Expert: Bruce - 11/30/2010

Question
QUESTION: I'm a home school student at an online school that's accredited by the southern association (Ashworth High School) but I live in New York. I'm hoping colleges in New York will accept me. I love writing and I want to major in it in college, mainly journalism or creative writing.. some questions I have are: do I have to take math in college? What are some colleges in new york that offer good writing programs? what advice would you give to a homeschooler who is applying to college? Thanks!

ANSWER: I've had a lot of experience with homeschoolers, Anthony, so I think I can help. Let me ask you a couple of questions to get started:

Are you looking for a college with a religious affiliation?

Is your writing interest more in creative or journalistic work?

Are you looking to stay in or around NY?

What year of school do you consider yourself to be (junior, senior, etc)?

What is your opinion of the GED? You may not be planning to take it, but it makes life a lot easier for NY homeschoolers headed to college.

Bruce

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: 1. a college with a religious affiliation, hmm never thought of going to one.
2. it's more with journalistic work
3. I'm looking to stay around NY
4. I'm a Junior but hopefully I'll be done by this summer
5. Well.. I heard a lot of colleges accept the diploma I'm getting, so I'm hoping I don't have to take the GED because then I would feel like all of this work would be a waste of time.

Answer
I would start out by looking at these NY colleges with journalism:

St Bonaventure
Iona
Canisius
Rochester Inst of Technology

Be sure that your program covers the whole realm of new media, since that seems to be where journalism is headed.

Be sure to take both the SATs and ACT exams, with writing tests.

The NY GED is not going to be an issue for admission, your test scores and whatever kind of transcript you submit will be the key there. However, for both federal and NY State aid, the GED will make things a lot easier. There is no stigma attached to that for a homeschooler because colleges know that it makes the aid process easier - so don't worry about that issue. Federal and NY Ability to Benefit guidelines make the GED attractive. I know because I am in NY and have worked with the homeschool population quite a bit.

Contact your nearest BOCES Center about how to sign up for the GED and when you are able to take it.

Hope this helps.   

Bruce