Summary: Going from homeschooling high school to college seems daunting. But it doesn't have to be! \Researching the college entrance requirements, finding out where to find the homeschool requirements and how colleges differ from each other. #homeschooltocollege #getintocollege #homeschoolhighschool
Do you have a college bound teen? Does the idea of approaching the colleges as a homeschooler give you pause?
It doesn't have to, for SO many reasons. One is that many colleges are now noticing how well our homeschooled teens do in college.
And there is more....
As moms who are homeschooling high school, we are already experts in planning.
We have searched the net, gotten advice from our friends and have chosen curriculum each year for our kids. We also have decided which subjects to focus on and how to teach them to our kids.
Planning for high school with and college in mind is really no different, except for one important thing.....Now your teen has their college entrance entrance requirements to fulfill.
Some popular online homeschool sources suggest that all we need to do is to get started is to check the college websites for their freshman entrance requirements.
Is that right?
Actually the answer is no.
It is a good start. And the easy-to-get-into-colleges may only ask for the college entrance requirements shown on their websites.
BUT many colleges look for more than those college entrance requirements from their applicants.
The very hard to get into colleges, ie, tier one U's may also even list out SAT subject tests, AP's and the like in their college entrance requirements.
It really depends on the college. But dealing with this is really not hard.
Here's what I know:
Easy-to-get-into-state colleges or Christian colleges may only ask for the college entrance requirements that are listed on their websites.
But many other state and faith based colleges do look for more. They will likely want to see your teen's high school activities, and did they develop a special interest, show leadership, show rigor in some way...etc.
And those things will not be listed on their actual college websites.
Don't be confused by some of the information that is going around the web. To get into college and be truely College Confidence, it is important to know what the colleges are really looking for.
And all of it is NOT just listed on the college's website. But it is here in my free download on "Researching and Getting Started" for college.
Did you get your free download yet? For true college confidence.
How to find out your teen's prospective college requirements and more is discussed in depth in your download "Researching and Getting Started"
Homeschool College Planner Course
Did you notice the elective called College Planner that I listed in my 4 year high school plan, in that article you just clicked on and read above?
FIRST let me mention that you don't have to do a course like this.
We just did it to give my teen credit for all her work preparing for the SAT. We gave her credit for her work doing that and just made a very simple homemade course called College Planner. We included her work on:
It doesn't have to, for SO many reasons. One is that many colleges are now noticing how well our homeschooled teens do in college.
And there is more....
As moms who are homeschooling high school, we are already experts in planning.
We have searched the net, gotten advice from our friends and have chosen curriculum each year for our kids. We also have decided which subjects to focus on and how to teach them to our kids.
Planning for high school with and college in mind is really no different, except for one important thing.....Now your teen has their college entrance entrance requirements to fulfill.
Some popular online homeschool sources suggest that all we need to do is to get started is to check the college websites for their freshman entrance requirements.
Is that right?
Actually the answer is no.
It is a good start. And the easy-to-get-into-colleges may only ask for the college entrance requirements shown on their websites.
BUT many colleges look for more than those college entrance requirements from their applicants.
The very hard to get into colleges, ie, tier one U's may also even list out SAT subject tests, AP's and the like in their college entrance requirements.
It really depends on the college. But dealing with this is really not hard.
Here's what I know:
Easy-to-get-into-state colleges or Christian colleges may only ask for the college entrance requirements that are listed on their websites.
But many other state and faith based colleges do look for more. They will likely want to see your teen's high school activities, and did they develop a special interest, show leadership, show rigor in some way...etc.
And those things will not be listed on their actual college websites.
Don't be confused by some of the information that is going around the web. To get into college and be truely College Confidence, it is important to know what the colleges are really looking for.
And all of it is NOT just listed on the college's website. But it is here in my free download on "Researching and Getting Started" for college.
Click here for"Researching and Getting Started"
and it includes the following key information:
- how to really researching the college websites
- how to find out about any extra homeschool requirements
- and most importantly, what different types of colleges look for in their applicants
Researching and Getting Started will give your college confidence.
Here's another very important college related question. Does your college ask for extra homeschool requirements? What about testing?
Homeschool Requirements and Testing
There two things are also important to know about when getting started:
1. You will need to find out if there are any special homeschool requirements for your likely colleges. Many any colleges still have them, but they are not hard to deal with.
and.....
2. Check to see what the colleges requires re testing.
Most colleges give you a choice of either the SAT or ACT and some are even dropping this testing requirement. And I don't know of any college that asks for both.
Most colleges do still require the SAT or the ACT, but there are many that do not require the writing portion.
And if they don't require that writing portion, then your teen doesn't need to do it!
Did you know that MANY colleges do not?
REALLY. So if it adds stress to your teen's senior year, then why do it?
We did not have to do the writing portion of the SAT for any of our colleges. What a TIME saver!
How to find out your teen's prospective college requirements and more is discussed in depth in your download "Researching and Getting Started"
Your next step can then be to take these entrance requirements and information and sketch out a tentative 4 year plan for your high schooler.
Making an 4 Year High School Plan
Making a 4 Year High School Plan
With your list of college entrance requirements, etc in hand, it can be easy to sketch out what your teen's high school years might look like.....with your best guesses of what you want them to do when.
Making an overall high school plan was the best way for me to keep calm and carry on, so to speak. When I could see how my teen's college entrance requirements could fit into her 4 years of high school fairly easily, I relaxed.
While making your 4 Year High School Plan, I have forms for that in my book mentioned below if you like.
Here's another thought.
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to give your teen high school credit for the things that they do to prepare for college, like SAT/ACT test prep, etc?
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to give your teen high school credit for the things that they do to prepare for college, like SAT/ACT test prep, etc?
You can and we did, and we called it our:
Homeschool College Planner Course
FIRST let me mention that you don't have to do a course like this.
We just did it to give my teen credit for all her work preparing for the SAT. We gave her credit for her work doing that and just made a very simple homemade course called College Planner. We included her work on:
-SAT prep
-Studying college websites
-Visiting colleges
-Taking any career tests or interest tests
-Working on her college essay
-Filling out her college applications
and more.
We called it College Planner and each of my teen's colleges accepted this credit.
That was such a help during the busy senior year! But you could do it junior year, whatever works for you. We just estimated the hours spent on these activities, and described them briefly in her course descriptions. More on course descriptions is in my book.
Dealing with Stress and How to Reduce It
-Studying college websites
-Visiting colleges
-Taking any career tests or interest tests
-Working on her college essay
-Filling out her college applications
and more.
We called it College Planner and each of my teen's colleges accepted this credit.
That was such a help during the busy senior year! But you could do it junior year, whatever works for you. We just estimated the hours spent on these activities, and described them briefly in her course descriptions. More on course descriptions is in my book.
Dealing with Stress and How to Reduce It
What we did to combat that, was to build in the play....like go to the zoo. Teens still love to play. Mine still loved the zoo. Do yours?
Play and getting out in nature helped both my daughter and I with the whole college application process thing.
Did you get your download "Researching and Getting Started" yet?
Would you like more tips on college from someone who has been there, done that?
My book discusses what the colleges are looking for. My teen got into a variety of colleges, including a state college, a faith based college, a tier one college and one more.
Many colleges look for :
My book discusses what the colleges are looking for. My teen got into a variety of colleges, including a state college, a faith based college, a tier one college and one more.
Many colleges look for :
- high school electives and activities
- volunteer hours (or work hours)
- some extras in core studies in the transcripts
- some proven ability to do college level work
- character as shown in the essay
... and they are discussed in depth in my book.
But first, are you looking for a truly encouraging group for high school moms?
You are invited to join my very encouraging group for high school moms, called at Homeschooling through High School. Lots of moms just like you there, sharing triumphs and challenges. Get your questions answered there, too.
Feel free to Join us here.
---------------------------------
Do you want an easy-to-use guide to college, for homeschoolers?
- My own homeschoolers guide to the Common Application
10 easy to do steps to homeschool high school with college in mind. And it really is NOT that hard!!
This book does not tell you how to homeschool high school. Instead it gives you guidance for doing it your way!
Keep your nurturing homeschool style and showcase their accomplishments to the colleges!
Recommended by: Lessa Scherrer, Certified College Counselor
Do you want an easy-to-use guide to college, for homeschoolers?
I have gathered together all my best tips for high school and college and put it into my NEW book, Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition.
It gives you everything that you need to plan your high school homeschool, just for your college bound teen. Plus how to help them get into the college of their choice.
 |
| Amazon for only $11.99 |
Paperback is on Amazon for only $11.99
This book is an easy-to-read guide to college for homeschoolers, recently updated with 7 NEW chapters, including:
- My own homeschoolers guide to the Common Application
- How to write the Counselor Recommendation Letter
- Where to find college scholarships
- SAT/ACT Prep
- How to make your own homemade courses
- Included are also 12 homeschool high school planning printables to make your record-keeping easier.
10 easy to do steps to homeschool high school with college in mind. And it really is NOT that hard!!
This book does not tell you how to homeschool high school. Instead it gives you guidance for doing it your way!
Keep your nurturing homeschool style and showcase their accomplishments to the colleges!
Recommended by: Lessa Scherrer, Certified College Counselor
from College Inside Track
"Betsy has a wealth of understanding and knowledge to share with the parents of college bound homeschoolers. She provides support, encouragement and step-by-step advice on all aspects of the homeschool high school and college application process. This book is a must-read for parents considering homeschooling high school and for parents in the thick of the application process."
And help for record keeping! With my exclusive high school and college planning printables.
For more information, click here - Frugal College Prep for Homeschoolers or to buy it here - my book on Amazon for only $11.99.
And then don't worry about forgetting things!
Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,
Betsy
Betsy is mom to her now college grad, whom she homeschooled through high school. She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, highschool,
college, gifted/2e and wrote -Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition, She offers homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting, and has had some of her articles picked up by the Huffington Post.
college, gifted/2e and wrote -Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition, She offers homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting, and has had some of her articles picked up by the Huffington Post.
Want to stay in touch?
Copyright @ BJ's Homeschool 2019
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