I had looked up the requirements (before you posted them) and I agree that I don't read it as requiring a GED. If he hasn't graduated from your homeschool high school, then he'd need a GED. If the university is requiring a GED as "proof" of high school education, then I'd call HSLDA (even if you are not a member). They might call the university on behalf of all homeschoolers because it certainly is a problem for more than just you in that case.

1) You should continue to move forward with testing for dyslexia. I'm not sure that it'll help you for the ACT or not, but it is important to establish a diagnosis so that he can receive accommodations in college. You can highlight in a counselor letter that the ACT score is likely lower if he did not receive accommodations. 2) Go ahead and test prep at home. I find it easiest to take practice tests with no time limit (but record the time) so that you can see the potential score and what problems you will have with time. 3) I would question if homeschoolers HAVE to have a 27 on the ACT if this is not the same for everyone else. Homeschoolers should not need to be held to higher standards to be admitted. If he's looking at the music school, then I would think a good music portfolio would make up for a slightly lower ACT score.

My miracle cure was Brave Writer courses. It was amazing how they stepped my non-writer through the process - both the structure of how to do an essay as well as the content. They take the student where they are and move them along. My dysgraphic oldest son continues to apply BW techniques to everything he does. He says he still hates to write, but if he has to, he wants to do it the Brave Writer way.

Brave Writer classes are great, start year round and last 4-6 weeks each. My middle schooler has taken several high school fiction writing classes through them. She's not ready for the more academic high school writing and will take those classes as a high schooler. Those classes did have several younger students, however, when my boys took the classes. Pick whatever class meets your need.

My son is in 10th and doing Latin 1 through KET distance learning here in KY. He started with Getting Started with Latin and then Latin Alive 1 (about half year before we dropped it). He started at the beginning of Latin 1 with KET. It is cheap for those of us in KY, but more expensive if you live elsewhere. I'd qualify it as good, but not overly rigorous. It has video lessons and computer homework - mostly computer graded, but also human graded assignments. It is self-paced. There is a textbook and optional workbook. There is no interaction with other students. The teacher is very responsive to questions and answers are very helpful. I assume there are "better" Latin courses out there, but I wanted a get-it-done course and wasn't looking to put my son in some of the hardest courses out there. This course is used by a lot of local KY high schools that don't have a Latin teacher and it is very friendly to homeschoolers. https://distancelearning.ket.org/

I think setting foot on 2-3 colleges (even if they are local) is helpful. If he still says he wants to stay home, then I'd probably drop it.

My school profile was very similar to sample public school ones in length - 1.5 pages. I highlighted a few things that did not show up elsewhere, but I tried not to repeat a bunch of information. My counselor letter was one page single spaced. I would try to keep it to one page, with a two page max. If it gets too long, people get tired of reading it.

My school profile is only 1.5 pages long. Did fine for all my son's acceptances. Mine is of a similar format of the samples from public schools. In my school profile, I highlighted some of the reasons we homeschooled, parent education, and a few other things that otherwise wouldn't show up. I repeated a few things found elsewhere such as grading scale and the fact that I did not weight grades. I tried not to use it to repeat a bunch of information. I did a separate document of course descriptions.

I wanted to add that your kids are still young. I know many advocate doing LOTS of writing at younger ages, but the reality at my home is that we've never done lots young. We have done some very intensive writing in blocks and then done lots of copywork and easier writing off and on through everything else. My kids have never done formal writing as early as most and my oldest three all write better than their peers - lots of reading, copywork, quality writing assignments (rather than quantity). While writing does take practice, with maturity large leaps can be made in writing (as opposed to math in which you can't ignore and then make large leaps).

Another option is to do a Brave Writer class over the summer. They are 4-6 weeks long. Expensive, but worth every penny at my home.

I see no reason to do it - the only real reason is if you or he REALLY wants to do an open house. We are going very low-key and not doing anything typical around my home per the request of my senior.

I kept a master list of reading, but choose not to submit it. My son just got admitted to Vanderbilt without it. He reads 100+ books a year, but we never highlighted this anywhere. I would recommend two things: 1) If you want to submit it, I'd add it as either an addendum to your course descriptions or a separate document submitted as an additional transcript. 2) Consider asking an admission counselor if this would be helpful. I did email our admission counselor with a few specific questions such as if I should weight AP grades (no) or list anything as Honors (no). She said my classes and course descriptions would stand on their own.

... still working on one last scholarship application. I just realized that it is due tonight and not tomorrow - ugh! The good news is that it is almost done.

How??? stupid, careless, etc. It shouldn't happen, but I understand we live in the real world in which too many people are not careful, don't have high ethics, morals, don't think through the implications of what they are doing, etc.

My son went from SM5 to AoPS algebra without a prealgebra program at all - not a route I'd recommend. I think you can use any prealgebra. It your student needs more practice (like my daughter) you can do AoPS after another prealgebra or you can just move on to algebra. AoPS algebra teaches all the concepts from step one, but it moves fast so it is easier to have seen it first in a prealgebra program.

I'd list the score on his transcript as I also list ACT and AP scores. I'm not sure if it'll matter to the college or not, but at least you'd be giving them that piece of information. I don't think you can do anything about National Merit as he's graduating early.

... as far as college, we'll get one through the college. Here at my home both Dell and Lenovo have worked great here.

Not live - but Derek Owens can be done with daily video lectures, schedule, online support, etc.

I went from SM5 to Algebra with my oldest, but wouldn't recommend it for most. The prealgebra book is great, but it does appear that you've covered some of it. I'd still be inclined to recommend to start here though.

We made a list of schools - started with our state schools and only added ones out of state that had something significantly different to offer. It could be size, program, quality of students, quality of program, etc. My son choose to go out of state (but still close) because there was nothing like it in out state.

I think the AoPS Precalc book has a thorough coverage of trig and I can't think of anything I'd add. Make sure your student has a good grasp of log/ln - I don't remember if this is in the precalc book or the int. algebra book.

I'd be so upset, but I understand how it happens. ... My son's early decision acceptance better be real. :closedeyes:

Bravewriter - fantastic online classes. Each class is 4-6 weeks. They are expensive, but worth every penny. Maintains the individual's writing voice while giving excellent feedback - both pointing out the positives as well as constructive criticism. There are NO style requirements as to how to open sentences, etc.

If he's doing well with AoPS Precalculus, then I see no reason why he shouldn't do AoPS Calculus. I do like the online AoPS courses, but I don't think they are representative of a course that is similar to a college course. My kids AP courses through PA homeschoolers have done great at teaching my kids to work with an outside teacher and deadlines and are good prep for college. I don't think AoPS courses fit into this mold of an online course. Somehing to note about AoPS - the online classes tend to move quickly (I'm not as sure on the calculus class, but the others do). My son much preferred to do the textbook at his own pace rather than online AoPS classes - though he did take multiple competition math and Intermediate level classes - mostly ones without a text he could do at home. Some kids thrive in the AoPS classroom and interaction, others don't.

DS was accepted on early decision to Vanderbilt today!!! He's excited.