HE GOT IN!!!!

[Ms. Riding Hood]

Ds was just accepted early action at MIT. Oh my.
:willy_nilly:

:svengo:
:party:

:blink:

:scared:

I am so speechless. Somebody slap me. Oh oh oh my.

[girligirlmom]

Congratulations! That is so exciting! My girlfriend went there and I visited her a few times, especially the summer I did an internship in Sturbridge, MA.

[Janice H]

:) What a great Christmas present.

[Sharon in MD]

I'm so thrilled for you and ds!!!

What a great early Christmas gift! :w00t:

[Sandy in Indy]

Congratulations!

:party::party::party:

[Ailaena]

So exciting!! Congratulations! :cheers2:

:party::party:

[readwithem]

Congrats to him AND to you!!

[hsmamainva]

WOW!!!!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!

:party:

[Jane in NC]

Congrats to you and your son! Well done!

Jane

[MomsintheGarden]

Wonderful! I hope he has a terrific experience there!

Time to put this in my burgeoning file of homeschooling success stories...

GardenMom

[Josie]

That is awesome. Congrats!

[wenn]

Congratulations:hurray:

[Luann in ID]

WOW! Congratulations! Way to go!

[Karenciavo]

Excellent!
http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/happy110.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)

[Gwen in VA]

That is WONDERFUL!

Dh and I had a great time there -- amazing and supportive students, challenging classes, etc. What a great opportunity for your son!

:grouphug:

[Kathy in Richmond]

So happy for you!! My homeschooled son is a junior there right now - it's the best thing that ever happened to him. If you have any questions or anything, send a PM my way and I'd be glad to talk!

Kathy

[Hoggirl]

:party::thumbup:

I am SO EXCITED for you and your ds!

Congrats!

[plansrme]

Perhaps others on the HS board "know" you and yours better, but I'm guessing I'm not the only one who would appreciate a synopsis of your HS years. Pretty please?
Congratulations, by the way. That's quite an accomplishment for both of you.

Terri

[OHGrandma]

Perhaps others on the HS board "know" you and yours better, but I'm guessing I'm not the only one who would appreciate a synopsis of your HS years. Pretty please?
Congratulations, by the way. That's quite an accomplishment for both of you.

Terri

As a noobie, I'd appreciate it, too!

Congratulations to your son on this achievement!

[Karen in CO]

:party:
Wow
Congratulations!

[Chris in VA]

Congratulations!

What I'd love you to share is the essay he had to write...but that may be too personal to ask for.

I'm so happy for you!!! (and your ds, of course :lol:)

[FloridaLisa]

That is awesome, awesome, awesome! Congratulations to you and to your son!

Lisa

[Violet]

:party: What a wonderful accomplishment! You must be very proud.

Anita

[Quiver0f10]

Congratulations!!!

[Nan in Mass]

That is SO EXCITING. What a relief! Congratulations! -Nan

[Michelle in MO]

with us how you did it? What field is your ds pursuing? I'm assuming some area of science/technology/math. If so, can you please share what curriculum you used for each field and how your ds studied, applied, etc.

I'm so excited for you!

[CynthiaOK]

Oh, Wow! That's exciting! Congratulations to you both!

[Brenda in MA]

What great news! Way to go mom and ds! Homeschooling high school works!!!!!!!!

Brenda

[Michelle in AL]

Oh my gosh, that is wonderful!
Congrats to you both!
:party: :party::party:

[ereks mom]

:hurray:

[Tammyla]

Congratulations!

[Blue Hen]

with us how you did it? What field is your ds pursuing? I'm assuming some area of science/technology/math. If so, can you please share what curriculum you used for each field and how your ds studied, applied, etc.

I'm so excited for you!

And CONGRATULATIONS TO You and your DS

Carole

[Gwen in VA]

One other question -- is he definitely going to MIT? Or is he waiting to hear from other schools? Is he waiting to hear about Fin Aid?

I know that some kids "know" where they are going the moment the acceptance comes in.....and some wait to hear about other options.....

[YJ in AL]

YAY!!!!! Way to go!!!:thumbup1:

[Susie-Knits]

Way to go! We are just starting down that road this year with our mathie/techie junior so it is encouraging to hear your success story.

Kudos again!:hat:

[Basketmaker Amy]

What a great early Christmas present! Congrats!

[Krista in LA]

:hurray: Yay! Congratulations to both of you. That is so exciting!

[Kareni]

What exciting news! Congratulations to him and to your whole family.

Regards,
Kareni

[langfam]

Woo Hoo!!!!:party:

[Ms. Riding Hood]

with us how you did it? What field is your ds pursuing? I'm assuming some area of science/technology/math. If so, can you please share what curriculum you used for each field and how your ds studied, applied, etc!

If you only knew how this question makes me laugh! Someone is asking what I have done? :lol:

Okay--here's how I did it. I prayed a lot, I cried a lot, I sometimes screamed, often doubted, frequently despaired, generally second-guessed and between-times bit my nails. And that's really the honest truth!

But here's the story:

This ds has been homeschooled since the beginning of 6th grade. I was incredibly anxious about bringing him home, since at that time we frequently butted heads, however I have enjoyed him immensely. In one of his essays, he wrote about how he blew off his work throughout the 6th grade, until one day a friend mentioned something they were doing in the p.s. Ds apparently became alarmed, suddenly fearing that he was behind all his friends. He says this was a great motivator for him, and encouraged him to realize that he needed to get busy, or he'd be behind forever.

He is an incredibly self-motivated, self-disciplined person. Much more so than I! I'd say he began to be this way in the 8th grade and has continued to pick up speed. It was only last year about this time that he discovered MIT and set his sights on that grail. While I knew that homeschoolers had been admitted, I really had no clue whether he had a shot.

He has been entirely self-taught. Can I please emphasize that? I did nothing, other than organize a few materials, set up test dates and so forth. We discuss things, but I teach him nothing. This has included AP-level classes in chem, comp. sci, physics. He has used, and I have frequently applauded, Apologia science textbooks. He used both the Apologia chem books to score a 5 on the AP chem; both physics books to score a 5 on the AP physics B, and an 800 on the SAT Physics subject exam. Jay Wile has been his favorite "teacher", with the notable exception this year of Dr. Edward Burger and Thinkwell calculus. Otherwise, he has used a smattering of Laura Berquist's syllabi, Saxon math, Henle Latin. Nothing earth shaking here. I'm sorry if I disappoint.

I truly think he got this acceptance because of who he is. He's a kid who loves to learn, and I think that he was just his plain ol' simple self in his application--no fancy words, no big contests and awards. Just a hard working boy who wants to take himself to the limit. Beats me that that's good enough, but I think it really was.

He has played three sports at the local high school, and was able to have two coaches write recommendations for him. They were very nice, supportive and honest assessments--but nothing like what a star English teacher might have written. Just simple, straight-forward, and "storied". Without these objective recommendations, I am positive that he wouldn't have had a chance. I think the AP scores and SAT scores (two were required) also served to validate my home-made grades and demonstrate a certain level of achievement.

He is interested in engineering and physics. I think he'll use his first year or two to decide where he fits.

What more can I say? Susan Wise Bauer, these boards have been an incredible blessing to me as I attempted to guide this child. I don't do things per TWTM, because I've never felt cabable. We just struggle along as we can. But there are so many good moms on here that have offered suggestions, wisdom, ideas and encouragment. Maybe that last thing has been the biggest of all, as I have no support group in my rural area. I am SO grateful for these boards, and for all those who have shared so much here. I can't say it loudly enough: THANK YOU!!! :grouphug:

[Jen3boys]

Congratulations to you and your family! And thank you for sharing, it's very inspiring to those of us with younger kids.

[Asma_08]

Congrats!!! I love to hear from those at the end of the journey.

[MaryM]

Excellent!!! Congratulations to the scholar and his teacher! It is very impressive to read of the college acceptances on this board AND the success of the students once on campus too. I am in awe of you all!

Mary

[Michelle in MO]

And---for filling us in on all of the details! He sounds like a very motivated teen, but my big hugs and pats on the back to you, too, for facilitating such a homeschooling environment that has given him the liberty and encouragment to pursue his goal!

Congratulations to both of you!

[EKS]

That's wonderful!!! Congratulations!

[OHGrandma]

He is an incredibly self-motivated, self-disciplined person. Much more so than I! I'd say he began to be this way in the 8th grade and has continued to pick up speed. It was only last year about this time that he discovered MIT and set his sights on that grail. While I knew that homeschoolers had been admitted, I really had no clue whether he had a shot.

He has been entirely self-taught. Can I please emphasize that? I did nothing, other than organize a few materials, set up test dates and so forth. We discuss things, but I teach him nothing. This has included AP-level classes in chem, comp. sci, physics. He has used, and I have frequently applauded, Apologia science textbooks. He used both the Apologia chem books to score a 5 on the AP chem; both physics books to score a 5 on the AP physics B, and an 800 on the SAT Physics subject exam. Jay Wile has been his favorite "teacher", with the notable exception this year of Dr. Edward Burger and Thinkwell calculus.

Again, congratulations. I suspect the bolded part is what made him rise to the top of the applicants. You may think you've taught him nothing, but I think you've taught him very well.

[fractalgal]

If you only knew how this question makes me laugh! Someone is asking what I have done? :lol:

Okay--here's how I did it. I prayed a lot, I cried a lot, I sometimes screamed, often doubted, frequently despaired, generally second-guessed and between-times bit my nails. And that's really the honest truth!

But here's the story:

This ds has been homeschooled since the beginning of 6th grade. I was incredibly anxious about bringing him home, since at that time we frequently butted heads, however I have enjoyed him immensely. In one of his essays, he wrote about how he blew off his work throughout the 6th grade, until one day a friend mentioned something they were doing in the p.s. Ds apparently became alarmed, suddenly fearing that he was behind all his friends. He says this was a great motivator for him, and encouraged him to realize that he needed to get busy, or he'd be behind forever.

He is an incredibly self-motivated, self-disciplined person. Much more so than I! I'd say he began to be this way in the 8th grade and has continued to pick up speed. It was only last year about this time that he discovered MIT and set his sights on that grail. While I knew that homeschoolers had been admitted, I really had no clue whether he had a shot.

He has been entirely self-taught. Can I please emphasize that? I did nothing, other than organize a few materials, set up test dates and so forth. We discuss things, but I teach him nothing. This has included AP-level classes in chem, comp. sci, physics. He has used, and I have frequently applauded, Apologia science textbooks. He used both the Apologia chem books to score a 5 on the AP chem; both physics books to score a 5 on the AP physics B, and an 800 on the SAT Physics subject exam. Jay Wile has been his favorite "teacher", with the notable exception this year of Dr. Edward Burger and Thinkwell calculus. Otherwise, he has used a smattering of Laura Berquist's syllabi, Saxon math, Henle Latin. Nothing earth shaking here. I'm sorry if I disappoint.

I truly think he got this acceptance because of who he is. He's a kid who loves to learn, and I think that he was just his plain ol' simple self in his application--no fancy words, no big contests and awards. Just a hard working boy who wants to take himself to the limit. Beats me that that's good enough, but I think it really was.

He has played three sports at the local high school, and was able to have two coaches write recommendations for him. They were very nice, supportive and honest assessments--but nothing like what a star English teacher might have written. Just simple, straight-forward, and "storied". Without these objective recommendations, I am positive that he wouldn't have had a chance. I think the AP scores and SAT scores (two were required) also served to validate my home-made grades and demonstrate a certain level of achievement.

He is interested in engineering and physics. I think he'll use his first year or two to decide where he fits.

What more can I say? Susan Wise Bauer, these boards have been an incredible blessing to me as I attempted to guide this child. I don't do things per TWTM, because I've never felt cabable. We just struggle along as we can. But there are so many good moms on here that have offered suggestions, wisdom, ideas and encouragment. Maybe that last thing has been the biggest of all, as I have no support group in my rural area. I am SO grateful for these boards, and for all those who have shared so much here. I can't say it loudly enough: THANK YOU!!! :grouphug:

Congratulations! :)

[Susan in IL]

:hurray::party::cheers2::thumbup:

[Katia]

How wonderful! Great job, mom and son. Congratulations!!!

[CAMom]

Fantastic!! I told my son and he was definitely impressed!:)

Congratulations to all of you!

[Beth in SW WA]

Lynne,
Thanks for the 411. It is so encouraging for me to hear this success story! You deserve a boat-load of kudos! You may feel you didn't "teach" him anything. But you instilled a love of learning -- and that obviously is what has carried him thus far.

Congrats!!

[always cookin']

It is really encouraging to me. I contemplate sending ds(12) to ps daily because I often feel he would be better off in school. However, like your son, he is incredibly self-motivated. He really wants to be home. I showed him your post. It was helpful to both of us.

[Ms. Riding Hood]

If you have a kid who has drive, then the sky is the limit for what he wants to do with homeschool. My ds said, "I was able to do this [get into MIT] because I was homeschooled." I wish you both the best.

[Ms. Riding Hood]

Thank you all so much for your kind words and congratulations. I am truly in shock over this. It's like I know it, intellectually, but my mind does not comprehend. My homeschooled son was just accepted at one of the most selective schools in the nation? How can that be?

Again, my deepest gratitude for your support over the past four years. And that means all of you. Reading your posts here has been so very important to me, and has been invaluable in navigating our high school road.

[Catherine]

showed it to my ds, but I think you deserve much credit too. Happy day!

[MBH]

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/dance001.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/dance011.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/dance001.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/dance001.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)


Congratulations! I am so excited for you.