into a competitive program you will likely satisfy the testing route requirements anyway.

 

There are great reasons to do the CC route. I knew fantastic students who transferred to Berkeley, paid less tuition and usually had better GPAs than the students who started as freshmen. That said, I really needed the Berkeley social experience, and I would not have found that at my CC. (I'm sure of this, I did DE.)

 

Both paths have pros and cons, it depends on what your kid needs.

[Ellie]

ETA: I live in CA but please be aware that policies can be different from CC to CC and within CC departments themselves. We've heard of issues where some of the CC admissions folk don't even know what the CHSPE is and students have had to ask to speak with their superiors.

 

YES!!!!

 

Where we lived (San Jose), many hsers began taking classes at one of the c.c. when they were 14--no CHSPE, because they were not old enough to take it. They attended the c.c as "student under 18 not enrolled in high school," and received college credit. They were not dual-enrolled students. Yes, they paid tuition. But this was the only c.c. in the area which did that. Others required dual-enrollment, and limited how many credits the students could take each quarter/semester.

[...................]

Not a homeschooler but in California with a current UC student. My daughter had eight AP tests and three subject SATs plus very high SAT scores. This is just to say that I am in absolute agreement with regards to expectations for UC caliber candidates.

 

 

Was this for Berkeley? ..I'm even more stressed out now lol...we are shooting for top choice UC Davis, then CalPoly

[Susie in CA]

I would have my kids take the CHSPE and go to community college with the goal of completing all the transfer required classes and then have them transfer in to either school as a junior. And YES, we have numerous homeschool friends who did this successfully within the last couple of years. The once I know personally transferred into UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego and UCLA. This is, imo, the best way to avoid most of the stress. All the kids I know enjoyed a relative relaxing community college career and are now fine at their UC. One I know of already graduated from UC Santa Cruz.

 

Hope this helps.

[Mabelen]

Was this for Berkeley? ..I'm even more stressed out now lol...we are shooting for top choice UC Davis, then CalPoly

I would not want to add to your stress, but no, not Berkeley. Although my daughter's AP scores and SATs were right there for any UC campus, her GPA (bright but disorganized student) was only in line for mid range UC campuses. She was still top 9% state wide but not competitive enough for Berkeley, plus she had no desire either and didn't even apply. For UCB or UCLA, you have to be a top candidate or have a hook of some sort, like first generation, low income, adversity, athlete etc. have a look at the UC website, they publish freshman stats for each campus to see how your student compares. Good luck!

[quark]

Freshman admission profiles by campus:

http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/freshman/profiles/

[Jenn in CA]

My 3 oldest did chspe/cc at age 15-16 ish. So unstressful and simple. Dh is a cc prof so we are a bit biased.

 

I started the SAT subject test route with one of my kids but he just did OK on the test and I think a cc 4.0 is much more impressive than mediocre test scores.

 

As for being young on campus, most ccs don't have a big social culture and none of my kids, even my girl, felt uncomfortable or out of place.

 

A kid who really wants to go to a four year for all four years, maybe for the social life or the academic challenge, may not be happy at the cc.

 

As for scholarships UC has a great transfer scholarship. I think it's the Regents? My hunch is that there's actually less competition for transfer than freshman scholarships because there are fewer transfers.

 

Check with your local ccs for rules etc. Where are you? I'm in Sac. You can check transfer rates for ccs. Pick the one with the highest. And see the counselor every semester!!

 

Another CA option may be to enroll him in a charter school if you have one. Most of them meet a-g for high school but you may have to drastically change your curriculum to do it esp if you aren't in one already.

[AEC]

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