Homeschool To College The Essential Guide
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A Homeschooler’s Path To College
Thousands of homeschoolers every year get into their dream schools, and you can too. If youâre a homeschooler and are ready to start the college application process, youâve joined thousands of other homeschoolers this year who are ready to see their hard work come to fruition.
Make sure that you research every college youâre interested in and find out if they have any special parameters for homeschoolers like an extra essay or SAT Subject Tests. You should also make sure your parent or homeschool teacher responsible for your studies creates a transcript highlighting every detail of your courses and grades. Be sure to include any outside organizations you received class credit from, along with sports, extracurricular activities, and community service participation.
Most colleges donât view homeschoolers any differently from traditional students, because the education you received is just as worthwhile. With a little bit of effort and help from your homeschool organization, you can be well on your way to college.
Of course, if you donât have access to a college counselor or homeschool administration, reach out to one of WeAdmitâs counselors. Weâre here to walk you through every step of this process and lay out the best plan for you to get into the college of your choice!
How Do Homeschool Students Perform In College
Homeschooled students who attend college do generally perform better than traditional students. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly why this is given the myriad variables at play, but one contributing factor is that the more independent nature of homeschooling helps prepare students for the largely unsupervised study environment of college.
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Homeschool Statistics By State
There are 10% of states with strict laws regulating homeschooling, as per the Home School Legal Defense Association.
These are New York, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. 18 states have a moderate regulation, low regulation is seen in 16 states,
In Washington DC, parents form cooperatives.
These cooperatives are to support homeschooling parents to pool resources. It also provides socialization opportunities for their kids.
11 states provide complete freedom to parents regarding homeschooling.
In New Jersey, parents do not need to let anyone know about their decision to homeschool their children. They dont even have to produce any kind of proof at any time, explaining that their kids were homeschooled.
Florida has strict regulations on homeschooling
Parents look for adults who can instruct their children. In Sunshine State, students dont need to spend definite hours for homeschooling, whether it be inside or outside their homes.
In Virginia, homeschooling was legalized in 1984.
This was after the efforts of certain groups and the Home Educators Association of Virginia . Recent statistics of 2018 in Virginia show that 37,000 K-12 students opted for homeschooling.
Searching For A College
Its hard to know which school to choose when you dont know what your educational goals are. The starting place for any potential college student should be taking the time to decide what their college priorities are. Your college experience should be one wherein you are able to feel comfortable in your own skin, and simultaneously challenged to grow.
Its not about what school sounds the best, or is the most exclusive, or is the least expensive, its about finding a school where your needs are met, and you can thrive as an individual.
To find the right match, prioritize thinking through this areas:
Academics: What are your educational goals and aspirations? Can the school youre considering provide the standard of education that will allow you to meet those goals?
Social Life and Extracurriculars: If the opportunity to participate in certain sports, clubs, or other extracurriculars is a deal breaker for you, youll want to make sure the school youre looking at can provide those opportunities.
Location: Do you want to pursue a school that will allow you to see a different location, or is staying close to home essential? For some homeschooled college students, choosing a school distinctly different from their past experience is enticing. College can provide an opportunity to experience in-class experiences with a built-in social dynamic oriented around students.
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How To Get Into College As A Homeschooler
To get into college, homeschoolers will need to prepare the following:
Homeschooling Vs Public Schooling Statistics
It is an extremely important decision for the parents to choose the mode of education for their children. They consider the effects of homeschooling and the factors such as the students personality, style of learning, availability, etc., while finalizing this.
Homeschoolers were seen to have an average standardized test score of 87th percentile as per the National Home Education Research Institutes study.
Compared to this, the score of those going to public school was only 50th percentile in certain subjects. Generally, standardized tests are not the best method of gauging a students academic performance.
A study related to the data obtained from the 2007-2008 school year by Home School Legal Defense Association shows a difference of 34 percentile
There was 39 percentile points excess in the case of homeschoolers as compared to others, in all subjects. If some parents found teaching math a challenging task, their children could not excel in it like those in public schools.
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Should You Homeschool Your Child If They Plan On Attending College
Theres no definite answer to this question, but according to the statistics, there are no downsides to homeschooling your child if they want to go to college. You can even start homeschooling them in the middle of the year!
Transitioning your child from school to homeschool is easy as you typically only need to file a letter of intent to homeschool. This document will notify the superintendent of your school district that you want to homeschool your child. Obtaining the letter is a breeze if you .
Essential Steps To Ensure Your Homeschooler Can Go To College
Youre in the right place if you want to create a checklist for what you need to ensure that your homeschooler can go to college!
It seems that some stereotypes negatively characterize homeschoolers: they arent very social, their classes dont have as much value as public school ones, and they dont have much chance to get into college. But you know very well that these assumptions are out of touch with the reality that homeschoolers often outperform their public school peers. Because homeschooled students do not have to spend so many hours in a classroom, they have time to cultivate other interests and hobbies, making them well-rounded and cultured individuals. These activities also give the students plenty of opportunities to interact with others. Most importantly, being homeschooled actually gives students an advantage to getting into college, as they score 15-30% higher on standardized tests, and generally score higher on the SAT and ACT. If you are worried about your homeschooled child having the opportunity to go to college if they so desire, dont fret! We have a list of 15 essential steps to ensure that your homeschool student can go to college. Lets get started.
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Is Community College The Best Option For Homeschoolers
Community college has gained a reputation for being the ideal option for nontraditional students. Single parents, retirees, and individuals hoping to switch careers are some of the biggest beneficiaries of community college but there is another group of students to think about homeschoolers.
According to the National Household Education Survey Program , there were over 1.7 million K-12 students being homeschooled in the United States. This number represents an 18% increase since the previous survey taken in 2007. As both of these studies demonstrate, homeschooling has become increasingly more popular since it became a legal option in all 50 states in 1993.
There are many reasons why parents choose to homeschool their children. For some, it is a matter of wanting greater control over their childs curriculum and schedule or a desire to create a program adapted to their childs needs. Homeschooling can help parents create a stronger bond with their children and it gives children the freedom to learn at their own pace. Homeschooling does come with its challenges, however, particularly when it comes to college applications.
College applications for homeschoolers are not as complex as they used to be, but it still takes time to complete them. More homeschoolers are turning to community college over traditional four-year colleges and universities. Keep reading to learn why and how to prepare your homeschooler for college.
Homeschool Socialization Establishes Networks
Homeschooling is a lonely way to learn, right? Many outside the homeschooling community think so. This notion positions homeschoolers as antisocial, but instead they tend to be equally outgoing and as involved as their peers if not more so. A well-established foundation in the community results in a positive impact during college and beyond.
Pre-college socialization in a homeschool curriculum involves extracurricular activities, such as 4H Club, scouts or team sports. A 2013 National Federation of State High School Associations survey revealed 29 percent of homeschool students are of high school age, and many of these students participate in sports. Pay special attention to your state’s mandates, because some make it harder than others to enroll others don’t allow it at all. Discover your state’s laws here.
NHERI’s research on success in the “real world of adulthood” concluded that homeschool graduates participate in community service, voting and public meetings more often than the general population. While there are adverse concerns to a homeschool curriculum, NHERI also indicated this research did not point to any negative impacts compared to a traditional education.
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How Do Colleges Feel About Homeschooling
Colleges are aware that many homeschooled students have uniquely flexible schedules that enable them to experience a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities. This can be a double-edged sword. Upper-tier university admissions officers generally expect homeschooled students to demonstrate that they have used this flexibility to their advantage. Thus, it is essential to highlight the students experiences and achievements that would not have been feasible within a traditional schooling framework.
How Do Homeschoolers Do In College
In recent years, much research has been done about homeschoolers success rates, both in getting admitted and once they reach campus.
Though the number of home-educated students is still tiny when compared to the number of learners attending public and private schools homeschoolers made up just four percent of all students in 2010 they are well-known and liked by admissions officers due to their unique backgrounds. The Dean of Admissions at Amherst College praised homeschooled students thicker folders, in a good way, noting these learners typically bring to the table a wide array of extracurricular activities, innovative coursework, and unique perspectives for seeing the world. Evidence of top schools vying for homeschoolers has grown in recent years, with institutions such as Yale University,Princeton University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology all providing specialized admissions pages for homeschooled learners.
Homeschoolers also tend to earn more college-level credits via dual enrollment than their traditionally-educated counterparts: a study by The Journal of College Admission found that while public and private school students average six college credits prior to freshman year, that number jumped to 14.7 for homeschoolers. The same study found that students learning from inside the home did better on standardized tests, scoring an average of 26.5 on the ACT as compared to the average of 25 scored by their peers.
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Filing A Fafsa As A Homeschooled Student
Homeschooled students are allowed to file their FAFSA® to receive federal student aid for college. In fact, the application process is exactly the same.
When asked about your high school completion status, simply select homeschooled. You will not need to provide further details about your high school career on your FAFSA®.
Do Colleges Want Homeschooled Students
Some people may think that colleges have a negative attitude towards homeschoolers, but this is simply not true.
If youâre homeschooled, colleges donât view you negatively. In fact, many colleges are intrigued by homeschoolersâ applications because of all the unique experiences they get to have that traditional students rarely have time for.
More homeschoolers travel, get to work real jobs, start internships early, and meet people from all walks of life because they have more time. Many parents bring their homeschooled kids to museums and places of historical importance for field trips. A large portion of the homeschooled population have more life experiences before the age of 18 than traditional students.
However, while colleges donât look at homeschoolers negatively, they still look at them differently. Homeschoolers donât experience school the same way traditional students do, so a different perspective is necessary. They need to ask different questions to homeschoolers to ensure that theyâre accepting well-rounded students who had plenty of opportunities to interact with others.
Regardless, there are some colleges who express a specific interest in homeschoolers:
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What The Biggest Problem Homeschoolers Face When Applying To College
The biggest issue that homeschool students face when applying to colleges is supplying the necessary paperwork and records. Record keeping is the biggest stumbling block for students. Why? Because admissions officers need to receive an accurate accounting of students time in school. Since there isnt as formal a process for record-keeping, as opposed to regular school districts, students come up short when asked for their transcript.
How Do Homeschoolers Get Into College
Of course, the process of getting into college after high school isnt magic. There is plenty of preparation involved. One of the most crucial tools in your high school homeschooling toolbox is your students transcript. From the moment you know you will be homeschooling a high schooler, youll want to begin tracking every course, grade, , extracurricular, and accomplishment. While parents often assume that colleges are only concerned with official diplomas and accredited curriculum, the truth is they are much more focused on whether your childs academic path was challenging and varied. They are looking for:
- College prep-level coursework
- Competitive SAT/ACT scores
- Community service hours
- Individualized interests
By choosing to individualize your childs high school path, you are already ahead of the game! Homeschooling offers the flexibility to explore future careers, investigate different areas of interest, and delve into subjects as far as your curiosity leads you. When colleges see that your student has gone above and beyond the traditional curriculum expectations, they cant help but recognize that he or she will likely flourish in the self-directed environment of higher education.
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Having A Community College Course
Many experts in the UK and US root for homeschoolers to sign up for community college. Taking advantage of the dual-enrolment courses at community college provides homeschoolers with a feel of what college life entails and comes with more advantages.
Signing up for a short course allows you to create connections, which can later come in handy when you need letters of recommendation.
A community college course will also help you gain college credit and further facilitate the process of admission into college or university.
Applying As A Homeschooler
Generally, when applying for college as a homeschooled student, you will need to produce evidence of high school education through transcripts and also reports from your educators and parents.
To put this into more context, let us see what two top universities from the US and UK require to admit a homeschooled student.
If you are a homeschooled student looking to join Oxford University in the UK, you would need to do the following
On the other hand, if youd like to apply to Yale University as a homeschooled student, youd need to fulfil these requirements
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