UC, A-G, freshmen, and Quark

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

Hi, 

So I just got off the phone with the UC Davis admissions.  I was trying to find out, for sure, what to do about the A-G requirements that aren't filled through an actual A-G source.  I explained that I am told that the drop down boxes assume it's A-G, or they dont' say anything at all about it, for homeschool freshman admissions, and that my concern would be 

1.  How devastating it would be to get to the end of the next 3 or 4 years with my dd and then get turned down for that reason

2.  If she were accepted and then her transcripts are sent it and it is somewhat obvious that a few of her A-G requirements were not met, even though we chose them in the drop down box, would she be considered as lying.

3.  And just their general thoughts on the info.

First I want to say I LOVE UC DAVIS ADMISSIONS! They are so kind, so polite, and so patient.  Absolutely wonderful.

Next, I want to say that I got transferred first to the supervisor, and then to a homeschool specialist who is going to call me back.

BUT for the most part they just kept stressing that Homeschool Applications are 100% unique and they take a 100% holistic review process.  So far my advice is, that if something is not A-G just share who the class/provider or more info about it in the comments.  For example if I am hoping that my dd's Quilting hobby will fulfill her A-G Visual and Performing arts requirement, I am probably going to lose out.  However if she takes one year of a class at a Community Art Center, or online course, I can share what the provider was, a little about what hte course covered (comparing it to other A-G courses I might research  online) and put that in the comments and they will feel perfectly happy with that.

Honestly,

I still have yet to hear back from the homeschool specialist but it sounds like they do no follow the whole "either fulfill everything through A-G or Entrance by Examination" approach at all. It sounds much more holistic.  Like, they really, really stressed over and over again, that while you do want to be honest, so that when they receive your transcripts everything matches up, you do NOT have to worry about fulfilling every single A-G requirement trhough an A-G approved course.  

I feel really relieved.

UPDATE: Now I am not feeling as relieved.  IN her voicemal the homeschool specialist referred me back to the page and just said that in order to be even ELIGIBLE to apply, all UC A-G criteria had to be met.  She did not sound very interested or excited about the call, and THEN said at the end, that with all of that said, that homeschool applications are more unique and nuanced than schooled students and therefore directed me to ANOTHER admissions officer.

?

[SeaConquest]

1 hour ago, Calming Tea said:

Hi, 

So I just got off the phone with the UC Davis admissions.  I was trying to find out, for sure, what to do about the A-G requirements that aren't filled through an actual A-G source.  I explained that I am told that the drop down boxes assume it's A-G, or they dont' say anything at all about it, for homeschool freshman admissions, and that my concern would be 

1.  How devastating it would be to get to the end of the next 3 or 4 years with my dd and then get turned down for that reason

2.  If she were accepted and then her transcripts are sent it and it is somewhat obvious that a few of her A-G requirements were not met, even though we chose them in the drop down box, would she be considered as lying.

3.  And just their general thoughts on the info.

First I want to say I LOVE UC DAVIS ADMISSIONS! They are so kind, so polite, and so patient.  Absolutely wonderful.

Next, I want to say that I got transferred first to the supervisor, and then to a homeschool specialist who is going to call me back.

BUT for the most part they just kept stressing that Homeschool Applications are 100% unique and they take a 100% holistic review process.  So far my advice is, that if something is not A-G just share who the class/provider or more info about it in the comments.  For example if I am hoping that my dd's Quilting hobby will fulfill her A-G Visual and Performing arts requirement, I am probably going to lose out.  However if she takes one year of a class at a Community Art Center, or online course, I can share what the provider was, a little about what hte course covered (comparing it to other A-G courses I might research  online) and put that in the comments and they will feel perfectly happy with that.

Honestly,

I still have yet to hear back from the homeschool specialist but it sounds like they do no follow the whole "either fulfill everything through A-G or Entrance by Examination" approach at all. It sounds much more holistic.  Like, they really, really stressed over and over again, that while you do want to be honest, so that when they receive your transcripts everything matches up, you do NOT have to worry about fulfilling every single A-G requirement trhough an A-G approved course.  

I feel really relieved.

 

Can you ask if the holistic admissions process applies only to people filing a PSA vs homeschoolers in charters.

[Roadrunner]

 I am pretty sure if you are with a charter, you don’t get to apply as a homeschooler. The charter will issue the transcript and a diploma and UCs will consider you a PS family. 

I would like to think that they have enough sophistication now to still understand the differences between homeschool PS and real PS.

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

Yes, if you are with a charter, you are a public schooled student and they will never even know, aside from personal statements, that your child was schooled in any way that was different.  Now, with that said, there is still a holistic review process for every application.  This is what I was told today: Each application is reviewed and then given a score, if the score is very different, a third reviewer reads it and scores it. By all three reviewers, it's read front to back and everything about the kid is taken into consideration.  They consider, where the kid grew up, what opportunities the kid had and whether they took advantage of them or not, what the kid did outside the house and what kind of leader or out of the box thinker they were, what kind of setbacks they had and how they dealt with them, as well as the transcripts, and information.

From what I understand they just put a little more time and thought into homeschool applications since each one is so very unique.  

 

Now that said, read my update.  ?

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

Update on my update :

There are enough ACCREDITED online schools that I don't really have to worry about it now.  My dd decided to take Spanish so even her foreign language can be A-G approved.  Between the Calvary Online, FLVS and American School there are enough accredited options to make it work. In fact I think just Calvary alone has everything except Science...

So my dd will just do traditional /online homeschool high school with some concurrent classes for the enjoyment of it, and then the two Lab Sciences she will have to take at the CC. ?

[Jilly]

My DS applied to quite a few UC schools without having hardly any A-G courses. I really feel that they evaluated his application holistically. He had a high ACT score, a few AP classes (although no AP scores) and the rest was a variety of online and home brewed classes. He got into UC Davis, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and UC Merced. He did not get into UCSB which is ironic as it was my alma mater. 

For him I feel he had a good story to tell and used the essays to tell his story and explain his path. He also had some good extracurriculars.  I tell everyone who homeschools through a PSA that your student should apply to the UCs as they evaluate homeschoolers differently than they do traditionally schooled students. 

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That’s great, and the feeling I get is that there is a more holistic review than ever before.

However, my dd does not test well, so I really would be surprised if she gets out of this world SAT scores. So we really need a strong transcript.  Also I’m not one to “hope for the best” and “let things fall where they may” if I can also try to do things the way I’m asked to do them ? ESTJ. Traditionalist ?

[quark]

Sorry just saw this. Calming Tea, I'm glad you called and that they were able to reassure you. I'd like to know who the homeschool specialist is. That sounds like a cover-my-behind reply if there ever was one. ?

My suggestion is to apply widely to all the UCs but if she is dead set on UC Davis, is there something else she can do in the way of summer programs at the campus, for example? It's no guarantee but it shows them her interest in the campus and they will very likely take note of it at least. I can explain to you many times that homeschoolers have been accepted without dotting every i and crossing every t but I understand the doubts and concerns you have that she might end up being the exception. If she doesn't test well I would recommend lots of essay practice to fine tune her story the best she can. Make it real. Make it heartfelt. And to take DE classes she loves and perform very well in them.

Given what happened this year, it's really hard to say with UCs. But they do consider PSA homeschoolers and their unique stories. You only have this one chance to homeschool this child of yours. Don't second guess the message in your siggy. ?

[quark]

On 7/12/2018 at 4:06 PM, Roadrunner said:

 I am pretty sure if you are with a charter, you don’t get to apply as a homeschooler. The charter will issue the transcript and a diploma and UCs will consider you a PS family. 

I would like to think that they have enough sophistication now to still understand the differences between homeschool PS and real PS.

Wouldn't bet on bolded, unfortunately. I don't think different UC campuses talk to each other let alone have admissions take time to tease out nuances between PS, homeschool charter student, and homeschool PSA student but they do seem to be taking note that PSA homeschoolers do things differently and that these PSA students have lots more room to carve their path purposefully.

On 7/12/2018 at 3:17 PM, SeaConquest said:

Can you ask if the holistic admissions process applies only to people filing a PSA vs homeschoolers in charters.

Don't forget, your student also has 4 essays in which to write their story, hopes, goals, pathway, etc.  The personal insight questions carry a lot of weight. Every admission talk I attended at UC stressed them over and over again. At the very least, that section is read holistically even if the rest of the charter school student's academic history section mimics what PS kids do.

[Dmmetler]

I don’t know if this applies to UC’s, but what Purdue told DD was to contact them the summer before applying and have them go through her application when they had a bit more time-because while the evaluate homeschoolers more individually, they have only a few minutes for that first “does it meet requirements or not” pass through. And if it doesn’t, they won’t even look At the more individual stuff, which is sad if there was, say, a college class with a communications or FILM prefix that’s more than sufficient for the 4th English, but was missed in the brief run-through.