[List view of 2016 Acceptances - copy and paste, and add your student here so we can celebrate!!!]

It came in last evening... MIT +ve!

 

So thankful to the many homeschoolers here, especially Kathy in Richmond. Even though we do not know her personally, we have benefited much from her helpful and inspiring postings.

 

 

 

[The fun things colleges think up!]

I grew up on a small farm. When I went away to college, it was the animal companionship I missed the most. I used to say that I could talk to the people I missed on the phone, but that didn't work with the animals.

 

We were elated to see this the other day 

Colleges for Animal Lovers http://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/colleges-for-animal-lovers

[Living books to go with Chemistry?]

I second John Emsley's The 13th Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus. 

If the library doesn't have it, dealoz.com might have the place for an inexpensive copy 

http://www.dealoz.com/prod?gtin=09780471441496&query=&op=&op2=buy

 

[Letters of recommendation from online providers, tutors, mentors, etc.]

Some schools that don't need LOR:

Washington https://admit.washington.edu/Admission/Freshmen/NoLetters

Illinois https://www.admissions.illinois.edu/FAQ/applicant-freshman

Arizona http://admissions.arizona.edu/freshmen/frequently-asked-questions

Minnesota http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/admissioninfo/fresh_checklist.html

I'm sure there are many more, check your in-state schools.

[Letters of recommendation from online providers, tutors, mentors, etc.]

It seems to me that some schools don’t favor LOR from online providers?

Example, Yale http://admissions.yale.edu/home-schooled-applicants

“Letters from an online instructor are acceptable but can be difficult to evaluate, as the teacher often has not had direct contact with the student.â€

[Existential Nihilism novels]

Personally not into any Lit at all, but from one teen to another teen, the suggestion is The Metamorphosis  

by Franz Kafka (warning: thick in symbolism).

[SAT/ ACT scores question]

The SAT student score report we got from the College Board shows a summary of the scores at the bottom half. In that summary there is a column that shows the grade level. The one from 7^th grade says <8. Not sure whether that is reported to the college though.

[Early graduation. Physics Major.]

Just an idea:

Your son could go ahead and get ready the applications for the 3 schools + maybe Harvard.

Wait for the early action mid-December decision notifications.

Then go on this forum, hs2coll@yahoogroups.com, and collegeconfidential.com to see the posted results and compare your son's stats with those who have been accepted, deferred or rejected (you might need to contact individuals directly to get the stats).

That might give you an idea of whether to submit the applications for the regular decision.

World record holder for Rubik's Cube is very cool, btw.

All the best!

[Importance of the ACT Writing Score]

We are not using the ACT scores because they are too old and would be expensive to de-archive them, 

but I know some schools say they don't require the ACT writing:

Chicago https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/applicants/firstyear

Wash U https://admissions.wustl.edu/apply/Freshman-Student-Admission/Pages/Freshman-Student-Requirements.aspx

Notre Dame http://admissions.nd.edu/apply/evaluation-criteria/

Georgetown https://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/firstyear/preparation

 

Don't have the link for Cornell, but got this in our spam "beginning with the entering Class of 2016, Cornell University 

will no longer require the Writing section of the SAT or ACT for students applying for freshman admission."

[DE vs. "Non-Degree Special Student" (for young student) (cross-posted)]

Just read this over at CC,

 

Homeschooled with MIT courses at 5, accepted to MIT at 15

http://news.mit.edu/2015/ahaan-rungta-mit-opencourseware-mitx-1116

[Any last minute stuff on taking the SAT?]

Depending on the kid, you might want to mention to her not to be distracted with strange behaviors, outfits, and uncomfortable furniture.

Mine had the SAT with a bunch of non-high school kids and at least one student napped for the SAT essay portion and another made loud groans on other sections.

For the ACT, she took it with high school kids who had skull underpants :laugh: and the tables were narrow and shaky.

[CSS Profile 2016-2017]

Participating Institutions and Programs

https://profileonline.collegeboard.org/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv

 

Remember to check the due dates; we just found out one of our schools is due in less than 2 weeks!

[Common App--college entrance exams question in school profile]

In the School Profile of the Common App, under the transcript tab, is this question:

 

Are college entrance examination scores included with or visible on the transcript?

 

Is this in reference to SAT and ACT scores? 

 

I think so.

[FYI SAT score report delay]

For some schools, test scores requested from the testing agency before the deadline will be considered as meeting the deadline.  

[What are some good classics to have 7th grade boy (who was a late, reluctant reader) read to prep for high school?]

Brian Jacques  http://www.redwallabbey.com/

[A strange application question....]

Congratulations!  :hurray: 

[A strange application question....]

Maybe a college with high acceptance rate? 

 

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/highest-acceptance-rate

 

Check out  Missouri Western State University -- easy application, late deadline.

 

https://www.missouriwestern.edu/admissions/admissions-requirements/

 

https://www.missouriwestern.edu/admissions/deadlines/

 

Joan

[High School Online Writing Classes]

I was trying to find out about classes at WriteAtHome, but their website was down.

 

Does anyone know whether it offers classes that combine

- grammar and composition OR

- literature and writing?

 

Also, what other online providers would you recommend that offer those combinations?

 

Thanks much!

[AP science sequence]

From what I've heard, if you're good in Math, AP Phy-Chem-Bio sequence would be good. Otherwise, AP Bio-Chem-Phy would be better.

 

However, mine did AP Chem first even though she's strong in Math. She decided to self-study and took AP Chem and Calc exams this year and got 5s.

 

BTW, if you decide to self-study for AP Chem, we strongly recommend http://www.adriandingleschemistrypages.com/apquiz.html for the MCQs. We are super grateful for those quizzes!

[zumdahl chemistry test?]

Mine did most of the odd-numbered exercises at the end of each chapter. I then used the Student Solutions Guide to grade her work. The ultimate test was the AP exam. So she also spent some time practicing with the Princeton Review right after the relevant chapter(s).

 

Just one month before the AP exam, I came across some links like

http://www.adriandingleschemistrypages.com/apquiz.html

and

http://www.appracticeexams.com/ap-chemistry

which were extremely helpful.

 

Well, we'll see how she performed in July's results.

[Tomorrow is the AP Bio exam. College board says that homeschooled kids get their code]

Yes, that is correct. DC took the exams last week and the coordinator provided it while she filled in the forms.

 

You can also refer to this where someone posted the codes

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=376900

[Who else is taking APs this week and next?]

DC self-studied AP Chem and Calc BC and is taking the Chem exam now. All the best!

[AP codes for homeschoolers!]

Also thanks to Moira in MA although DC is not taking AP English Language.

[AP codes for homeschoolers!]

Thank you Kathy in Richmond, it's good to know what to expect.

 

Also previously I thought the student has to use pens for the Calculus and Chemistry Free Response Sections, but I just found out from the exam instructions that pens or pencils will work. Pens are only specifically mentioned for filling in personal information like names and dates.

 

The exam instructions by subjects can be found here:

http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/ap/test-day/instructions

[AP codes for homeschoolers!]

Not intending to hijack... but does the AP exam FRQ answer booklet come with wide ruled or just plain sheets for the students to write the answers?

 

TIA