Stanford University Online High School

Why did you choose OHS?

I was homeschooled from kindergarten until 8th grade, and suddenly it was time for high school. I was using the K12 program while I was homeschooled, and, while this gave me a good foundation, it wasn’t as academically stimulating as I needed. I was bored by my schoolwork and wasn’t being challenged. I decided that for high school, I needed a rigorous program that would inspire me to learn, and local high schools just wouldn’t cut it. That’s where OHS comes in. It’s a remarkable school that gives me that challenge I have been craving. I took five classes last year in my freshman year, and that is the perfect number for a full time student like me at the OHS.

What are classes like at OHS?

The academic work is definitely challenging, but it’s very rewarding. The workload for classes varies, but there are lectures and reading for almost all classes, which are very important for class discussions. The class discussions revolve around the knowledge and impressions you’ve gained from the homework. There are various essays for most every class, some of these in the form of final projects. The online classroom, Saba, is very interactive. There is a text chat that all can access, but the more interesting features include the ability to virtually raise your hand, and then talk on the mic and video so that all your classmates can see you, and even write on the whiteboard. When watching lectures, you can pause the recording at any time, jump to any point in the recording, and even download slides. Latin 1 with Ms. Haas (we call her Magistra Haas in class) was the very first class I took at the OHS, and she increased my interest in Latin tenfold.

What is student life like at OHS?

There is a club at the OHS for everyone! The clubs range from the sciences (physics, chemistry, and biology) to the humanities and literature (History Club, Tolkien, Latin, Art, Literary Journal). Summer Session and meet-ups are also fun to go to, and the latter happens fairly frequently for an online school. They're fantastic chances to see your friends in person and actually get to know them on a more personal level. Skype, however, is the hub for all OHS social interaction. I've made some of my best friends by talking to them on Skype about nonsensical things, such as gelato, chocolate milk, Rick Rolling, fake bands, etc. What I like best about the OHS community is the OHS community itself. The community is such a giving one, and are always willing to help you in whatever you're trying to accomplish whether it be homework or extracurriculars.

How has OHS helped you realize your goals?

The OHS has helped me develop academically in many ways. I am no longer confused when solving a mathematical word problem, and I can write an essay that is complex and brings something new to the metaphorical table. I have a renewed interest in all kinds of history, and am not too frightened of science. I’m even learning to read a “dead language,” which is indirectly fueling my interest in archeology and anthropology. The OHS has transformed me from a student whom was bored by learning and now stimulates me academically. I look forward to my classes and what I will learn from them. The OHS has also helped me to narrow what I want to go into in the future. The OHS has not only helped me pursue my academic goals, but also my outside interests and extracurriculars. With the flexibility of the OHS, I am able to take acting classes, voice lessons, and occasionally tap dance classes (when it doesn’t conflict with show rehearsals). I am able to be in several plays over the school year with the understanding of the OHS and its teachers. I have grown inconceivably in my extracurriculars over the school year, and a lot of it is because of the OHS.

» Click here to view Peri’s weekday schedule

Ask Peri a question:

Your Name:
Email Address:
Your Question: