自主学习的学生

SMU happily accepts and reviews applications from students attending non-traditional high schools, including homeschools and online high schools. A student who has been home-schooled is subject to the same review as a student applying from a traditional high school (please follow the 应用程序指令). We ask that all home-schooled students complete the 自主学习的补充.

的 SMU Admission Committee makes the following additional recommendations for home-schooled students to help them be as competitive as possible in the admission process:

课程
In our review of applicants, we like to see students challenging themselves academically. Regardless of which curriculum you follow, the committee would like to see, at minimum:

  • 四单元英语
  • Three units of 数学ematics (suggested: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II)
  • Three units of science (including two units of laboratory science)
  • Three units of social science
  • Two units of a foreign language (full two-year sequence)

Please be aware that students who go above and beyond in the rigor of their academic curriculum generally have an advantage in the admissions process. 的 average number of core academic courses for an admitted student is 20 units.

官方成绩单
的 admission committee will need something to help us measure your success as a student in your homeschool program. We understand that an official transcript may not be available. 如果是这样的话, please submit a transcript with a consistent grading scheme and/or course descriptions including textbook titles so that we can fully understand your program and what was used to determine proficiency in each academic area.

You can use the space provided on the 自主学习的补充 or provide a document in your own format. While not required, it may be beneficial to have your transcript notarized.

推荐信
As you will see on our application checklist, a 顾问建议 是必需的 老师的推荐 强烈推荐.

  • 的 顾问建议 should come from the individual who has coordinated your educational experience and can provide information about the curriculum you used.
  • 的 老师的推荐 can be completed by a teacher, tutor, or the advisor of an activity in which you participate.

If you and your educational coordinator (i.e. “counselor”) feel that your application would be better served through your teacher/tutor recommendation, you are welcome to waive the 顾问建议 by submitting a statement. 的 wording for this statement can be as follows:

I, [Full Name of Educational Coordinator], would like to waive my right to provide a counselor letter of recommendation for [申请人的法定名称] on account that the 老师的推荐 letter by [Full Name of Teacher/Tutor] is a better representation of the academic merits of this applicant. Under the terms of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the applicant has waived his/her right to access the teacher’s recommendation form and letter. We understand that we may not be eligible to review or otherwise inspect the letter of recommendation prior to submission to SMU.

Dual-Credit & AP/IB/SAT II考试
Many home-schooled applicants challenge themselves by taking dual-credit courses from local accredited colleges or recommended standardized exams. Because each homeschool experience is different, SAT II subject test and/or AP/IB scores and college-level courses can provide the committee with an additional measure of your ability in core academic subject areas such as English literature, 数学, 和科学.

We look forward to working with you and reviewing your application for admission. Please feel free to contact 安娜·李·布恩 with any homeschool-related questions.