"not by the books" paths to university?

[Ruth in Canada]

There's been a lot of discussion about what universities want and how to comply with all of the rules. I'd like to hear stories about kids who took less conventional routes to university. I hear that universities like homeschoolers because they bring diversity to their student body. I hear that universities like kids who explore their passions in depth. I'm trying to grapple with the thought that kids who jump through all of the hoops (all high school work in 4 years, certain number of APs/SATs/etc, specific schedule of courses) might not have time to pursue their passions, develop their individual talents, or study something outside of the box. I'd also like to hear about universities who are less concerned with making sure all of the boxes are ticked and more concerned about accepting kids who have the potential to succeed at their institution.

[Eliana]

There's been a lot of discussion about what universities want and how to comply with all of the rules. I'd like to hear stories about kids who took less conventional routes to university. I hear that universities like homeschoolers because they bring diversity to their student body. I hear that universities like kids who explore their passions in depth. I'm trying to grapple with the thought that kids who jump through all of the hoops (all high school work in 4 years, certain number of APs/SATs/etc, specific schedule of courses) might not have time to pursue their passions, develop their individual talents, or study something outside of the box. I'd also like to hear about universities who are less concerned with making sure all of the boxes are ticked and more concerned about accepting kids who have the potential to succeed at their institution.

Both my siblings had very unconventional portfolios - and they, honestly, did not take what a college might think into account in choosing how to spend their high school years. (My mother has never been one to let practical considerations get in the way of passion!)

I think the way they spent their high school years actually prepared them for finding colleges which would best match their skills and interests. (My brother went on to get a Masters in political science - he's still toying with the possibility of a PhD and then teaching/research, but hasn't decided yet. He is the most politically knowledgeable person I know... Pick a political issues anywhere in the world and he can give a 10 minute synopsis of the issue, its roots and the country's political and social history. My sister went on to get a 'graduate' degree at the Scottish Academy of Music and Drama - she's a professional actor in the UK now... with non-theater work at the BBC to maintain steady income. Though for a while her steady job was team leader in a group which did charity fundraising for a number of causes dear to my sister's heart (and she got to be one of a small group sent to Paris... where she used her years of French lessons!))

My brother spent hours and hours and hours studying census data and creating elaborate maps/graphs/charts/notes about individual counties around the country connecting census data with political patterns. (when we went to the John Hopkin's G&T summer program for middle schoolers he could tell every fellow student he met the political and social profile of their hometowns!) He was also very deeply involved in political activism - *that* was his top priority.


He did an unconventional mix of homeschool and highschool course work and chose his classes based on his interests and passions, and never on a checklist (with my mother's active support).

He received a full scholarship (minus a very small parental contribution - which basically amounted to what my father was already paying in child support for db) *plus* a scholarship specifically intended to encourage students with a strong volunteering background. That second scholarship paid for his books and living expenses for all four years.

My sister had a similarly unconventional high school history - *very* humanities heavy - art appreciation, music lessons, multiple foreign languages more literature in one year than most high school students read in four... she also took a few classes at a local high school... but those were almost all humanities as well. She did math through Calculus and took a fabulous Physics class at the high school (I, with all my objections to public schools, would consider sending my kids to learn from him if he were still teaching and anywhere near us!), but I don't think she took any other science classes. She spent her senior year at Interlochen Arts Academy as a Theater major (lots more humanities classes!)

Before she decided to be a theater major, she had been thinking about playing the violin professionally - so her violin practice (on top of her piano practice, theater work, ot-of-town trips to classical music concerts -and cross country trips to visit grandparents... and to go to as many 'real' museums as possible ...and to slip up to Quebec to be in French speaking environment and stock up on French books and music) took up a large part of her time.


She did a post-senior year at Interlochen (mostly theater work) and then was accepted to a prestigious pet-project of the president of Boston University.. his Uni project let student set unconventional combination majors and the small group of students were basically allowed to take an course at the University (my sister talked her way into multiple graduate level courses - most memorably a number of Eli Wiesel's.)

As you can probably tell, I am proud of my siblings - and of my mother for supporting them in their passions.