I have no idea but strange stuff happens. I spent a memorable week in quarantine for measles in college-down the hall in another isolation unit was my fellow student who had chicken pox. Might have been more enjoyable if I could have gone home rather than sit in a hospital but...now it is just a good story.

We toured MSU this summer and one of my kids said it was either the best (or near to best) presentation of any they went on. The tour guides and presenters were personable, knowledgeable, informative, responsive and professional. They ranked their guides at MSU higher than the ones they had at schools like UVa. I don't think my oldest will end up applying but that is based on a program specific issue rather than an overall impression of the school. And you can always point out who has the ranked football team this year... :laugh:

I haven't finished mine but yours (Swimmermom) look very similar to what I expect to end up with. For science, math, and some social science I think I will be making note of publisher, edition, and possibly year of the text(s) used. While for lit that doesn't seem as relevant I think it will be in those subjects. Based on the conversations I had with admissions officers this summer--a paragraph + book list is typically sufficient to their need and many are grateful for anything they receive as it seems more uncommon than common to have solid documentation in a form they can understand. They said they do appreciate contact information for the "teacher" (read-parent) so they can come back with any questions if needed. More a just in case situation rather than that they always contact parents. (PS--Loving this thread-I need to keep being pushed through this process!)

This is exactly how I went off to college. In the end the two hardest parts were communication and the fact I'd never flown before. I had to work out navigating cross country transportation on my own and that was intimidating. I would also make sure she has a way, that isn't cost prohibitive and is private, to talk to home. Be it Skype, cellphone, calling card or a combination. There were times I needed to share my worries with home but didn't want my dormmates listening in. Overall it was a great experience and probably harder on the family I left behind. Also, there are probably lots of folks on campus in a similar situation--she won't be alone. I will have kids in a similar situation--I plan on keeping funding for at least one parent to fly out to campus for a true emergency in reserve. Not that I anticipate needing it but..just in case. (call that one of the unplanned costs of college)

Please don't misunderstand me--I in no way agree with the idea that homeschoolers should provide test scores in excess of those asked from any other student. I think it is ridiculous and have not encouraged my kids to consider schools that unfriendly to homeschoolers. If they want to pursue a school that has these excess requirements I'll certainly provide the opportunity to take the extra tests but so far they are as offended as I am. I was merely pointing out what I assume to be one (or more) of the possible explanations from the schools' point of view.

I think they use SAT subject test because there is no access issue for those as there can be with AP exams or with access to formally credentialed AP classes. I think it comes down to trust--they don't believe that homeschoolers are providing the level of education they claim they are and the school wants outside, objective proof that you have achieved all you claim. They want one standard of measure and don't want to sort through a variety of testing systems. Also, many students (in general) don't have a significant number of AP classes until senior year and therefore don't have scores until after admissions season. My dd researched a couple schools that want 5 SAT subject tests-typically with which tests specified by subject area (i.e. one each in math, English, Foreign Language, etc.). I left that choice up to her.

Have you looked at Professor Carol/Circle of Scholars. As a former professor, she offers several music history courses, online videos, quizzes, tests and extra research projects. Grading is either by parent or by computer-no actual teacher interaction.

Pre-AP is actually a College Board idea-sort of... http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/preap/index.html it seems that schools are misunderstanding and misusing it. It also seems that AP courses now require so much background knowledge that kids aren't actually being given that background knowledge and skill in their middle/early high school years. But--if a school had a pre-req for a class I'd think long and hard about asking for an exception if I hadn't covered the material already since they probably expect you know the contents of the pre-req and teach accordingly. FWIW-eaons ago when I was in high school we were required to complete a basic science course before taking the advanced version. We didn't technically have "AP" science but for Biology we we on to Anatomy and Physiology, for Chem onto Organic Chem, etc. I also think that colleges are a bit ridiculous in thinking all kids will have taken all 3 major branches of science. In some IB programs you focus your study on one or two in preparation for those IB exams-after a taking a year of general science (covering all 3). Anecdotally, my niece is currently attending a large university that list all 3 as required lab sciences in high school but she didn't have all 3 and was admitted ED with solid scores and GPA but nothing spectacular out of a public school.

I prefer calendars that are resident on my computer and that will sync with a smart phone rather than internet based. Most can import/export info from public calendars like google so one could import a school or class schedule if published. Among other benefits I like that they are available off line as well.

Good question-I've been curious too. My initial plan was not to list any schools that weren't actually providing an official transcript. Since I'm ultimately responsible where online schools have been used I wasn't going to add them. Rather I have designations on the transcript and explanations with the course description/profile about the online providers. (Yes, I say "I" since I think this comes under my area rather than being my student's responsibility.)

If I remember college correctly--those who run amok during the first weeks, before homework is seriously checked, before any quizzes or exams, etc. are often stopped short by the first exam looming or once they get those exam results back. Not that this transformation happens to all but that reality check is good for many of them. Learning how to manage that much freedom and free time is a skill to be learned and not always innate.

I would say 5+ per week over a 35-40 week year would be the average.

I've filed this away for the future... Thank you-I hope Purdue keeps it going!

Thank you! I appreciate the help!

Are there similar agreements for other parts of the US?

If one has a kid doing DE... Would it be easier to frame community demographics based on those populations that the Community College serves-and, therefore, that the student was educated with? And then include the nomadic nature of high school in a more personal section? Not necessarily and answer-just a thought.

Perhaps we could try... "Well, I hope I learn to drink heavily-people begin to suspect you're hustling them at pool if you're sober and I'll need to pay my tuition bills somehow..." I'm feeling quite snarky today. Apologies, again. I suppose I should add that none of my commentary is derived from any belief on my part that Clemmie is any better (or worse) than any other homeschooled (or otherwise educated) kid, because she is just a normal kid. I am actually perturbed by the random use of homeschool stereotypes in general.

Most ire inducing! Just wanted to let folks know how we fixed the problem--in case it should happen to someone else. (Which I hope it doesn't!)

My nieces are both RAs at largish State Us and they have had to do safety checks--typically related to fire and electrical issues. Ie-appliances, appropriate surge protection, extension cords, candles, and such. They have also found plenty of other violations of campus regs that get wrapped up in the inspection. I'm not sure cleanliness is an issue (unless it is so gross that there are health and safety/infestation violations).

Thank you all!! :001_smile: I think part of what frustrates me is that this is someone who has known my kids for the past year and yet they are letting the stereotypes run rampant over their own knowledge of my kids. Sigh-perhaps I expect too much. But I appreciate the support-I needed it today!!

So dd#1, Clemmie, tried to log into Common App this past weekend. (She is taking it bite by bite rather than all in one go.) She couldn't log in, tried a couple times, checked passwords & caps lock, tried the password reset, and when she tried to reset-received the message that there was no account associated with her email. After a few deep breathing exercises ( :scared: ) we closed out the browser completely, re-opened and made sure we typed a fresh link into the browser. Then carefully entered email and password. Everything appeared no problem. It was weird and panic inducing. So keep copies of those essays elsewhere-just in case.

I'm not exactly sure what she said in response to the kid. She is in the position of needing not to burn bridges nor create a situation where there would be resulting conflict between our families. She is also aware she and her siblings are probably the only homeschoolers this kid has ever met or had prolonged interaction with. Shame she is so unsocialized that she couldn't possibly have come to any of the above conclusions on her own. (total sarcasm in that statement since she is aware of all of the above-without having to be told-and I'm sure had a diplomatic response, or at least only as undiplomatic as was possible under the circumstances)

Apologies in advance, but I needed to say this out loud where folks would understand. Very frustrated with the teen who informed Clemmie (dd #1 in my sig) this weekend that she was the sort of kid who would go wild when she arrived at college since she was homeschooled. The rational being (according to this teen) that people only homeschool their kids to keep them from being vaccinated and/or learning about evolution. This sheltered lifestyle was going to make my kid a party girl from day one. Argh! There is so much wrong with this that I can't even form the words properly. Sigh-thank you for listening and letting me vent.

Thank you, I took the "supervisor" part to mean the outside evaluator not the parent. (I am under the impression that an outside evaluator is part of the requirements in PA.) I don't think our kid #1 is looking at PA but kid #2 is only a couple years behind...trying to keep my knowledge up.

So given the new law in PA, how would a homeschooler from another state that doesn't use supervisor awarded diplomas or evaluators prove high school graduation? Do out of state applicants still need a GED?