| Are you intimidated by the prospect of | | | | student. Most colleges require either the SAT or ACT |
| homeschooling high school? | | | | before admitting a student. Check with the individual |
| The goal of every good parent is to one day work | | | | colleges to determine which test they require. |
| themselves out of a job. Homeschooling parents | | | | Required scores for admission vary widely depending |
| generally feel a great deal of personal responsibility | | | | upon the college. |
| for their child's future success. We've put in the time | | | | There are numerous SAT/ACT prep courses and |
| and effort, and now it's time to see if our grand | | | | online study guides available. It is advisable for your |
| experiment was successful. Talk about pressure! | | | | student to take the SAT and or ACT during their |
| The good news is, you have likely been on this | | | | junior year so he or she will have time to take one |
| journey for years and you have all the tools you | | | | or both tests again in the fall of their senior year. |
| need to successfully homeschool high school. Begin by | | | | Many students are able to boost their scores by |
| having a discussion with your teen about his or her | | | | retaking the exams. Be aware that studies have |
| goals for the future, and design a program that will | | | | shown most students scores peak the second time |
| help achieve those goals. | | | | they take the exams. Scores actually decline for |
| First, make sure your program meets your state's | | | | most students when they take the tests for a third |
| requirement for high school graduation. If your teen | | | | or fourth time. |
| plans to enter the workforce immediately after | | | | Selecting a College |
| homeschooling high school, you will also want to equip | | | | One of the most important decisions made while |
| him or her with good interview skills, a strong work | | | | homeschooling high school is choosing a college. Don't |
| ethic, and any specialized training or licesning needed | | | | make college decisions based entirely on the cost of |
| for the chosen field. | | | | the college. Very few people end up paying the |
| If your child wants to pursue college after high | | | | entire cost printed on college websites. Financial aid |
| school, you will need to make sure he or she has at | | | | and scholarships are available for the vast majority of |
| least 4 years of English, 3-4 year of math, 2-3 years | | | | students. Colleges have financial aid officers to help |
| of social studies, 3-4 years of science and 2-3 years | | | | walk you through the application process. |
| of the same foreign language. | | | | Don't wait until your student's senior year to begin |
| Applying for College | | | | visiting colleges. This is something that can begin |
| Almost every college will want a transcript of your | | | | years prior to high school graduation. |
| student's high school years. A transcript is simply a | | | | If your student is interested in attending colleges |
| document showing the courses your student took in | | | | more than a few hours from your home, you will |
| high school, along with a grade for each course and | | | | want to come up with a game plan to visit college |
| an overall gradepoint average. | | | | campuses. Let the colleges know you are coming and |
| You can prepare professional transcripts for your | | | | schedule a campus tour. At this time, you will also be |
| teen directly from your home computer. One of my | | | | able to sit down with an admissions officer, meet |
| favorite resources for high school record-keeping is | | | | with professors in areas of interest for your student |
| The Easy Truth About Homeschool Transcripts. | | | | and discuss financial aid with a financial aid officer. |
| Some colleges recommend that homeschoolers | | | | Don't put all of your eggs in one basket. It is good to |
| present a portfolio when applying, although it is far | | | | have a few options available. |
| more likely that any colleges to which your child | | | | Alternatives to Traditional College Experience |
| applies will only require a transcript. A portfolio may | | | | Online courses and community colleges are a great |
| include examples of the student's work, high school | | | | alternative to immediate entry into a four-year |
| reading lists and information concerning extracurricular | | | | institution. This is a good option for the student who |
| activities. Think of a portfolio as a scrapbook of your | | | | is trying to save money or create a proven track |
| student's high school career. | | | | record before applying (or reapplying) to a four-year |
| Homeschool Testing | | | | college. It's also a good option for the student who |
| The homeschooler's college application process is | | | | isn't quite ready to leave the nest. |
| really not very different from the public school | | | | |