Preparing Homeschoolers for College

The 9 Keys to a Successful Junior Year

A mother (who shall remain nameless) called me during my free office hours last May, seeking advice about college applications. Her question went something like this:

"It's May of my daughter's senior year, and she wants to go to college. She is very gifted, but we have never done math or foreign language, and she hasn't take the SAT or ACT. She hasn't looked at many colleges, but I know she is smart enough to get into Harvard, and I know homeschoolers can get in there. Can you help me?"

Now, before you jump to any conclusions about this mom, let me just mention that she was not the ONLY phone call like this last May! And no, May of senior year is not the time to begin thinking about college - especially if you want to go to an Ivy League school! Getting into college requires planning. There is a lot of work that needs to be done during junior year particularly, because junior year is pivotal.

In fact, careful planning and conscientious effort during junior year can compensate for a lack of attention earlier in high school. If you have a junior, follow these strategies now and you can be successful at the college admission game. If your student is younger, pencil these into your calendar now, so that you are ready for junior year - when it's your turn to work hard!

Learn the 9 Keys that can make YOUR junior year successful!

College Admission and Planning

For some women, it comes on suddenly. At two in the morning you snap awake in a cold sweat, heart racing, gasping for breath with every muscle tensed. You wonder, "Is this The Change?" "No," you tell yourself, "I'm only 40." When you finally come to your senses, you are able to verbalize the true source of your panic. Sitting up straight in bed, you seize your husband's shoulders and scream, "But what about COLLEGE!?"

Learn more college admission and planning.

Lee Binz and "Setting the Records Straight"

As a homeschool consultant, Lee Binz has worked with thousands of parents from around the world. She believes that homeschooling provides the best possible learning environment; that every child deserves a college-prep education whether or not they choose to go to college; and that parents are capable of providing a superior education to their children. In her book "Setting the Records Straight", Lee provides parents the information they need to create homeschool records that will perfectly document their children's homeschool education in a way that will demand attention, and many more.

Learn more about keeping records for your homeschool.

Nine Easy Steps: A High School Graduation Checklist

Aim for College
Parents can provide a college preparation during high school for every student, which can benefit every child. If they ultimately don't go to college, then your homeschool education will be the only education they get. Make it great! They'll be well prepared for life and their civic responsibilities. Plus, if they ever change their mind and decide to go to college, they will have a much easier time getting in. On the other hand, some parents know early on that their children are college bound. For them, a college prep education can influence the quality of the colleges they get admitted to. College preparation can benefit everyone!

Learn more about homeschool graduation requirements.

The College Application Process

Lee Binz, The Homescholar explains the competitive college application process for your homeschooling teens and how homeschooling parents have to be conscious of nature of competition for college admissions and scholarships.

Watch the video to learn more about The College Application Process.

How to Submit Course Descriptions to Colleges

One of the big tasks when homeschooling high school is writing course descriptions. There comes a moment in senior year when a light bulb goes on. "What do I DO with it?" How do you actually submit course descriptions to a college?

Each college will have their own requirements and suggestions, so it's best to ask them directly and then try your best to do it exactly the way they want. You want to make it as easy as possible for the college, so they have good feelingsabout your child - such warm feeling that they want to give you scholarships.

Some colleges like the information in an email attachment. Some will want a paper copy. Some will want a it mailed to them on a disc. It's impossible to guess which way a particular college wants the information. Ask each admission department exactly how they want your course descriptions. If they don't answer then mail them a hard copy of the documents WITH a disc. That way they can have it in paper or electronic form.

When submitting transcripts and course descriptions, provide a one-page transcript first. Under that single loose piece of paper, provide the course description packet underneath. That way colleges can see an overview of the student first and decide if they WANT to read course descriptions. It just makes it a little easier for them to make that first round of decisions (for example, has the student met math requirements).

Mailing a package does not need to delay your application. Fill out the applications online first and get that completed. Mail the package later. The day you submit the online application is usually considered your official "application date". They expect other pieces to come trickling in slowly. The SAT scores, final grades, and other details do not come in at the moment of application either.

It's best to submit the online application immediately. At the same time, write an email to the admissions department to find out how they want the course descriptions. People in admissions usually deal with schools when it comes to records and transcripts. They will not view it as unusual when a parent handles that aspect of admission.

Learn to Be a Great High School Guidance Counselor?

While getting my hair cut, I overheard a conversation between two mothers of high school teens. They were talking about how they had moved their children from public schools and private schools, searching for a better education and yet unable to find it. "They just don't teach the basics of reading, writing and math anymore!" one mother complained. The other mom said, "And my child is getting completely lost in the system!"

She went on to describe how her child completed Algebra 1 with difficulty. The next year, the guidance counselor signed her child up for the wrong class. This poor student was sitting in a calculus class for TWO WEEKS before anyone figured out that he wasn't supposed to be in that class!

I realize that homeschoolers sometimes are insecure about their ability to advise their children in high school. You have to admit, however, that a homeschooler would NEVER stick their child in a Calculus class after having difficulty with Algebra 1! Duh.... We may not be perfect high school advisers, but we do truly KNOW our child, and that's what makes us successful!

University admission essays - start early! 

The best advice for college admission essays is to start the process early! If you have a junior, you may want to have them write a college admission essay now, for practice. You can use it "as-is" next year, edit it, or just use the practice to make writing a new one easier. You can find essay topics on the website of most universities. Google the name of the university, and click on admission. You should be able to locate something that says "Apply Now" which will lead you to the application essay.

When you're thinking about university admission essays, remember these tips:

- Go Deep. Don't list as many projects and accomplishments as possible. It's confusing, boring, and doesn't explain the read person. Choose one thing, and focus on that.

- Be Different. Don't be a cookie-cutter kid. Try to be unusual and stand out from the crowd.

- Talk Like You Normally Do. Try to sound like "you" and not somebody else. Don't use big words, out-of date or complicated phrases that you don't normally use.

- Be Authentic. Don't worry about being funny, focus on being yourself. Trust me - humor rarely works in a college admission essay.

Rosetta Stone Foreign Language

Foreign language requirements vary from university to university. Check with the university website and see what their policy is. Go to a college fair and ask questions of each university, to get their opinion. You'll be surprised at the variety of answers, I'm sure!

I have a slightly off-topic question regarding whether Rosetta Stone and/or Power Glide are accepted as Foreign Language high school credits in preparation for most state universities. Anyone have any information on that? We started Rosetta Stone Spanish, but were derailed with rumors that it was not acceptable as credit.
Thanks ~ Barb

I have not heard that rumor about Rosetta Stone. I do know that all universities make up their own policy about every subject and what will transfer.

Most universities will either accept homeschool foreign language or they will not. The choice of Rosetta Stone or Power Glide or Tell Me More, or Bob Jones may not ultimately matter. If a university accepts one, they usually accept all.

On the other hand, if the university does not accept a homeschool credit in foreign language, there are alternatives. Those universities will often accept TESTS in foreign language, even though they don't value the homeschooling nature of the class. So they may accept your high school credits if they are accompanied by a SAT Subject Test, AP exam, or CLEP Test in that foreign language.

Some universities do not accept homeschool credits or testing for proof of a foreign language, and yet they will have a policy of "reviewing the whole student." In those universities, you may be able to find a way around their policies by explaining in concrete, whole-student ways. Letters of recommendation, proof of translation skills, etc., may convince them that your child has the necessary skills.

Some universities are real sticklers. A non-homeschool-friendly university will have additional hurdles for homeschool students. They may insist on studying a foreign language with a certified teacher. In that instance, you may decide not to pursue that university. You might also decide that the university is SO desirable that you are willing to have foreign language classes in the public high school or community university, to meet the admission requirements.

It's better to teach foreign language than avoid it. Even if you find out that your child must take the foreign language again in the community university, it will only end up improving their community university GPA. Don't let the fear of one university or one rumor change your homeschool or the way you educate your child.

What if the college requires a GED?  

" I have a friend at church whose daughter dropped out of school just before her Senior year, she is now trying to go through the public school system's GED program and has had a terrible time finding teachers who can teach well! She ask me for help because she knows I homeschool.

Any suggestions on where she can get appropriate materials and a sample of what GED test requires?"

~ Laurie

Sometimes a GED is required. Perhaps it's a finicky university that your daughter loves, or the perfect technical job for your high school graduate, there are times when universities or employers may simply DEMAND a GED.

Before you panic, however, make sure you clarify what is truly necessary. Never assume that when they ask for a "High School Diploma" or an "Official Transcript" that they are excluding you! A homeschool diploma IS a high school diploma, and a homeschool transcript is official when you are homeschooling within the laws of your state.If it turns out that your child still needs to get a GED, remember that it is only a high school level test. It's intended to demonstrate the amount of knowledge learned in a public high school. It's usually not a difficulty to obtain a passing score.

Once the GED is passed, help other homeschoolers in the future. Please talk with the university or employer and explain that a GED is not necessary because homeschoolers are NOT high school drop outs, but are simply educated in a different way, much like private school students.

Homeschool High School: CLEP, community college, and scholarships

CLEP exams, Community College, and Scholarships can be confusing topics when homeschooling high school. Wouldn't it be nice if there was just one single source for information, so you could figure it all out easily?  It seems like there is conflicting information out there!

Read more about the CLEP, community college, and scholarships

Is Apologia Science Good Preparation for College?

I believe that Apologia Science is great university preparation.

Apologia is a very rigorous university prep series. I don't usually recommend specific homeschool curriculum, because I know it's all about "fit" more than a specific textbook. When it comes to science, though, I had such success with the curriculum we used, that I really do recommend it - even to my clients that are not Christian.

I know it for a fact that Apologia is a great university preparation because Alex (my non-scientist son) was able to pass a CLEP in Biology 3 years after taking Apologia Biology at home. He earned a 4.0 in Engineering Physics in university after taking Apologia Physics. Remember, he is NOT my science major. I made him take that engineering physics at community college with his brother, because he was too young to take a class by himself. So he learned well from the books even though he didn't "love" science. Apologia is great stuff.

I know for a fact that Apologia is great university preparation because my son Kevin is an electrical engineering major in university. He still refers to his Apologia Physics book now and then. He used Apologia Chemistry over the summer, to review for a class he was taking. He has reviewed his physics book frequently. It's been one of my "best buys" for curriculum, because they have literally used them for 5 years. Kevin has a fabulous GPA in engineering, and I believe it is in art because he was so well prepared with Apologia Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

If you want to make Apologia even MORE rigorous, it is possible. You can go through a book in a semester instead of a year, and make it an AP course if you want, but it's not necessary at all, just an option. I have heard of some "university prep" AP classes that actually take a child 5 hours a day to complete. That would be so frustrating to spend 5 hours a day on one class! One mother was letting core subjects in reading, writing and math slide, just so her child could get an AP Chemistry credit. That's a lot of work for not a lot of benefit. It's easier to keep your subjects at the level of your children when they do it at home with a homeschool curriculum.

Apologia is a self-teaching homeschool curriculum, so kids can learn it on their own, and moms don't have to know what they are doing in order to be successful. That's a big deal, because I didn't have a clue about physics, and barely was able to keep up with the chemistry.

Yes, absolutely Apologia is university prep. It's not perfect, because no curriculum is perfect. All textbooks have typos- ALL of them - and I'm sure someone could find a flaw in these books like you can find a flaw in every book. Still it's great preparation, and I recommend it to all my clients.

Is a Diploma Required to Get into a University?

Can my child get into a university without a diploma?

But the answer depends on what you mean.

Hardly anyone ever asks for a high school diploma. The universities we applied to didn't ask to see a high school diploma. They wanted to know if my child was a high school graduate. They wanted to know if he HAD a diploma. My diploma was printed from HomeschoolDiploma.com. They did have a homeschool diploma - and I made it myself. But did we need it? Probably not. Probably graduating from high school was all we really needed. But most colleges will want to know that your child has a diploma. So you can be an independent homeschooler and provide a diploma. You aren't getting your child into a university WITHOUT a diploma, it's just your own.

What do you need to get into a university? Probably a transcript more than a diploma. A homeschool transcript IS a transcript - just like a transcript from an unaccredited public school or private school is also a transcript. For more information about Accreditation, read this article: Homeschool Accreditation. Again, you aren't getting your child into a university WITHOUT a transcript, it's just your own.

By far the best way to make sure your child can get into a university isn't about the transcript or diploma, though. It's about providing a college prep education. Cover the basic subjects, including math, science, and foreign language, and you will be in the best position to eventually get into a university.

Let's Go On a College Safari!

Lee talks about how to go about maximizing your college visit and how to use what you learn during the application process

Read more about finding a college.

What Questions Should You Ask the Colleges?

When planning college applications with your student, you will often have specific questions that you would like to get answered. Sometimes there are easy "yes/no" type questions that will be consistent from college to college. More often than not, however, the answer may vary depending on the college. Take for example the question on whether a college will still consider your student a freshman if they have an AA degree and more than 90 credits. Some colleges take a hard line at the 90 credits. Others will show some flexibility.

The best approach to these types of questions is to call the admissions office directly and ask. This approach does a number of things, all of which are good. Most apparent, it will get you the answers you need to tailor your plans for the specific colleges you are interested in. What is less apparent, however, is that by asking the question, you are showing the college that you are seriously interested in them.

I have have often said, the college application process is like a courting dance. In order to get them interested in you, you sometimes have to show you are interested in them! Asking clarifying questions is a great way to demonstrate your interest. Believe me, colleges pay attention to the families that are asking application and admissions questions!

So go ahead and call. Better yet, get your student to call. When you get an answer, make a note of who responded. Later, when you visit that college, make sure to ask to speak to the person who answered. If you do this, the college might just recognize your name when they see your application!

Are Military Academies an Option for Homeschoolers?

At the last university fair, I spent a long time talking to military academies, especially Annapolis. All of the military academies accept homeschoolers, even when Mom makes the transcript. Homeschoolers are on completely equal footing with every other applicant. The big-time military academies want leadership and physical fitness to be as important as grades. They even have a "homeschool admission" page, which is always very helpful. Scouting is a huge plus. Anyway, they are welcoming to homeschoolers, and they value a homeschool transcript. That said, they are pretty competitive, but ROTC through other universities is also available as a back up plan.

The academic preparation for a military academy is actually the easy part. It's the extracurricular, leadership and physical fitness aspects of preparation that are much more difficult to achieve! It's completely possible if you have the right kind of child. I have a local homeschool friend and her son was recently admitted to an academy - REAL homeschoolers REALLY do get in.

They will ask you to give a "list of courses with materials used." That means they want very detailed course descriptions.

Military academies also want to see a reading list. The reading list includes ALL the books that the student reads. Books for school, books for pleasure, Christian books, classics, fluff pieces. It's actually important to have a good mix of classics AND current literature. I have heard some universities complain that homeschoolers only read the classics and don't seem to have enough popular literature. This can make them look a bit artificial. The reading list is just a LIST, not a bibliography. It just needs to have the title and author of each book.

It can help your chances of success if you meet with the military academies early in high school. Visit their booth at a university fair, and ask detailed information about preparation and what they require. You'll be amazed, because homeschooling will be the very least of your worries, and the easiest part of the process!

Questions about Community College

This article focuses on dual-enrollment in Washington State (called "Running Start".) I think you will find some useful information here regardless of where you are homeschooling.

Running Start is relatively easy to access as a homeschooler, even at a young age. 1) take the COMPASS test at the community college 2) take your transcript and COMPASS test results to the local high school and talk to the Running Start counselor there 3) they will sign a paper allowing you to access Running Start 4) take the paper into the community college admission department. It's pretty easy (more time consuming when kids are under 16, but still do-able.)

Advantages: Dual enrollment can provide college credit, which can save many thousands of dollars on a college degree. It can provide external documentation of a student's academic achievement, especially in difficult subjects like lab science and foreign language.

Drawbacks: Community colleges will often have lower academic standards than regular universities. Classes will be a mix of academically capable and academically struggling teens and adults. Teens are usually in the minority. "Public school" environment with former drop-outs and students of questionable character. "Adult learning environment" that is sometimes akin to watching an R-rated movie. Community colleges have told me to warn homeschoolers that their student population may include "adjudicated individuals" who have been through the court and prison systems.

If you are thinking about Running Start, I recommend using the "buddy system." One friend had great success by using just evening programs, rather than daytime classes and using the buddy system.

Homeschool Friendly Universities Don't Require an Accredited Transcript  

Today, more universities than ever are homeschool friendly, and homeschool friendly universities do not require an accredited transcript. Even the military academies understand that a homeschool transcript will not be accredited. Usually a university will understand a transcript that a parent makes for their child and will often accept such non-accredited transcripts. If they don't, universities will often offer an alternative to an accredited transcript, like a GED or other testing. After all, some public high schools that are not accredited either.

Even a university that says it will only accept accredited transcripts may still show some flexibility. In that situation, the best strategy is having a high quality university prep education with a clear demonstration of high school specialization. In other words, if your student really has their heart set on that ONE university that says they won't accept a homeschool transcript

DON'T DESPAIR - you may still get in!

- First, document your student's university preparation with outside sources, using CLEP, AP, SAT Subject Tests or dual enrollment credits.
- Second, encourage specialization in the student's area of passion, whether it is academics, sports, volunteering, or other specific area. Document that specialization on their university application.

If they want your student, they can review their application on a case-by-case basis. That's where homeschoolers REALLY shine!

How to Compare College Statistics

"My son is a junior this year. Because he took the PSAT, he has started receiving lots of university literature via e-mail and through the regular mail. How can we find out AND COMPARE the university's statistics such as the academic abilities of the students (i.e. what schools are more challenging and, therefore, harder to gain admission), financial aid stats, graduation rate, etc. . . without having to spend a lot of time at each of the university's websites?

Thanks for your ministry to support homeschoolers!"
~ Kimm

Hi Kimm,

That's a great question! It is important to compare statistics, and I spend a long time discussing how to do that in my video called "Finding a College."

There are many ways to compare universities. By far the BEST and most accurate way to compare is to visit the university; hands-down, no doubt about it. Before you visit, though, it can help to compare statistics. I used books; US News, Barron's, and Peterson's. They all look about the same - like a huge, big city phone book. Like a phone book, you don't have to read every page, you only read the portions you need.

Compare all these books while you're at the library, and jot down notes. If that isn't possible, or you don't have time, then I would stick with the one by US News. It's the best known, so if I had to go with only one I would go with that one.

For each university you have in mind, though, *read every single word about that university* in that book. Some of the details are tiny but hugely important. Of course you are looking for the major they offer, and housing, but it's more than just that. You want to know how much the average child pays (or gets in scholarships) and then see if your child is average in terms of the SAT or ACT scores. You want to know how many years it takes the average student to graduate. You want to know what percent are employed when they graduate - and what percent can get into graduate school.

How Can Homeschoolers Find a University?

One of the challenges homechooling parents face is how to help their high school children find the university that best suits their needs. This task will however become simpler if parents have research the kind of universities that matches their children's interests. In most cases however, homeschooling parents refer to university comparison books like US News and World Report and Peterson's.

At times, they may have to resort to university- quick-finders-and-side-by-side-comparisons on the internet. This method will unduly stress the parents and students as they will find hundreds if not thousands of universities, each with a huge amount of listed data. The challenge is then determining which among these universities best suits their students.

I have had many opportunities to listen to this kind of problem. Many homeschoolers I meet are worried about finding the best university for their homeschooled high school kids. One good approach is to look into the graduate school admission rates in the their children's area of interest. To my mind, the graduate school admission rate will mirror how well students are taught and prepared academically. In addition, this will demonstrate how well students are advised by the university's academic counselors. It can even be a good barometer in determining how much help students get when applying to graduate schools.

When gathering university information, don't be swayed by the glossy statistics that universities publish. Instead, consult university reference materials, those types that can easily be purchased at the major book stores. You can also visit your public library and ask the reference librarian. One last important thing: homeschooling parents must make visits to prospective universities and find out which of them is a perfect fit to their student's needs.

Homeschooling High School - How to Search For the Perfect-Fit University

Preparing your high school kids for university is one of the very best things you can do for your children. I did that to my two boys who are now enrolled in their first choice university. The best part is they were admitted to university with full-tuition scholarships. Being able to send your children to university and avoid the usual high costs associated with a university education is really amazing.

Homeschoolers can strive for a similar outcome for high school students. I advise many homeschooling parents on how to prepare their kids for university. I advised them to plan ahead, know the academic potential of their children and, most importantly, commit themselves fully to the goal.

Planning for university starts with the university search. One of a homeschool parent's most important responsibilities is ensuring that their high school students will find a "perfect-fit" university. Look for a university that will best suit the character and potential of your children. You can then identify candidate schools and compare them, not only on their academic standards but the social and spiritual environs as well.

One of the areas you should carefully consider is the university's admission rate to graduate schools. This information is important because it can tell you how the students were prepared for advanced studies and how well they were advised by their academic counselors.

Do not be swayed by glossy statistics that these schools publish in university digests and other marketing materials. Instead, visit these universities and get first-hand information about their academic curriculum and performance. Actual visits will also give you sufficient information about the schools' social and spiritual environment.

Are Work Samples Required When Applying to a University?

"It's difficult to know exactly what records to keep and exactly how to keep them. Universities may want to see samples of work, so always be prepared.

I have been wondering something as I am attempting to collect samples for the end of the year. Did you ensure that your samples you kept for transcripts were marked? As in edits, grades, etc? I have a habit of marking on work but wonder if I should keep clean copies of everything? Did you send in the original? Also, in your "binder" world, did you keep most everything they produced? If not, how did you find the courage to pitch anything? Guess I'm a tubby at heart%u2026"
~Rebecca

As far as samples, I think universities prefer having something that looks like it has been graded; a math test, an English paper with some markings on it. Just remember you can choose to save the BEST math test and the BEST English paper. I didn't keep everything, but I did try to have something for every class, plus I tried to keep all the BIG things. I kept final drafts of papers, but not every worksheet. I kept the final math tests, but not the daily work. If you are nervous about keeping things, think about how many universities you might apply to. Keep as many things as there are universities you apply to - and more than that may be more than you need. But you do want to keep enough to write a course description, even if you NEVER give it all to universities.

I send the universities one writing sample along with the course descriptions. That writing sample was not the original, it was just printed from the computer, and included after the the course descriptions. If a university asked me for a sample from a class, then I would send them an original. One university asked for a lab write-up, another asked for an English paper, and a third asked for a math paper in student handwriting. It wasn't difficult, but I was certainly glad that I kept a sample from every course!

Four Years and Four Goals

Keep it Simple! You have only one goal per year in the four years of high school!

It can be overwhelming. After years of happily homeschooling young children, parents look at high school and suddenly panic. Record keeping, transcripts, courses, credits, and tests! Those things are real, I'll admit, but in the grand scheme of things, they really aren't very important. They are all just small, manageable goals that you can complete one step at a time. When you strip away all this fluff and meringue, you are really left with just one major goal each year. There are only four goals in the four years of high school.

Read the whole article and learn the goal for freshman year, sophomore year, junior year and senior year.

College for Struggling Learners

Dealing with learning challenges is difficult, but in high school, it can become seriously concerning. You don't have to be afraid! With the great student to teacher ratio of homeschooling, and the love for your child, you have what it takes!

Debbie was at her lowest point when she realized her 12 year old son, Dan, could not read or write in his Sunday school classes. She had to carefully shield him from the judgment of others. Her homeschool friends were very understanding, but she worked hard to keep him away from situations where he would have to read aloud. She was distraught. Again and again they changed curriculum, hoping each time that a new curriculum would change everything. It seemed like nothing would ever work. He struggled with learning all the way through high school. She never had him officially tested, because she didn't want him to be labeled as an adult. Dan has achieved wonderful things since graduating homeschool!

What is a Homeschool Friendly College?

Home School Legal Defense (HSLDA) does a wonderful job of explaining what it means to be a homeschool friendly college. Read their policy here: HSLDA.org

In general, a homeschool friendly college is one that treats a homeschool applicant the same as a public school applicant. Your child would be requested to take the exact same tests as any other student - more tests are not required of a homeschool applicant. Some colleges say they are homeschool friendly, when in reality they have "hoops" that we have to jump through. HSLDA has a rating scale for college admission policies here:

Tier 1: The college accepts the parent's transcript, along with general standardized achievement testing, and/or the review of a portfolio.
Tier 2: The college requires a GED in place of, or in addition to, any of the Tier I requirements.
Tier 3: This type of college requires test scores (like the SAT II) from home school students that are not required of traditional high school students, which is inequitable.

Don't Miss Manners

This "missing ingredient" can make a BIG difference!

By Matt Binz (Mr. HomeScholar)

Do you ever find yourself observing children at a supermarket, library, or a shopping mall? I do. My wife and I will sometimes play a game called, "Spot the Homeschoolers." For some reason, it is not all that difficult to identify homeschooled kids in public, whether or not they are with their family or in a crowd of other teens.

Why is that?

One of the distinctives is manners. I've noticed that homeschool kids tend to conduct themselves more civilly than their formally schooled counterparts. This is likely because homeschool families may be a bit more attentive to the rules of conduct in civil society than other families. Gross generalization - yes - but true enough to make "Spot the Homeschoolers" a possibility.

Read complete article here:
http://www.thehomescholar.com/article_archive/2008_06_dontmissmanners.php

College Admission and Planning

For some women, it comes on suddenly.

At two in the morning you snap awake in a cold sweat, heart racing, gasping for breath with every muscle tensed. You wonder, "Is this The Change?" "No," you tell yourself, "I'm only 40." When you finally come to your senses, you are able to verbalize the true source of your panic. Sitting up straight in bed, you seize your husband's shoulders and scream, "But what about COLLEGE!?"

If this hasn't happened yet, tonight might be your lucky night. It seems when you homeschool high school, your biological clock suddenly tells you "the end is near." If you make it through homeschool high school and haven't experienced this panic, you are a strong woman indeed!

When this sort of "change of life" occurs, don't panic. Plan. Look college admission straight in the face, take a deep breath, and find your happy place.

College Admission and Planning. Read my article here

Homeschooling and College Preparation!

Recent studies show that 1/3 of our high school graduates require remedial help in university. This tells us that a great number of our high school graduates are not ready for university. Yet, despite all of the attention and money being spent to correct this issue, our public schools are getting worse! Homeschool parents can do better! We can make sure that our kids are ready for university and increase our chances at valuable financial aid and scholarships.

Homeschooling our kids through graduation gives us the unrivaled opportunity to prepare them for university early. Homeschoolers can aim for scholarship grants and other forms of financial packages. Parents who have not taken the opportunity to prepare their teens for university will undoubtedly go through financial and academic stress. They will have a lot more areas to cover. This is the reason that I have adopted this mantra: ALWAYS PLAN AHEAD! By doing this, your teenagers can easily adjust to university life without the usual remedial help that too many graduates need.

I prepared my children well for university. As a result, they were able to enroll in the university of their first choice and were even granted full-tuition scholarships. You can do this for your children as well! It is not yet too late and you can start by preparing a well-crafted university plan during their high school years. There are no perfect plans though. But there are plans which can best suit your children. What is important is you have equipped them the essential tools, both academically, spirituality and socially. So that even if your children do not go to university, you have already prepared them for life.

I attend many homeschooling' forums and conferences and I met fellow homeschoolers, all of them passionate parents. Many of them know early on that their high school children are university bound. With this in mind, they are able to plan ahead for university and determine, or at least influence, the quality of universities that their children are admitted to.

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Cooped Up in a Co-op?

A parent came to my booth at the Homeschool College Fair in Washington, and asked for help with her teenager. She described how her son was burned out, stressed out, struggling to keep up - and she worried that he was failing.

When I talk to parents with these concerns, it usually means one thing. It was the end of the day, and so I just blurted it out. "I was wondering...are you in a co-op?"

"How did you know?" she replied.

Read more about Co-op here: http://www.thehomescholar.com/article_archive/2008_11_coop.php

Take the PSAT for Fun and Profit!

I was at my husband's softball game doing what I love doing at his games - talking about homeschooling. My friend Kathy said to me, "I never took PSAT in high school. I don't think I knew anything about it. Suddenly all my friends were taking it one weekend, and by then it was too late to sign up!" Some things never change! Every year I talk to students that are in the same situation that Kathy was decades ago. They don't realize the test is available, or that they should register. The next thing they know, they are spending the day alone, while all their friends are taking the test.

In this article you will learn the two purposes of the PSAT, how homeschoolers can take the test, and what the benefits are. The PSAT is only offered once a year, so it's really easy to miss. The ONLY way to make sure your student can take the test is to plan ahead. Sounds intimidating? I'll break that information down into bite-sized pieces.

The complete name for the test is PSAT/NMSQT which stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Don't just think "Wow! That's the biggest acronym I've ever seen!" The name can help you decipher the two functions of the PSAT. The first name, PSAT means it's a practice test that you can take "for fun" to learn about the SAT. The second name, NMSQT means National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which means you can take the test "for profit" as a junior. Either way can benefit your student. Let me describe the functions of the PSAT so that you feel completely comfortable with it.

Read the entire article and learn what you should do next

What If? Homeschooling High School Without Fear

What would happen if your family situation changes and you feel the need to put your child into public school
in the middle of high school? In some states it's easy to take kids out of public high school, but much more difficult to put them back in. This combination of concerns leads some parents to consider abandoning homeschooling during the later grades and put their kids into public or private high school in 9th grade. For others, the fear leads
them to consider accredited programs. It's not because they don't like homeschooling, or because homeschooling isn't working for their family. They do these things because they're afraid of the "what if" situation:

• "What if" there is a family trauma and we have to put our kids back into school?
  
• "What if" the high school doesn't accept credits earned at home.
  
• "What if" my child is put back into the 9th grade, and made to start high school over?

The good news is that you don't put kids into school because you are afraid! There are other options!

Read complete article on my website TheHomeScholarDOTcom.

What about the PSAT?

The PSAT is only offered once a year in October, and you have to plan ahead to participate. It can help with finding the perfect college, and it does have some scholarship money attached. Here is what The College Board says about homeschoolers and PSAT registration.

"If you are a home-schooled student, contact a principal or counselor at a local public or independent high school to make arrangements to take the PSAT/NMSQT at their school. Be sure to do so well in advance of the mid-October test dates, preferably during the previous June. If you're a home-schooled student, your PSAT/NMSQT score report is sent directly to your home address. On the test day, when completing the basic information on the answer sheet, be sure to enter your state's home school code in the "school code" section. The test supervisor will provide this for you."

The College Board administers the PSAT, and SAT exams. Homeschool students can take the test at a public OR private school in their area. Although schools aren't always homeschool friendly, the College Board usually is. They have a web page titled "Home-Schooled Students and PSAT/NMSQT® Why, When, and How" that is very helpful. Check it out!

There are good reasons to take the PSAT "for fun" as a Sophomore, but it only counts toward the National Merit Scholarship when the student takes the test as a Junior. You can learn more about high school tests in my audio course, if you are interested. Read more about my "High School Testing" audio course here:

TheHomeScholarDOTcom

Finding the Perfect College

How to Search For Colleges  

Preparing your high school kids for university is one of the very best things you can do for your children. I did that to my two boys who are now enrolled in their first choice university. The best part is they were admitted to university with full-tuition scholarships. Being able to send your children to university and avoid the usual high costs associated with a university education is really amazing.

Homeschoolers can strive for a similar outcome for high school students. I advise many homeschooling parents on how to prepare their kids for university. I advised them to plan ahead, know the academic potential of their children and, most importantly, commit themselves fully to the goal.

Planning for university starts with the university search. One of a homeschool parent's most important responsibilities is ensuring that their high school students will find a "perfect-fit" university. Look for a university that will best suit the character and potential of your children. You can then identify candidate schools and compare them, not only on their academic standards but the social and spiritual environs as well.

One of the areas you should carefully consider is the university's admission rate to graduate schools. This information is important because it can tell you how the students were prepared for advanced studies and how well they were advised by their academic counselors.

Do not be swayed by glossy statistics that these schools publish in university digests and other marketing materials. Instead, visit these universities and get first-hand information about their academic curriculum and performance. Actual visits will also give you sufficient information about the schools' social and spiritual environment.

Why You SHOULDN'T Teach Your Homeschoolers!

As homeschool parents, our goal is NOT to teach something. Our goal is for the kids to LEARN. I could have taught my kids "at grade level" and they would have not learned a thing. Instead, I gave them curriculum at their ability level, and then they had to learn something that they didn't already know.

I believe that older teens MUST learn how to teach themselves. If they go to college, they will be expected to learn all the textbook material on their own. College lectures are most often supplemental to the textbook - not the same. If they don't go to college, they will still have to teach themselves some computer skills, or online banking, or how to buy a car - whatever.

My kids taught themselves Advanced Math (pre-Calculus) and Calculus. They taught themselves physics. I know they knew the material because I gave them the tests. I didn't know what the calculus symbols meant, but I knew that my kids answers matched the answers on the key! I could have taught them Biology and Chemistry (because I'm an RN and I know that stuff) but they actually taught themselves that as well. It just worked out better for us when they were teaching themselves, while I just checked up on them from time to time. Alex taught himself economics, and is now doing graduate level work in economic thought (we've been told by his professor.) He even taught himself psychology and business law, because he got fabulous grades on the college level CLEP exams in those subject.

Here's my point: kids will teach themselves something when they are interested in it. It's fine for kids to do that, and it works out great for kids that are working on an intensely academic, college-prep curriculum as well as for kids that are in a relaxed homeschool environment.

I have seen SO many notes about "getting it all done" that I just want to put in a plug for mom having prayer and quiet time. I found that when I was consistent with those things I could "get it all done" and when I wasn't consistent with those things I got frustrated. Either I was expecting too much, or was frustrated too easily. When I spent time with God, then things went much more smoothly in our homeschooling.

What do you think?

Blessings,
Lee

Planning High School Courses

What are colleges looking for?

Homeschooling parents know how to best educate their children. Use what you know about your students and their learning styles and consider the subjects that colleges want to see. Homeschooling in high school is very efficient and there is plenty time in the day to give your children an education that has breadth and depth in a way that is meaningful to the student. Here is a list of the courses that colleges look for in their applicants. As you read it, think about how you can incorporate these subjects into your homeschool.

(Read complete article)

Is the SAT or ACT Better for Homeschoolers?

>>>>One mother asked if it was better homeschoolers to take the SAT or the ACT.<<<<

I have read that the SAT is more commmonly given on the coasts, and the ACT is more commonly given in the center of the country. For that reason, both tests are accepted at colleges (every college I've ever spoken to HAVE accepted both.) One of the great benefits of homeschooling is that we can choose which test is right for OUR student, and they don't have to take the same test as their age-mates in school. I always recommend that students take a sample test in both and see which one they score best at, and then study for THAT test. They can raise their score more that way - and it can mean saving many thousands of dollars every year on tuition. I read a statistic that said 30% of kids score better on the SAT, 30% score better on the ACT, and 30% score the same on both tests. I found a link from Kaplan, that compares both tests for you. It also mentions that both tests are accepted by colleges:
http://www.kaptest.com/Kaplan/Article/College/SAT/Learn-About-the-SAT/CO_satact.html

I have heard that some colleges require the "optional essay" from the ACT. I would encourage her to use the test she scores better on - the SAT - but also make sure she does the essay on the exam. Some homeschoolers do have "just mommy grades" and do well. For those people, colleges use their SAT and ACT scores as external documentation of learning. If you have distance learning classes AND test scores AND homeschool grades, then you're doing more than enough. In my opinion, she will not be at a disadvantage at all. In fact, she will have the advantage! Way to go, Mom!

Blessings,
Lee

Online High School Courses - FREE!!

High School on a Budget

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Make Time for Fun!

Don't get so wrapped up in the busy life of homeschooling and forget to make education fun! Success in life and success in college hinge on the same key ingredient: a love of learning. Here are some fun ideas for all ages - see if it will spark your imagination!

Ornithology for Every Age
If your children have an interest in ornithology, check out these great resources for a wide variety of ages. The Bird coloring book and unit study activities in these links provide lots of fun ideas that are free!
Free Bird Coloring Book
Free Ornithology Resources for grades 5-8 (adapts for K-12)

Fun for Teens with the Congressional Award
The Congressional Award is non-partisan, voluntary, and non-competitive. The program is open to all students age 14 and up. It involves setting goals in four program areas; Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration. Earning the Award is a fun and interesting way to get more involved in something you already enjoy or something you'd like to try for the first time. You move at your own pace - on your own or with your friends. This is not an award for past accomplishments. Instead, you are honored for achieving your own challenging goals. It has no minimum grade point average requirements. It accommodates young people with special needs or disabilities who are willing to take the challenge. It's a great long-term commitment that looks great on an Activity List during college applications. If your teen isn't already interested in something like team sports, theater, music, or scouting, this may be just the ticket!
Read about the Congressional Award