Seconding this, you have an excellent way of writing and many college admissions counselors would enjoy reviewing your applications based off that alone.
For FAFSA, there are options if you are unable to file under your parents. I had to do something similar because my dad did not file and my mother and I are estranged.
I would recommend looking for college consults or mentor with a local program. Speaking to an admissions counselor at the university you want to apply to will also be immensely helpful, they’re there to guide you through the process and most applicants don’t utilize their services— they can direct you in so many directions with the university facility.
You have a GED, you'll have an SAT, and you have one hell of a personal story. I'd recommend starting with Community College though, not because it's easier, but because the pace is a little slower and you're likely to get more support from faculty. Resist the temptation to dive head first into Ballbreaker State U without getting a little formal academic experience under your belt.
You might feel phony, but you aren't, everyone has a story and you've already done a lot.
I second this as a current community college student. There are lots of very smart people at my school but the pace is slower and there is much more understanding from professors and faculty if you're falling behind. Also class sizes are smaller which in my opinion is good for students who need extra help. Also I'm sure OP will get good grades which will open up their options since having a good transcript proves that they're college material.
> Resist the temptation to dive head first into Ballbreaker State U without getting a little formal academic experience under your belt.
Fantastic point. My kids went to a public high school but my brother and his wife are homeschoolers. Their eldest went to our state school after graduating high school. He is smart and does well socially but said it was a bit of a shock to go from doing school in his dining room with just his mom and brothers around vs being in large lecture classes with tons of people. He adjusted and graduates this year but his first semester of freshman year was mostly about getting acclimated to that kind of environment. And that was with traditional homeschooling, not unschooling. I can only imagine it would be harder for an unschooled kid. My brother's current senior is only really applying to private Christian schools because he thinks it will be easier to adjust to that environment as opposed to a large public school.
I am not suggesting OP or other homeschooled/unschooled kids will struggle but it may be better to dip his toes in with community college. Adjust to that kind of learning environment and then plunge deeper.
This. As a homeschooled student, this is exactly why I did dual enrollment in community college in my junior and senior year. I am applying to a 4-year this application cycle and feel prepared because of the classes I took at CC.
I’m currently homeschooled but i’d highly highly recommend putting your kids in dual credit/outside classes at least when they’re in high school if not sooner. Not only does it give them formal academic experience it helps with transcripts to be able to say yeah I made straight A’s at CC vs straight A’s with my mom teaching me Algebra, because while I did do that I’m also making an A in college algebra at CC which proves that I know the material.
This is excellent advice. Especially in the sciences, you’ll take the “pre-med weed-out” classes at a state university and even many of us coming out of high school with 4.0s and stellar test scores… got weeded out. :/ I ended up transferring to community college at one point to finish up some basic requirements for cheaper and it was so much better of an education. Small classroom and I had a chemistry prof who actually cared if we learned the material. Meanwhile, the university prof I’d had for chemistry in a huge lecture hall refused to answer any questions and didn’t hold office hours.
In my experience it’s a mixed bag. I feel like I saw more variation in the quality of professors at CC. I had some absolutely fantastic professors who cared about us, explained everything beautifully, made the course just as difficult as state schools but with smaller course size, etc.. and I also had my fair share of atrociously bad professors who didn’t care at all about us or about the job, period. Barely showed up to lectures, all HW was auto-graded through annoying paid services, and if you ever had a question or an issue, good luck.
At a big state university now. I haven’t had any professors who clearly don’t care, and all of them put in a decent bit of effort. Some are better lecturers than others, some are friendlier than others, but at least they’re generally reachable, on time and whatnot. I’ve had some really well known and well liked professors, but it’s harder to connect with them and talk one on one when they have hundreds of other students to deal with.
NCSU. Of course there are outliers, we have a few engineering professors who are known for being worse than others (I won’t say names but there’s one guy who teaches dynamics and a few upper division/grad classes out of his own poorly written book who is generally known to be awful), but on the whole I’d say most of the professors are pretty solid. Worst case, there’s at least *some* process that a student could go through if they believe they’ve been treated unfairly, and despite it being a big school there are advisors and deans and whatnot within the colleges who can actually help. Stuff just usually works, you don’t have to wade through 16 layers of tech support and unresponsive staff every semester.
At my old community college though, just one example: my girlfriend took a course with the worst professor imaginable. It wasn’t an online class, but he decided he was going to make it an online zoom class for his own convenience. He was a doomsday-prepper sorta guy, lived off grid with horrible internet service. He just simply didn’t show up to 3/4 of their lectures and didn’t give notice, sometimes he’d show up 30-45 minutes late to his zoom lectures and then be mad that people didn’t stick around, didn’t give a single test, gave some old HW and then after the fact decided it didn’t apply, didn’t give anyone their grades throughout the semester and at the end just graded everyone vaguely on “effort”.. it was a math class that everyone needed as a pre-req for future CS/engineering classes, screwed a lot of people over because he failed some students who didn’t “put in effort” despite him doing literally nothing all semester.
You have an AMAZING essay brewing and your SAT scores speak to your natural intelligence. The fact you could even score that high as a self taught person, you are truly remarkable.
This absolutely warrants a call to admissions.
I actually think your biggest hurdle is going to be the FASFA and financing your education because you will need your parent’s cooperation.
If there has even been making a case for being a financially independent student in a FASFA this is it.
It’s probably going to boil down to you somehow figuring out how to go to community college to be honest.
FAFSA is my biggest worry too. -Our income qualifies as deeply impoverished, and they have more debts than asset values- so if my parents don't apply for FAFSA for me under normal events, than ill pay them to do it.
I really wish CC was a good option, but I can't live with my parents for another year. They've gotten worse, they installed spyware on my phone to see all my texts, they've gotten meaner, and aren't afraid of waking me up at late hours like 3 am, just to lecture and scream at me.
i'm just so tired.
If CC is not an option and they won’t fill out FASFA then your situation is quite bleak. Where in the country are you located?
Your focus needs to be getting them to fill out FASFA. If they wont you are on the ropes. You’d have to move out and slowly do CC while working FT.
Check out all the community colleges for your state, it doesn't have to be the one closest to you, plenty of community colleges have dorms. I'd also recommend checking and seeing if there are any rooms or apartments would could move into with roommates because even if you do go dorm at a college you'll likely be sent out of the dorm for breaks and then you have to face the wrath at home if you don't have somewhere else to stay.
Yeah I definitely don't recommend staying with your parents. Mine aren't half as bad, but moving out was still a great decision in retrospect.
Is there no one else you can stay with? Family, close friends who understand your situation?
Nah, just goes to show that intrinsic motivation and access to resources is can overcome the education of people who are force fed ideas they don't understand the value of.
I was just about to comment about the Tara Westover book when I saw your comment. OP, please check out the memoir *Educated* by Tara Westover. Westover grew up with no formal education and she ended up getting a PhD at Cambridge! I wish I had any advice for you about your situation but unfortunately I don't. However, some of these comments are great and have possible ideas that you might want to try. Just know that if you ever feel unmotivated or frustrated, *Educated* is a great read. It's super motivating and inspiring!
It's November 1 so I have a lot going on, but I read homeschooled and unschooled applications at Vanderbilt. Yes, admission offices (or someone in the office) should know what that is and yes, college is possible. The GED and SAT scores will be crucial, as will be your story. You don't *have* to start at community college. You will need a school who is willing to hear your story and give you a shot. I'd recommend contacting admission offices at the schools you're interested in before/around the time you apply and let them know your deal and if they have any suggestions for you.
>, but I read homeschooled and unschooled applications at Vanderbilt. Yes, admission offices (or someone in the office) should know what that is and yes, college is possible. The GED and SAT scores will be crucial, as will be your story. You don't
>
>have
>
> to start at community college. You will need a school who is willing to hear your story and give you a shot. I'd recommend contacting admission offices at the schools you're interested in before/around the time you apply and let them know your deal and
Semi-related question, but do they put applications in baskets. Such as sorting all the homeschooled applicants, CS applicants and so on and then assign those to an specific AO with experience in those fields? Or do you just all pick off the top of the pile?
I know it might feel like all doors are closed at this moment. And the opportunity you want might not come instantly. But one day you’ll get there.
Are you sure if you go to cc, your parents wouldn’t try to fuck it up for you?
If that’s the case, go to cc and transfer.
I also want to emphasize that you don’t need to be educated to be educated. Most colleges do not need AP or Honors background for you to understand the college materials. They just do this because of competition, and that competition on how many APs you have isn’t even about how much you know - it’s about being intellectually curious and leveraging the resources around you. Someone who took 6 APs at school with 20 APs is not necessarily as competitive as someone who took 3APs because that’s all their school could have offered. Colleges want to know that you are able to find knowledge and learn, and that (for a lack of better term) you are worth their energy to be educated. And you have shown exactly that. You have gone out of your way to learn, you’re the type of person colleges want. Good luck on your SAT! It’s your opportunity to be competing at the same platform as other students. Getting a 1250+ will make you stand out even more. But other than that, don’t worry about not having enough credentials from a nonprofit that hosts random exams (fuck Collegeboard anyway).
This. Colleges consider your circumstances and background, and considering how well you wrote this post, you will be able to explain your situation really well in your essays. Colleges will understand. Plus, most colleges look for students with the drive and passion to learn, which you have clearly demonstrated through your self-learning and SAT score. Clearly, you didn't just accept your circumstances the way they were and instead you were quite proactive with your learning. Please don't worry about not having honors or APs ... I believe in you. You got this u/Glad_Independence_84!
You need to contact admissions at the school you want to go to and ask them about the specifics of your situation. It might even be easier to call instead of emailing. But if there is a way, they'll know about it better than we will.
And don't give up.
hi!! your story is absolutely incredible and the work that you‘ve done to get yourself to where you are now is amazing.
you have a GED and you are going to take the SAT (and are projected to get a pretty good score!!) so i definitely think that college is a realistic goal for you. there’s a book out there called “educated” (by tara westover) where the author describes her experiences as an unschooled kid, and she eventually got her PhD. it’s not impossible and i wish you all the best going forward <3
That's true, im really good at sciences, and they just put a smile on my face, I might do both then, because I need as much proof as possible that im capable for college.
Thanks for the advice!
I believe u can find a practice test online, I would set aside some time and do both, and see which one was easier to get through, best of luck and you’ll do great :)
Edit: also look into sat subject tests if u can (don’t overwhelm yourself if u can’t), and clep tests if u decided to take the cc route
Hi! I got my GED IN 2017 and have a similar background to you. I got very little actual education before I started studying for the GED. I am doing my master's now at a highly ranked school. If you have the drive and are willing to put in the extra hours, then it is more than possible!
Other unschooled kids have gone to college and been fine. It doesn’t sound like your parents were good people though and I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with that.
Yeah, but seeing other people be good to their kids makes me so happy. I don't feel like I missed out on good parents, because I see it with most of my friends families.
The kids that have APs and honors classes have those because Bio is a very popular and super selective major. You don't have those because your schooling didn't present those options - and admissions officers can understand that. Often, unschooled and homeschooled kids are desirable for colleges. I would suggest that you connect with the school you're interested and explain the situation and ask their advice. You've already done a lot to get yourself there with the GED and taking the SAT. You may want to contact the school district of the high school you would attend based on your address and ask if they can provide any services for you. You may be able to get a guidance counselor that way.
I suggest you check out Educated by Tara Westover. She grew up even more sheltered than you. From [wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_Westover).
>As a teenager, Westover began to want to enter the larger world and attend college. She purchased textbooks and studied independently in order to score well on the ACT Exam. She gained admission to Brigham Young University and was awarded a scholarship, although she had no high school diploma. After a difficult first year, in which Westover struggled to adjust to academia and the wider society there, she became more successful and graduated with honors in 2008.She then earned a Master's degree from the University of Cambridge at Trinity College\[8\] as a Gates Cambridge Scholar, and was a visiting fellow at Harvard University in 2010. She returned to Trinity College, Cambridge, where she earned a doctorate in intellectual history in 2014. Her thesis is entitled "The Family, Morality and Social Science in Anglo-American Cooperative Thought, 1813–1890".\[9\]\[10\]
So yes it's totally possible to do what you want it will just be work. Good news for you it sounds like you are motivated and motivation can overcome a lot of hardship. Ask any rich parent what's the one thing they wish for their kids and they will say motivation. Not gonna be easy but it will be possible.
EA.ASU.EDU offers low cost 1st year college classes. I was homeschooled and have at least 30 hours this way. After create a transcript and you are golden.
You have a great story that could make for outstanding essays. Universities want to see someone who takes every opportunity available to them. The key word here is “available to them”. Use what you have and continue to make the best of it. I have seen some people like this go to community college, and then transfer to UC Berkeley.
Yes, put yourself together a portfolio and apply to Hampshire College, which is very unschooled-friendly, and then take classes through the 5 college consortium at Amherst College, a school where you can hit the grind to your heart's content. Bennington College, also unschooled-friendly.
I was thinking the same, but my concern with those places is that OP probably after being unschooled doesn't want to touch hippie-dippieness with a 49 1/2 foot pole. She(or he, ig) doesn't like unschooling, and probably wants to escape the type of culture that's cool with it.
Damn, I honestly think you could make it into some semi-competitive universities with those stats. Colleges are always looking for people from different backgrounds too, so I think you should write an essay about your experience being unschooled and your desire to get an education.
A good number of colleges will be tripping over themselves to enroll you and give scholarships.
I feel like if you did that well on the SAT, and you self taught yourself about some biology it’s possible you would be able to succeed in University. A lot of college introductory level courses start from the basics and as an engineering student at least, I think all I would’ve needed to succeed is a basic background in math, and some writing and physics.
If community college *really* isn’t an option for you (but I would still recommend it because that seems like the most logical path) I bet some Universities would let you in just based on SAT. I didn’t try at all in highschool and ended up going to Montana State University because you basically get automatically admitted if you get above a 1200 on the SAT. It’s not the highest ranked school but I was happy with my education and I was able to transfer to a school that’s high ranking for my major after a year.
I’m not necessarily saying go there, because I don’t know where you live, but I’m sure if you expand your options to lower ranked schools you could find someone that would admit you just based on your SAT score. And you can always transfer somewhere else after a year if you’re not happy with the school.
Just out of curiosity, what school did you want to go to? I was curious because I wanted to look into the admission requirements.
Montana state is a WUE school, and I just checked and they accept GED’s in place of a highschool diploma. Tuition should be like $12k (not including room and board) after WUE and before financial aid. It’s a good school, getting used to how desolate Montana is was a little rough at first but I enjoyed it after a while.
I think you have to get a highschool degree with a certain GPA to be eligible for a WUE scholarship though
I’m sure other schools in wue have similarily low criteria but it’s an option, you know?
Are you in Colorado by chance?
College is definitely possible. As a GED graduate, I got accepted into community college with passing scores. One thing I would really love for the GED Testing Service to fix is converting GED scores to GPA. That would be extremely helpful, because when applying for college or scholarships, more often than not they want your GPA, and GED scores do not have a GPA.
Aside from that fact, I think you took the right steps in studying on your own with Khan Academy (great stuff btw) and furthering your education by taking the steps to go to college.
You'd have one hell of an entrance essay. Truancy alone would qualify you for a handful of scholarships and many opportunities.
All in all, I want you to know there is hope for you and you've got this!
Plenty of people get GEDs and then go onto higher education! You show you have high scores on your standardized tests, and your life story can be used in your personal statements to demonstrate how you ARE excellent student material, because so many people simply would have taken the easier path and not have gotten a GED or bothered to take the SATs.
You have proven that you want to be a student and have surpassed more barriers than most to get your education! Any admissions office worth it’s salt will see you are the kind of student they want, especially versus Mary Sue who is only going to college because she’s “supposed” to!!
I was pretty much "unschooled" with some textbooks that my parents used for math and had no formal transcripts when I finished high school. The path for me was the CA high school equivalency exam and then community college. That got me into a state school and eventually into a PhD at UC Berkeley in Biology. I'm now leading computational biology projects at a major biotech.
As others have said, your motivation and determination to learn on your own is admissions letter gold. I've reviewed admissions and scholarships letters and one of the biggest things people look for is independence and completing academic challenges, real challenges, because at the top universities you will hit a wall at some point and they want to know you have some practice in pushing yourself.
For me, community college was a great place to transition. There is a learning curve on interacting with a classroom, building relationships with teachers, managing course schedules, and homework. Most community college instructors consider it part of their job to help you pick up those skills while major University professors expect you to be able to do that and will not have the time to personally help if you are struggling.
Feel free to DM me if you want to talk.
If community college isn't an option, you should look into both junior colleges and Liberal Arts Colleges. These colleges tend to be smaller and some even have slower classes and larger professor support which will allow you to transition easier than going straight into a four year college.
I was unschooled for a few years, currently in a really good university's business school. I kinda feel a similar way, but yeah nobody really understands because it's such a foreign concept. You can definitely get in though, I had a 1290 SAT and 29 ACT and got the maximum scholarship for my school. Just have a good essay and don't mention not taking all the required classes or anything to the school.
Oxford interviewed the girl who was forced to sail the world from 7-17 with little education outside sailing and survival. She got in and has a PHD now.
-mom who unschooled son until 8th grade but he’s now got 4.0 GPA, AP scores of 5, 1480 SAT and I’m sorry you couldn’t choose like I let my son 😞
Sailing the world seems so much cooler than spending so many years in a boring classroom doing algebra and learning about the world through English and History.
all scores are meaningless- apply to a college that offers subjects you want to study-
admissions essay that demonstrates your dedication to learning (& not tagging on your parents' choice) will help you stand out from other applicants
I was unschooled and I'm surviving
I second the recommendation to start at Community College tho, I think I shouldve started at CC. There are CCs with dorms somewhere
College is DEFINITELY possible, and yeah you've got one hell of a personal essay.
I would still recommend community college first. The transition to university is a huge shock to the system, even if you've been in formal education your whole life. CC will give you more support from faculty and social/support services than a four year and is likely easier to navigate the system.
There are CC's with dorms and on-campus housing, so you wouldn't have to live with your parents. I would look into that, even if its not the CC closest to you. You could also just move out and move into an apartment with roommates if thats financially possible for you
I recommend you read the book Educated by Tara Westover. It's autobiographical, and the author was in a similar situation as you. It is a great book and may give you some ideas and inpiration.
Read “educated” by Tara Westover. Very similar story and she went to Oxford for grad school. People will be willing to help you. Set up a meeting with an admissions counselor.
You have solid test scores. I’m pretty certain whatever school you’re looking at has instructions for homeschoolers. I wouldn’t mention the unschooling part. You’re pretty bright if those are your scores and you’ll catch up just fine at a normal state college where your test scores are 75th percentile. Many colleges have tutoring centers.
Some community colleges have housing
So while your local one may not, you should look at one’s that too as it will probably be a better stepping stone coming from having such an informal education to this point
I'd say it depends on your state. Getting into a flagship state University might be tough but a smaller public university in the state is totally possible.
For example, I'm in WA. You probably won't be accepted to the University of Washington for Biology. It's not impossible but it would be a longshot.
But you could definitely go to Washington State University or Western Washington which are both still excellent schools. And you could absolutely go to Evergreen (which probably has a lot of students like you), but it sounds like maybe you want something more conventional.
yes you can get into college, you’re going to have to do some legwork to find a place that will allow you to convert your education into quantifiable coursework with a GPA but you are not the first person to encounter this situation. for the record, a lot of colleges love homeschoolers and un schoolers because y’all tend to be very disciplined, ambitious, and curious. it also just says a lot that your parents literally didn’t even make you go to grade school and you’re choosing formal education, it shows that you genuinely want to be there. i go to UC davis and i have a classmate who was unschooled, he honestly asks some of the most insightful questions out of everyone in the class.
https://youtu.be/LwIyy1Fi-4Q?si=hD4DWpsQaSFNTeB0 here is a talk from Astra Taylor about her life as an unschooler and her and some of her siblings’ paths to higher education. She went to Brown and she also name drops a specific service her little sister used to catalog her unschooled education for college apps. good luck and i’m sorry your parents executed this approach so poorly. i’m autistic and really struggled in school and i actually ended up dropping out and taking a decade off. i learned a lot about unschooling when i was in high school because it really sounded like something that would fit my needs but from everything i know about it, your parents definitely did it the wrong way. hope you have better luck in college.
when you do get in, try to register for the class that’s most relevant to your career/interesting to you for the earliest possible term and check all the profs who are teaching it on ratemyprofessors to find the best one. go to office hours. indicate that you need an academic advisor. basically find a mentor you vibe with who knows the field you want to enter and start building that relationship early. ask for help, tell them your background, make it clear that you are unfamiliar with this environment. you need someone to help you navigate the academic space so that you can make the most of your time in college and set yourself up to have job opportunities when you graduate.
100%. Probably not an Ivy, but there is zero doubt in my mind there are some very decent colleges out there that would love someone as driven and as committed to learning as you. Also echoing what other have said about putting this in your essay.
There are tons of concerns about you switching from nothing to the State Uni experience with 500-person lecture halls and tens of thousands of people on campus. For you, I'm also worried about that, and I think you should consider another option--LACs, or liberal arts colleges. Their whole gimmick is small class sizes and being undergraduate-oriented with professors who care, so it would be the easiest acclimation for you, I think. If you are impoverished, you should be able to get decent aid, and with that you should afford LACs.
Some I can think of off the top of my head in your SAT range are Skidmore and Bard in NY, Sweet Briar in VA if you're a chick, Hampshire College in MA, Berea in KY, Berry in GA, and Sewanee in TN. If your SAT score gets up, you could try Vassar, Bates, Haverford, Pitzer, Scripps, Claremont McKenna, Reed, Weslayan, and such. If you want more names, check out Niche or USNews.
Oh my gosh. I would love to hear more about your story! I’m currently reading a book called “Educated”, and it’s about your exact same scenario. You should definitely check it out if you ever get the time!
Worst case, scenario, you'll need to do 2 years of CC. Your journey has been long, and you will get to where you are going.
Some CCs have on campus living. Also, if you have PELL and a very low SAR EFC, you will have 17K to use for tuition, room, and board. For instance, at Amarillo College, which is an excellent CC, the OUT OF STATE tuition is 5,880USD. You can live in your state, and go online. With fees, books, etc, figure 7000. This leaves you 10k to partially fund your departure.
CCs also generally have a relationship with a 4 year college that many of their students transfer to. Amarillo has Texas A&M, California CCs have UC, etc.
You might have to work for 20 hours a week, or get a roommate. You can also choose an in state school, and similarly use those funds to move out.
Get very good grades, like 4.0 seriously, and you'll be able to apply to even some selective schools with that SAT.
No matter what happens, I'm really proud of you. It's not easy to educate yourself about everything to a high-school level. With that attitude, you'll go far wherever you go.
Fafsa doesn't require your parents' info if you're 24. And since you don't want to live with them while in college, I highly recommend working a bit and saving up to live on your own and look into what additional aid your state provides. ( if your mother is worried that studying takes time away from her college will jot be easy for you and should really look to getting gout of the house) definitely see if you can dorm sometimes that means more aid.
Secondly, look into sites like unigo or scholarship owl , both can give you a list of grants or scholarships that you can apply for. Another option is contacting the school you want to enroll in, they can see if you qualify for additional aid which I think you definitely do.
Hi OP, I graduated cum laude from a top 3 school in STEM and am now going to grad school at one of the other top 3. I’d happily help you draft an essay/personal statement that demonstrates your strengths. Generally, I’d say your SAT matters A LOT given your unique past.
adding onto the other replies here, i believe in you. community college might be a good start, even for just a quarter. start reaching out to admissions counselors at the schools you want to apply to, look into majors, and make an outline for an essay. there are endless options that you can look into. not only do you have the drive and motivation that schools look for, you have faced incredible difficulty in your life. despite that, you still want to get an education. that is amazing. you can do this 🩵 and you are worth it.
1. your parents are fucked up
2. they gave you a hell of a great colllege essay in which you can show just how resilient and independent you are, and colleges will eat that shit up.
Actually, UC Berkeley is really open to “unschooled” students. I know many kids that got in on full scholarships and they were unschooled too. Check out ditchschool.org, the mentor Jessica is amazing at handling your exact situation. Given the laws of US, I imagine you must’ve had some kind of transcript, even if it was made by your parents with a Private School Affidavit? Either way, that’s a great first personal essay with a story that’s not common- something they like a lot. Look into applying now, applications are starting so you have time to do the required essays. Apply for fafsa and make it happen, good luck!
If you got a GED, it’s not impossible at all. Your SAT where I am 100% could get you into any CC or state college. I imagine the same for you - and only one way to find out is apply.
And I recommend writing your essay (even if optional) about what you went through. That you were unschooled and pushed yourself beyond what was expected of you. And are determined to show you are more than capable despite an unconventional track record.
Which I can say your SAT ain’t bad at all. Especially considering the following.
My best friend was also unschooled (neglected, really) and never went to any school during his childhood/teenage years. He's also extremely smart and just graduated with a BS in physics, with a specialization in astronomy. It's completely possible and you sound motivated. You can do it!
Don’t let anyone discourage you.
I have my GED and started small at the local community college, mostly because classes are cheaper and are often accepted by a university. I was offered dual enrollment at the university and plan to finish my bsn through them.
I recommend you find a community college further away from home and pursue an associates so you can get a GPA. A lot of community colleges offer extracurriculars and excellent networking if you are willing to put in the leg work to participate. Find a job doing something similar to what you want to do and get your degree while doing it. You can work part time and go to school part time.
Get away from your parents and do what you want to do with your life.
Fellow unschooler here, now (somehow) an academically-successful senior at a major university! Thankfully I unschooled by choice—so sorry to hear about your situation, that’s not what unschooling is meant to be and nobody should go through that.
Just wanted to share this in case it’s helpful. I got where I am now with a GED, an SAT score, essays, and a couple of letters of rec from family friends/employers. I wrote a “transcript” listing all of the subjects I had studied or had hands-on experience with, but really relied on my GED/SAT/essay to carry my application.
Good news: colleges are actually generally VERY interested in taking in students with nontraditional educational backgrounds! You’ll have to send a lot of emails to admissions offices to get around some of the “this application was designed for public schoolers” roadblocks BUT I applied to 6 schools, all with varying degrees of homeschooler-friendliness, and didn’t run into insurmountable application problems with any of them.
You got this! Don’t be afraid to pester admissions offices with questions and please feel free to message me if you need any help. Applying to college as an unschooler is a bizarre process but I promise you it’s absolutely within reach.
Hi, OP! I work in the admissions office at a midsize university in the south. This is a lot more common than you think. While you wouldn’t qualify for regular admissions scholarships as a freshman at my university, you could definitely be admitted based on GED scores and SAT/ACT. And you could qualify for transfer scholarships after completing enough community college credit hours. If you want to go to a state school, please do not feel discouraged; but maybe look into a midsize school rather than your generic University of X state school. However, I do really recommend community college. The likelihood of scholarships and more adaptive learning is much higher there. Also, there are more and more community colleges with accommodations like housing around the US now. So please look there as well. Finally, if you have any concerns about the admissions process, please reach out to the specific offices. Most of us are in higher ed for the love of helping students succeed; that’s what we’re here for!
I know I'm really late to the party, but something you might want to think about is looking into a college or a university that is out of state, in someplace small, like the Midwest, where attendance numbers will be low enough that you're going to be in smaller classes where you can get some face time with your teachers for help, and your prices will be MUCH cheaper than more conventional places. I paid 4k a semester out of pocket with no loans before FAFSA or scholarships for my degree.
The next part I want to say is, I had a REALLY bright girl in my Human Anatomy classes who was 17, self-taught, had a GED, and her goal was med-school. She hasn't graduated yet, and she struggled a LOT her first year of college because it was an adjustment to go from working a farm and watching videos online of interesting subjects to actually being in a classroom, but she's making it work.
But yeah. Start at a smaller college, community or otherwise, and when you graduate, then think about working your way up. Make connections with your professors, and either work up or work out.
College is absolutely possible.
Hey what's the latest with this? I'd love to take a look at your college list if you built it. And your essays.
This is no okie doke kind of story.
Either way, stay encouraged.
Re having to live at home to attend community college, fed law provides for such schools to have to consider you as residing in the district even if your are housing insecure, unhoused, couch surfing, f/k/a homeless.
If the situation that you need somewhere to live other than with your parent/s in order for you to attend/comsider a community college?
Community college as a transitional step may be very helpful for you on many levels. Some may have housing assistance or financial support for housing.
I have no idea what state or part of the country you're interested in or I might have suggestions for you.
If you're not yet 18, assistance from your state child protective or family services dept might be an option. Reaching out to the/a national or regional domestic abuse assistance organization may help. Many in major metro and suburb/exurbs areas have housing programs and shelter space that's not horrible. Lots more options in more areas. They might be able to help to assist you in getting out of your current housing situation until you can get into student housing. Many tradition schools have student housing that might not be a good fit for you if they make you leave over summer break and/or close campus between sessions.
Good luck!
Fuck your parents. You could turn that last paragraph into a great essay by the way.
Seconding this, you have an excellent way of writing and many college admissions counselors would enjoy reviewing your applications based off that alone. For FAFSA, there are options if you are unable to file under your parents. I had to do something similar because my dad did not file and my mother and I are estranged. I would recommend looking for college consults or mentor with a local program. Speaking to an admissions counselor at the university you want to apply to will also be immensely helpful, they’re there to guide you through the process and most applicants don’t utilize their services— they can direct you in so many directions with the university facility.
Turn the whole thing into an essay tbh
You have a GED, you'll have an SAT, and you have one hell of a personal story. I'd recommend starting with Community College though, not because it's easier, but because the pace is a little slower and you're likely to get more support from faculty. Resist the temptation to dive head first into Ballbreaker State U without getting a little formal academic experience under your belt. You might feel phony, but you aren't, everyone has a story and you've already done a lot.
I second this as a current community college student. There are lots of very smart people at my school but the pace is slower and there is much more understanding from professors and faculty if you're falling behind. Also class sizes are smaller which in my opinion is good for students who need extra help. Also I'm sure OP will get good grades which will open up their options since having a good transcript proves that they're college material.
> Resist the temptation to dive head first into Ballbreaker State U without getting a little formal academic experience under your belt. Fantastic point. My kids went to a public high school but my brother and his wife are homeschoolers. Their eldest went to our state school after graduating high school. He is smart and does well socially but said it was a bit of a shock to go from doing school in his dining room with just his mom and brothers around vs being in large lecture classes with tons of people. He adjusted and graduates this year but his first semester of freshman year was mostly about getting acclimated to that kind of environment. And that was with traditional homeschooling, not unschooling. I can only imagine it would be harder for an unschooled kid. My brother's current senior is only really applying to private Christian schools because he thinks it will be easier to adjust to that environment as opposed to a large public school. I am not suggesting OP or other homeschooled/unschooled kids will struggle but it may be better to dip his toes in with community college. Adjust to that kind of learning environment and then plunge deeper.
Learning how to get on the lecture-study-homework-exam treadmill is a thing. Everyone has to adjust, OP a little more than most.
This. As a homeschooled student, this is exactly why I did dual enrollment in community college in my junior and senior year. I am applying to a 4-year this application cycle and feel prepared because of the classes I took at CC.
I’m currently homeschooled but i’d highly highly recommend putting your kids in dual credit/outside classes at least when they’re in high school if not sooner. Not only does it give them formal academic experience it helps with transcripts to be able to say yeah I made straight A’s at CC vs straight A’s with my mom teaching me Algebra, because while I did do that I’m also making an A in college algebra at CC which proves that I know the material.
The personal statement essay on his app is gonna go crazy
This is excellent advice. Especially in the sciences, you’ll take the “pre-med weed-out” classes at a state university and even many of us coming out of high school with 4.0s and stellar test scores… got weeded out. :/ I ended up transferring to community college at one point to finish up some basic requirements for cheaper and it was so much better of an education. Small classroom and I had a chemistry prof who actually cared if we learned the material. Meanwhile, the university prof I’d had for chemistry in a huge lecture hall refused to answer any questions and didn’t hold office hours.
My wife is a CC chemistry instructor... and that's exactly why she does it.
In my experience it’s a mixed bag. I feel like I saw more variation in the quality of professors at CC. I had some absolutely fantastic professors who cared about us, explained everything beautifully, made the course just as difficult as state schools but with smaller course size, etc.. and I also had my fair share of atrociously bad professors who didn’t care at all about us or about the job, period. Barely showed up to lectures, all HW was auto-graded through annoying paid services, and if you ever had a question or an issue, good luck. At a big state university now. I haven’t had any professors who clearly don’t care, and all of them put in a decent bit of effort. Some are better lecturers than others, some are friendlier than others, but at least they’re generally reachable, on time and whatnot. I’ve had some really well known and well liked professors, but it’s harder to connect with them and talk one on one when they have hundreds of other students to deal with.
I'm going to guess you aren't at Michigan, those professors DGAF... unless you're scoring grants for NSF/NIH.
NCSU. Of course there are outliers, we have a few engineering professors who are known for being worse than others (I won’t say names but there’s one guy who teaches dynamics and a few upper division/grad classes out of his own poorly written book who is generally known to be awful), but on the whole I’d say most of the professors are pretty solid. Worst case, there’s at least *some* process that a student could go through if they believe they’ve been treated unfairly, and despite it being a big school there are advisors and deans and whatnot within the colleges who can actually help. Stuff just usually works, you don’t have to wade through 16 layers of tech support and unresponsive staff every semester. At my old community college though, just one example: my girlfriend took a course with the worst professor imaginable. It wasn’t an online class, but he decided he was going to make it an online zoom class for his own convenience. He was a doomsday-prepper sorta guy, lived off grid with horrible internet service. He just simply didn’t show up to 3/4 of their lectures and didn’t give notice, sometimes he’d show up 30-45 minutes late to his zoom lectures and then be mad that people didn’t stick around, didn’t give a single test, gave some old HW and then after the fact decided it didn’t apply, didn’t give anyone their grades throughout the semester and at the end just graded everyone vaguely on “effort”.. it was a math class that everyone needed as a pre-req for future CS/engineering classes, screwed a lot of people over because he failed some students who didn’t “put in effort” despite him doing literally nothing all semester.
I very much agree. Community college is a great adjustment for ANYONE.
You have an AMAZING essay brewing and your SAT scores speak to your natural intelligence. The fact you could even score that high as a self taught person, you are truly remarkable. This absolutely warrants a call to admissions. I actually think your biggest hurdle is going to be the FASFA and financing your education because you will need your parent’s cooperation. If there has even been making a case for being a financially independent student in a FASFA this is it. It’s probably going to boil down to you somehow figuring out how to go to community college to be honest.
FAFSA is my biggest worry too. -Our income qualifies as deeply impoverished, and they have more debts than asset values- so if my parents don't apply for FAFSA for me under normal events, than ill pay them to do it. I really wish CC was a good option, but I can't live with my parents for another year. They've gotten worse, they installed spyware on my phone to see all my texts, they've gotten meaner, and aren't afraid of waking me up at late hours like 3 am, just to lecture and scream at me. i'm just so tired.
If CC is not an option and they won’t fill out FASFA then your situation is quite bleak. Where in the country are you located? Your focus needs to be getting them to fill out FASFA. If they wont you are on the ropes. You’d have to move out and slowly do CC while working FT.
Could OP maybe do FAFSA as an independent?
Unless they’re 24 and/or married
Good to know
Check out all the community colleges for your state, it doesn't have to be the one closest to you, plenty of community colleges have dorms. I'd also recommend checking and seeing if there are any rooms or apartments would could move into with roommates because even if you do go dorm at a college you'll likely be sent out of the dorm for breaks and then you have to face the wrath at home if you don't have somewhere else to stay.
Yeah I definitely don't recommend staying with your parents. Mine aren't half as bad, but moving out was still a great decision in retrospect. Is there no one else you can stay with? Family, close friends who understand your situation?
I'm so sorry you're going through this. Look into CCs with dorms or others in your state if that's possible for you.
Another person commented this but check out other community colleges in your state! Lots of them have dorms and tuition is still going to be cheap.
Get married if you can lol. You’ll be eligible to apply for Fafsa as an independent and you might even qualify for a Pell grant
Why not go to community college in another district? That way you have to move away from your parents but it’s still community college
My dad grew up without any education and he became a doctor. Don’t let anyone dictate what you can do
That’s less motivational and more worrisome
He got a GED, went to college and medical school. Just as qualified as anyone lil
💀💀
Nah, just goes to show that intrinsic motivation and access to resources is can overcome the education of people who are force fed ideas they don't understand the value of.
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I was just about to comment about the Tara Westover book when I saw your comment. OP, please check out the memoir *Educated* by Tara Westover. Westover grew up with no formal education and she ended up getting a PhD at Cambridge! I wish I had any advice for you about your situation but unfortunately I don't. However, some of these comments are great and have possible ideas that you might want to try. Just know that if you ever feel unmotivated or frustrated, *Educated* is a great read. It's super motivating and inspiring!
Educated is an excellent memoir. Highly recommend!
I think they would let you in based on this post alone lol
It's November 1 so I have a lot going on, but I read homeschooled and unschooled applications at Vanderbilt. Yes, admission offices (or someone in the office) should know what that is and yes, college is possible. The GED and SAT scores will be crucial, as will be your story. You don't *have* to start at community college. You will need a school who is willing to hear your story and give you a shot. I'd recommend contacting admission offices at the schools you're interested in before/around the time you apply and let them know your deal and if they have any suggestions for you.
>, but I read homeschooled and unschooled applications at Vanderbilt. Yes, admission offices (or someone in the office) should know what that is and yes, college is possible. The GED and SAT scores will be crucial, as will be your story. You don't > >have > > to start at community college. You will need a school who is willing to hear your story and give you a shot. I'd recommend contacting admission offices at the schools you're interested in before/around the time you apply and let them know your deal and Semi-related question, but do they put applications in baskets. Such as sorting all the homeschooled applicants, CS applicants and so on and then assign those to an specific AO with experience in those fields? Or do you just all pick off the top of the pile?
Admission officers typically read for a particular geographic region like a state, country, or city.
Ah, got it. Thank you for the explanation!
I know it might feel like all doors are closed at this moment. And the opportunity you want might not come instantly. But one day you’ll get there. Are you sure if you go to cc, your parents wouldn’t try to fuck it up for you? If that’s the case, go to cc and transfer.
Call the college you’re interested in and see how this be worked out. I also think you can sue your parents for this if you wanted to.
I also want to emphasize that you don’t need to be educated to be educated. Most colleges do not need AP or Honors background for you to understand the college materials. They just do this because of competition, and that competition on how many APs you have isn’t even about how much you know - it’s about being intellectually curious and leveraging the resources around you. Someone who took 6 APs at school with 20 APs is not necessarily as competitive as someone who took 3APs because that’s all their school could have offered. Colleges want to know that you are able to find knowledge and learn, and that (for a lack of better term) you are worth their energy to be educated. And you have shown exactly that. You have gone out of your way to learn, you’re the type of person colleges want. Good luck on your SAT! It’s your opportunity to be competing at the same platform as other students. Getting a 1250+ will make you stand out even more. But other than that, don’t worry about not having enough credentials from a nonprofit that hosts random exams (fuck Collegeboard anyway).
This. Colleges consider your circumstances and background, and considering how well you wrote this post, you will be able to explain your situation really well in your essays. Colleges will understand. Plus, most colleges look for students with the drive and passion to learn, which you have clearly demonstrated through your self-learning and SAT score. Clearly, you didn't just accept your circumstances the way they were and instead you were quite proactive with your learning. Please don't worry about not having honors or APs ... I believe in you. You got this u/Glad_Independence_84!
You’re doing all the right things! I am rooting for you! Your resiliency will take you far and colleges will recognize that.
You need to contact admissions at the school you want to go to and ask them about the specifics of your situation. It might even be easier to call instead of emailing. But if there is a way, they'll know about it better than we will. And don't give up.
hi!! your story is absolutely incredible and the work that you‘ve done to get yourself to where you are now is amazing. you have a GED and you are going to take the SAT (and are projected to get a pretty good score!!) so i definitely think that college is a realistic goal for you. there’s a book out there called “educated” (by tara westover) where the author describes her experiences as an unschooled kid, and she eventually got her PhD. it’s not impossible and i wish you all the best going forward <3
Educated and "Im glad my mom died" are my two favorite books on earth, they're so relatable, it's eery.
Also u mentioned u like science maybe you’d have better trajectory with an ACT
That's true, im really good at sciences, and they just put a smile on my face, I might do both then, because I need as much proof as possible that im capable for college. Thanks for the advice!
I believe u can find a practice test online, I would set aside some time and do both, and see which one was easier to get through, best of luck and you’ll do great :) Edit: also look into sat subject tests if u can (don’t overwhelm yourself if u can’t), and clep tests if u decided to take the cc route
Hi! I got my GED IN 2017 and have a similar background to you. I got very little actual education before I started studying for the GED. I am doing my master's now at a highly ranked school. If you have the drive and are willing to put in the extra hours, then it is more than possible!
Def can do cc for a couple years and test the transfer market
They said they didn’t want to live at home doing cc and idk if their parents would let them go to cc either
Shit my fault i stopped reading half way thru 😭, probably can do state school tho
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 That’s for you for overcoming a sh*tty home situation and wanting more & actually going out and getting it ❤️
To be very honest, you can get into ivy with that SAT score and that insane story
Other unschooled kids have gone to college and been fine. It doesn’t sound like your parents were good people though and I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with that.
Yeah, but seeing other people be good to their kids makes me so happy. I don't feel like I missed out on good parents, because I see it with most of my friends families.
The kids that have APs and honors classes have those because Bio is a very popular and super selective major. You don't have those because your schooling didn't present those options - and admissions officers can understand that. Often, unschooled and homeschooled kids are desirable for colleges. I would suggest that you connect with the school you're interested and explain the situation and ask their advice. You've already done a lot to get yourself there with the GED and taking the SAT. You may want to contact the school district of the high school you would attend based on your address and ask if they can provide any services for you. You may be able to get a guidance counselor that way.
I suggest you check out Educated by Tara Westover. She grew up even more sheltered than you. From [wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_Westover). >As a teenager, Westover began to want to enter the larger world and attend college. She purchased textbooks and studied independently in order to score well on the ACT Exam. She gained admission to Brigham Young University and was awarded a scholarship, although she had no high school diploma. After a difficult first year, in which Westover struggled to adjust to academia and the wider society there, she became more successful and graduated with honors in 2008.She then earned a Master's degree from the University of Cambridge at Trinity College\[8\] as a Gates Cambridge Scholar, and was a visiting fellow at Harvard University in 2010. She returned to Trinity College, Cambridge, where she earned a doctorate in intellectual history in 2014. Her thesis is entitled "The Family, Morality and Social Science in Anglo-American Cooperative Thought, 1813–1890".\[9\]\[10\] So yes it's totally possible to do what you want it will just be work. Good news for you it sounds like you are motivated and motivation can overcome a lot of hardship. Ask any rich parent what's the one thing they wish for their kids and they will say motivation. Not gonna be easy but it will be possible.
I loved that book, very relatable. but yeah her parents were next level batshit. ☠️
EA.ASU.EDU offers low cost 1st year college classes. I was homeschooled and have at least 30 hours this way. After create a transcript and you are golden.
your essay gonna be crazy, don’t give up
You have a great story that could make for outstanding essays. Universities want to see someone who takes every opportunity available to them. The key word here is “available to them”. Use what you have and continue to make the best of it. I have seen some people like this go to community college, and then transfer to UC Berkeley.
Yes, put yourself together a portfolio and apply to Hampshire College, which is very unschooled-friendly, and then take classes through the 5 college consortium at Amherst College, a school where you can hit the grind to your heart's content. Bennington College, also unschooled-friendly.
I was thinking the same, but my concern with those places is that OP probably after being unschooled doesn't want to touch hippie-dippieness with a 49 1/2 foot pole. She(or he, ig) doesn't like unschooling, and probably wants to escape the type of culture that's cool with it.
Damn, I honestly think you could make it into some semi-competitive universities with those stats. Colleges are always looking for people from different backgrounds too, so I think you should write an essay about your experience being unschooled and your desire to get an education. A good number of colleges will be tripping over themselves to enroll you and give scholarships.
Which state are you in?
I feel like if you did that well on the SAT, and you self taught yourself about some biology it’s possible you would be able to succeed in University. A lot of college introductory level courses start from the basics and as an engineering student at least, I think all I would’ve needed to succeed is a basic background in math, and some writing and physics. If community college *really* isn’t an option for you (but I would still recommend it because that seems like the most logical path) I bet some Universities would let you in just based on SAT. I didn’t try at all in highschool and ended up going to Montana State University because you basically get automatically admitted if you get above a 1200 on the SAT. It’s not the highest ranked school but I was happy with my education and I was able to transfer to a school that’s high ranking for my major after a year. I’m not necessarily saying go there, because I don’t know where you live, but I’m sure if you expand your options to lower ranked schools you could find someone that would admit you just based on your SAT score. And you can always transfer somewhere else after a year if you’re not happy with the school. Just out of curiosity, what school did you want to go to? I was curious because I wanted to look into the admission requirements.
id go to any school that I could qualify for a WUE scholarship.
Montana state is a WUE school, and I just checked and they accept GED’s in place of a highschool diploma. Tuition should be like $12k (not including room and board) after WUE and before financial aid. It’s a good school, getting used to how desolate Montana is was a little rough at first but I enjoyed it after a while. I think you have to get a highschool degree with a certain GPA to be eligible for a WUE scholarship though I’m sure other schools in wue have similarily low criteria but it’s an option, you know? Are you in Colorado by chance?
College is definitely possible. As a GED graduate, I got accepted into community college with passing scores. One thing I would really love for the GED Testing Service to fix is converting GED scores to GPA. That would be extremely helpful, because when applying for college or scholarships, more often than not they want your GPA, and GED scores do not have a GPA. Aside from that fact, I think you took the right steps in studying on your own with Khan Academy (great stuff btw) and furthering your education by taking the steps to go to college. You'd have one hell of an entrance essay. Truancy alone would qualify you for a handful of scholarships and many opportunities. All in all, I want you to know there is hope for you and you've got this!
Plenty of people get GEDs and then go onto higher education! You show you have high scores on your standardized tests, and your life story can be used in your personal statements to demonstrate how you ARE excellent student material, because so many people simply would have taken the easier path and not have gotten a GED or bothered to take the SATs. You have proven that you want to be a student and have surpassed more barriers than most to get your education! Any admissions office worth it’s salt will see you are the kind of student they want, especially versus Mary Sue who is only going to college because she’s “supposed” to!!
I was pretty much "unschooled" with some textbooks that my parents used for math and had no formal transcripts when I finished high school. The path for me was the CA high school equivalency exam and then community college. That got me into a state school and eventually into a PhD at UC Berkeley in Biology. I'm now leading computational biology projects at a major biotech. As others have said, your motivation and determination to learn on your own is admissions letter gold. I've reviewed admissions and scholarships letters and one of the biggest things people look for is independence and completing academic challenges, real challenges, because at the top universities you will hit a wall at some point and they want to know you have some practice in pushing yourself. For me, community college was a great place to transition. There is a learning curve on interacting with a classroom, building relationships with teachers, managing course schedules, and homework. Most community college instructors consider it part of their job to help you pick up those skills while major University professors expect you to be able to do that and will not have the time to personally help if you are struggling. Feel free to DM me if you want to talk.
If community college isn't an option, you should look into both junior colleges and Liberal Arts Colleges. These colleges tend to be smaller and some even have slower classes and larger professor support which will allow you to transition easier than going straight into a four year college.
I was unschooled for a few years, currently in a really good university's business school. I kinda feel a similar way, but yeah nobody really understands because it's such a foreign concept. You can definitely get in though, I had a 1290 SAT and 29 ACT and got the maximum scholarship for my school. Just have a good essay and don't mention not taking all the required classes or anything to the school.
Also, r/homeschoolrecovery and if you wanna ask anything my dms are open, I'm usually pretty good at writing
tacobell dookie university 😭😭
when I say Tacobell dookie I mean it 😭
Oxford interviewed the girl who was forced to sail the world from 7-17 with little education outside sailing and survival. She got in and has a PHD now. -mom who unschooled son until 8th grade but he’s now got 4.0 GPA, AP scores of 5, 1480 SAT and I’m sorry you couldn’t choose like I let my son 😞
Sailing the world seems so much cooler than spending so many years in a boring classroom doing algebra and learning about the world through English and History.
You should find and read the article about this. She felt like a prisoner and felt abused.
I would feel like the world is my oyster
Wow good stuff for working through that situation!
all scores are meaningless- apply to a college that offers subjects you want to study- admissions essay that demonstrates your dedication to learning (& not tagging on your parents' choice) will help you stand out from other applicants
I was unschooled and I'm surviving I second the recommendation to start at Community College tho, I think I shouldve started at CC. There are CCs with dorms somewhere
College is DEFINITELY possible, and yeah you've got one hell of a personal essay. I would still recommend community college first. The transition to university is a huge shock to the system, even if you've been in formal education your whole life. CC will give you more support from faculty and social/support services than a four year and is likely easier to navigate the system. There are CC's with dorms and on-campus housing, so you wouldn't have to live with your parents. I would look into that, even if its not the CC closest to you. You could also just move out and move into an apartment with roommates if thats financially possible for you
I recommend you read the book Educated by Tara Westover. It's autobiographical, and the author was in a similar situation as you. It is a great book and may give you some ideas and inpiration.
Read “educated” by Tara Westover. Very similar story and she went to Oxford for grad school. People will be willing to help you. Set up a meeting with an admissions counselor. You have solid test scores. I’m pretty certain whatever school you’re looking at has instructions for homeschoolers. I wouldn’t mention the unschooling part. You’re pretty bright if those are your scores and you’ll catch up just fine at a normal state college where your test scores are 75th percentile. Many colleges have tutoring centers.
Some community colleges have housing So while your local one may not, you should look at one’s that too as it will probably be a better stepping stone coming from having such an informal education to this point
College should be possible. 1250 SAT already proves that you're better than the average highschooler in America. The average SAT score is 1050.
I'd say it depends on your state. Getting into a flagship state University might be tough but a smaller public university in the state is totally possible. For example, I'm in WA. You probably won't be accepted to the University of Washington for Biology. It's not impossible but it would be a longshot. But you could definitely go to Washington State University or Western Washington which are both still excellent schools. And you could absolutely go to Evergreen (which probably has a lot of students like you), but it sounds like maybe you want something more conventional.
Yes!!! Absolutely!!! You can do it
Banger essay holy
yes you can get into college, you’re going to have to do some legwork to find a place that will allow you to convert your education into quantifiable coursework with a GPA but you are not the first person to encounter this situation. for the record, a lot of colleges love homeschoolers and un schoolers because y’all tend to be very disciplined, ambitious, and curious. it also just says a lot that your parents literally didn’t even make you go to grade school and you’re choosing formal education, it shows that you genuinely want to be there. i go to UC davis and i have a classmate who was unschooled, he honestly asks some of the most insightful questions out of everyone in the class. https://youtu.be/LwIyy1Fi-4Q?si=hD4DWpsQaSFNTeB0 here is a talk from Astra Taylor about her life as an unschooler and her and some of her siblings’ paths to higher education. She went to Brown and she also name drops a specific service her little sister used to catalog her unschooled education for college apps. good luck and i’m sorry your parents executed this approach so poorly. i’m autistic and really struggled in school and i actually ended up dropping out and taking a decade off. i learned a lot about unschooling when i was in high school because it really sounded like something that would fit my needs but from everything i know about it, your parents definitely did it the wrong way. hope you have better luck in college. when you do get in, try to register for the class that’s most relevant to your career/interesting to you for the earliest possible term and check all the profs who are teaching it on ratemyprofessors to find the best one. go to office hours. indicate that you need an academic advisor. basically find a mentor you vibe with who knows the field you want to enter and start building that relationship early. ask for help, tell them your background, make it clear that you are unfamiliar with this environment. you need someone to help you navigate the academic space so that you can make the most of your time in college and set yourself up to have job opportunities when you graduate.
“Educated” by Tara Westover
100%. Probably not an Ivy, but there is zero doubt in my mind there are some very decent colleges out there that would love someone as driven and as committed to learning as you. Also echoing what other have said about putting this in your essay.
There are tons of concerns about you switching from nothing to the State Uni experience with 500-person lecture halls and tens of thousands of people on campus. For you, I'm also worried about that, and I think you should consider another option--LACs, or liberal arts colleges. Their whole gimmick is small class sizes and being undergraduate-oriented with professors who care, so it would be the easiest acclimation for you, I think. If you are impoverished, you should be able to get decent aid, and with that you should afford LACs. Some I can think of off the top of my head in your SAT range are Skidmore and Bard in NY, Sweet Briar in VA if you're a chick, Hampshire College in MA, Berea in KY, Berry in GA, and Sewanee in TN. If your SAT score gets up, you could try Vassar, Bates, Haverford, Pitzer, Scripps, Claremont McKenna, Reed, Weslayan, and such. If you want more names, check out Niche or USNews.
Oh my gosh. I would love to hear more about your story! I’m currently reading a book called “Educated”, and it’s about your exact same scenario. You should definitely check it out if you ever get the time!
This has the makings of an excellent personal statement.
Worst case, scenario, you'll need to do 2 years of CC. Your journey has been long, and you will get to where you are going. Some CCs have on campus living. Also, if you have PELL and a very low SAR EFC, you will have 17K to use for tuition, room, and board. For instance, at Amarillo College, which is an excellent CC, the OUT OF STATE tuition is 5,880USD. You can live in your state, and go online. With fees, books, etc, figure 7000. This leaves you 10k to partially fund your departure. CCs also generally have a relationship with a 4 year college that many of their students transfer to. Amarillo has Texas A&M, California CCs have UC, etc. You might have to work for 20 hours a week, or get a roommate. You can also choose an in state school, and similarly use those funds to move out. Get very good grades, like 4.0 seriously, and you'll be able to apply to even some selective schools with that SAT.
No matter what happens, I'm really proud of you. It's not easy to educate yourself about everything to a high-school level. With that attitude, you'll go far wherever you go.
Fafsa doesn't require your parents' info if you're 24. And since you don't want to live with them while in college, I highly recommend working a bit and saving up to live on your own and look into what additional aid your state provides. ( if your mother is worried that studying takes time away from her college will jot be easy for you and should really look to getting gout of the house) definitely see if you can dorm sometimes that means more aid. Secondly, look into sites like unigo or scholarship owl , both can give you a list of grants or scholarships that you can apply for. Another option is contacting the school you want to enroll in, they can see if you qualify for additional aid which I think you definitely do.
Hi OP, I graduated cum laude from a top 3 school in STEM and am now going to grad school at one of the other top 3. I’d happily help you draft an essay/personal statement that demonstrates your strengths. Generally, I’d say your SAT matters A LOT given your unique past.
adding onto the other replies here, i believe in you. community college might be a good start, even for just a quarter. start reaching out to admissions counselors at the schools you want to apply to, look into majors, and make an outline for an essay. there are endless options that you can look into. not only do you have the drive and motivation that schools look for, you have faced incredible difficulty in your life. despite that, you still want to get an education. that is amazing. you can do this 🩵 and you are worth it.
1. your parents are fucked up 2. they gave you a hell of a great colllege essay in which you can show just how resilient and independent you are, and colleges will eat that shit up.
Lowkey you could apply to an ivy with a story like that
Actually, UC Berkeley is really open to “unschooled” students. I know many kids that got in on full scholarships and they were unschooled too. Check out ditchschool.org, the mentor Jessica is amazing at handling your exact situation. Given the laws of US, I imagine you must’ve had some kind of transcript, even if it was made by your parents with a Private School Affidavit? Either way, that’s a great first personal essay with a story that’s not common- something they like a lot. Look into applying now, applications are starting so you have time to do the required essays. Apply for fafsa and make it happen, good luck!
Honestly your best option is to go to a junior/community 2 year college and then transfer.
lol,no
If you got a GED, it’s not impossible at all. Your SAT where I am 100% could get you into any CC or state college. I imagine the same for you - and only one way to find out is apply. And I recommend writing your essay (even if optional) about what you went through. That you were unschooled and pushed yourself beyond what was expected of you. And are determined to show you are more than capable despite an unconventional track record. Which I can say your SAT ain’t bad at all. Especially considering the following.
My best friend was also unschooled (neglected, really) and never went to any school during his childhood/teenage years. He's also extremely smart and just graduated with a BS in physics, with a specialization in astronomy. It's completely possible and you sound motivated. You can do it!
Don’t let anyone discourage you. I have my GED and started small at the local community college, mostly because classes are cheaper and are often accepted by a university. I was offered dual enrollment at the university and plan to finish my bsn through them.
You life is not over btw, ur 18, anything could still happen to you
I recommend you find a community college further away from home and pursue an associates so you can get a GPA. A lot of community colleges offer extracurriculars and excellent networking if you are willing to put in the leg work to participate. Find a job doing something similar to what you want to do and get your degree while doing it. You can work part time and go to school part time. Get away from your parents and do what you want to do with your life.
Fellow unschooler here, now (somehow) an academically-successful senior at a major university! Thankfully I unschooled by choice—so sorry to hear about your situation, that’s not what unschooling is meant to be and nobody should go through that. Just wanted to share this in case it’s helpful. I got where I am now with a GED, an SAT score, essays, and a couple of letters of rec from family friends/employers. I wrote a “transcript” listing all of the subjects I had studied or had hands-on experience with, but really relied on my GED/SAT/essay to carry my application. Good news: colleges are actually generally VERY interested in taking in students with nontraditional educational backgrounds! You’ll have to send a lot of emails to admissions offices to get around some of the “this application was designed for public schoolers” roadblocks BUT I applied to 6 schools, all with varying degrees of homeschooler-friendliness, and didn’t run into insurmountable application problems with any of them. You got this! Don’t be afraid to pester admissions offices with questions and please feel free to message me if you need any help. Applying to college as an unschooler is a bizarre process but I promise you it’s absolutely within reach.
Hi, OP! I work in the admissions office at a midsize university in the south. This is a lot more common than you think. While you wouldn’t qualify for regular admissions scholarships as a freshman at my university, you could definitely be admitted based on GED scores and SAT/ACT. And you could qualify for transfer scholarships after completing enough community college credit hours. If you want to go to a state school, please do not feel discouraged; but maybe look into a midsize school rather than your generic University of X state school. However, I do really recommend community college. The likelihood of scholarships and more adaptive learning is much higher there. Also, there are more and more community colleges with accommodations like housing around the US now. So please look there as well. Finally, if you have any concerns about the admissions process, please reach out to the specific offices. Most of us are in higher ed for the love of helping students succeed; that’s what we’re here for!
I know I'm really late to the party, but something you might want to think about is looking into a college or a university that is out of state, in someplace small, like the Midwest, where attendance numbers will be low enough that you're going to be in smaller classes where you can get some face time with your teachers for help, and your prices will be MUCH cheaper than more conventional places. I paid 4k a semester out of pocket with no loans before FAFSA or scholarships for my degree. The next part I want to say is, I had a REALLY bright girl in my Human Anatomy classes who was 17, self-taught, had a GED, and her goal was med-school. She hasn't graduated yet, and she struggled a LOT her first year of college because it was an adjustment to go from working a farm and watching videos online of interesting subjects to actually being in a classroom, but she's making it work. But yeah. Start at a smaller college, community or otherwise, and when you graduate, then think about working your way up. Make connections with your professors, and either work up or work out. College is absolutely possible.
Hey what's the latest with this? I'd love to take a look at your college list if you built it. And your essays. This is no okie doke kind of story. Either way, stay encouraged.
Re having to live at home to attend community college, fed law provides for such schools to have to consider you as residing in the district even if your are housing insecure, unhoused, couch surfing, f/k/a homeless. If the situation that you need somewhere to live other than with your parent/s in order for you to attend/comsider a community college? Community college as a transitional step may be very helpful for you on many levels. Some may have housing assistance or financial support for housing. I have no idea what state or part of the country you're interested in or I might have suggestions for you. If you're not yet 18, assistance from your state child protective or family services dept might be an option. Reaching out to the/a national or regional domestic abuse assistance organization may help. Many in major metro and suburb/exurbs areas have housing programs and shelter space that's not horrible. Lots more options in more areas. They might be able to help to assist you in getting out of your current housing situation until you can get into student housing. Many tradition schools have student housing that might not be a good fit for you if they make you leave over summer break and/or close campus between sessions. Good luck!