Where do I start my life?

You will need a high school diploma or GED to get into anything besides a community college. Or you could go to a community/junior college to get units to transfer and then go on to a 4 year school.

Cal Arts would be my first choice if I wanted to pursue almost any of the drawing or film related films you mentioned. If you are looking for a job in the film industry a degree at Cal Arts is a huge leg-up.

I highly recommend that you go to the high school with your friends, if you’re really missing the social aspect. Otherwise, I suggest that whoever is home schooling you look long and hard at the SAT to determine what classes to put the stress on at this point in your schooling.

It’s very good that you know what you like to do and where you want to place your future, but there are things you need to be emphasizing at the present that shouldn’t be forgotten. Math is one of those things. You’re going to need a solid foundation in it to pass a GED test.

Good luck! :)

@FluffyChicken What’s a GED and how do I get one?

If you still decide not to go to a traditional school, I think you should check out places that have programs that cater to homeschooled and unschooled kids. I teach wilderness skills at one such program. Maybe also get involved in “after-school” activities related to your interest that you can socialize at.

As far as the certification and such, some states have tests homeschoolers can take to show they’ve achieved enough academically. This changes state to state, so check with your local board of education or whatever organization handles it.

Otherwise, good luck on whatever you decide to do.

a GED is a certificate that says you passed a test proving you are smart and knowledgeable enough to graduate high school. It does NOT look good on your transcripts though. You would be better off just going to high school if you want to get into a four year college right away without having to go to community/junior college. To get one, you’ll need to go to the office of your local high school and inquire there.

I am a dinosaur in terms of technology and school that may be relevant today….BUT….I studied your very curriculum at a state University and upon graduation applying for jobs was told repeatedly we only hire grads from Columbia college or Southern Illinois University. Bear in mind this was the Chicago are market but both schools did and may still have top notch Communication programs. Before you switch high schools do consider what a top notch GPA and transcript will mean when applying to colleges. You can socialize all you want during your summer breaks and after college!

I have no idea but the Kraken is awesome! Boo hiss to me then…

I think you might be interested in a University with a Film school. NYU is a good one in the East, and I think USC or UCLA has a good one in the West. I think you could pursue many of your passions there.

There are books that review the universities and colleges and describe them so you can decide what is for you. I’ll be you can do that online, too.

Don’t your parents advise you on these things?

A university is a collection of colleges. They can award the highest degrees: PhD. PhDs can take anywhere from four to ten years, depending on how motivated you are, and what your program is willing to tolerate. PhDs make very good money, but not as much as the professional schools.

Professional schools provide business, law, and physicians training and they offer a degree that is earned in from three to six years, I think. Those degrees are the most remunerative. Those graduates make the most money.

A college can award a BA, which is the standard post-secondary degree. It lasts for 4 years, typically. If you get a BA, you will make an average of thirty percent more over the course of your life than someone with only a high school degree.

I don’t know what a Junior college awards, but it lasts for two years. Of the post-secondary degrees, it is worth the least.

You choose a school depending on your interests, skills, intelligence and ability to afford it. People are afraid of debt in these times, but it is 90% sure that if you get yourself a college education (BA) you will be set for a comfortable life. Of course, there are those that can’t make out well with college.

And by the way, you life already started. Enjoy it while you have it. Every part of it.

Thank you so much everybody! (and @wundayatta )! I’ve got plenty to think about now, but anyone else, please feel free to add anything that might have been forgotten!

Go to the high school with your friends. You have learned how to learn what you want to learn, now learn how to learn what you don’t want to learn and also how to be with kids. It will serve you well.

Regarding a GED, you cannot take it unless your grade level has already graduated. I’m not sure, but you may also have to be 18 or older.

I home schooled for 10 years. Regarding “the lack of social life”, you can pick up the social stuff by joining clubs that focus on your interests, church activities, or sports. It’s not that much of a biggie.

I do agree that you need to learn math skills, because it will round you out, it’s expected by future employers, etc. PM me if you want to learn more how to accomplish this.

Right now.

There is much more than subjects that you learn in High School, and it is worth learning for the rest of your life. Meanwhile, keep up learning in the subjects you love. Maybe you can even get one started in your high school—who knows. Trying would be a great education.

@snowberry Not so in my area. You have to be a junior to take the GED where I grew up.

I’ve taken college courses with young teens who were homeschooled. Clearly it varies by state.

I have too, but this was at a community college.