Preparing For College

From the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (permission for use, granted)

Introduction

As the ranks of home educated graduates continues to grow, the number of these students

seeking college admission increases as well. College entrance requirements often catch

families by surprise. The purpose of this memo is to help families understand and be

prepared for the college admissions process. As you embark upon the journey of getting

you children into college, keep in mind the following...

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Every college and university is different. We can describe what to expect generally, but

you will find the application process varies from school to school as you begin your

investigation. For example, a college or university might require home schoolers to

provide transcripts from parents, GED scores, SAT scores, SAT II scores, ACT scores, or

more than one of the above. Some schools even have their own entrance exams.

Colleges often place requirements on home schooled students which they do not require

of their public school applicants. Although home schoolers tend to be excellent and

qualified students, their high school transcripts are not usually accredited by an outside

agency. To maintain standing with their own accrediting agencies, many colleges and

universities believe they must impose extra requirements on home educated students.

Planning a Curriculum

College preparation should begin when the student starts high school (around age 13). Let

us look briefly at what traditional high schools do and what colleges are used to seeing on

applications. Below is a typical example of courses required for graduation by most high

schools. Although it varies somewhat from state to state, the plan looks something like

this.

(4)4 years of English. (grammar, literature, composition) (3)4 years of Social Studies.

(history) (3)3-4 years of Math. (2)2 years of Science. 1 year of Fine Arts. 1 year of

Practical Arts. (2)2 years of Health or Physical Education. 4 years of Electives. 2 years of

Foreign Language.

The numbers in parenthesis represent requirements for non-college bound students.

Remaining courses (electives) may include business, technical education, consumer

mathematics, home economics, etc.

Note that home schoolers are not legally required to follow this list during their high

school years. This framework is provided for purposes of comparison only. As a home

school instructor you have a lot of flexibility to assess your student’s needs and abilities

and select a course of study accordingly. Most colleges, that would want to see a

transcript however, will be looking for one which follows these general guidelines.

If you begin home schooling in the high school years, you may need to focus more

attention on academics than students who have been home schooling most of their lives.

(The tutorial method of home schooling tends to allow students to cover material in less

time.) Home schoolers are often ready for college work before they reach twelfth grade.

Carefully evaluate your own student to determine how much high school education is

needed and what kinds of courses will benefit him or her. Keep an eye open for courses

that will benefit his or her college career. For those who are not college bound, your

program may need to be especially well-rounded and complete because such students will

not be receiving any other formal education. The questions to consider in this case are:

Are they ready academically for adult life? And, are they equipped should they choose to

pursue a college education at some later date?

Let us take a closer look at what a four-year plan represents in terms of hours, weeks and

years of class instruction. If you plan to prepare a transcript to use for college application,

it needs to be accurate and generally conform in educational content to a four-year plan.

Each one-year course represents one credit or unit towards graduation. Public school

requirements vary from state to state; however, 21-23 units is the norm. If you know what

college you want to attend you should request the college’s admission requirements.

Typically, one unit equals one year or 36 weeks of 45 minutes per day per subject. You

may have heard this referred to as a ‘Carnegie unit.’ It amounts to three hours and forty-

five minutes per subject each week or 135 hours per year. Studies of public schools reveal

that due to several factors, real academic on-task time is actually half that or less.

In compiling your list of courses, be sure to take into account non-traditional classes.

Parents can adapt these electives to meet college requirements fairly easily. The flexibility

of home schooling allows for a much broader range of courses than schools normally

offer. Home schools are not confined to teaching just what public schools teach. Colleges

and universities receive applications from all over the world and usually are not dismayed

by seeing courses that may seem unusual when compared to public school courses.

Say, as an example, that you have chosen to teach Nutrition. As you seek to fulfill college

requirements, this class can meet either Health, Science, or elective requirements,

depending on where you need it. Remember to include seminars, lectures, tours, field

trips and vacations as you compile course hours. While these may not stand alone as a

subject, they may be combined with other studies to form a course.

Feel free to make up the name of your course in a way that describes its content. For

instance, “Contemporary Moral Issues” could meet requirements for either Social Studies

or English. It would include research on contemporary moral issues like abortion, gun

control, religious freedom, euthanasia or home schooling. The student would select a

position and write a documented paper and report on each subject. A string of such

reports would comprise a course. Preparation might include interviewing a doctor or

attorney as a part of researching the topic.

You are limited only by your creativity. These courses will go further towards college

preparation than simply perusing a textbook, memorizing facts and reciting them for an

exam. Textbooks have their place, but you do not need to be limited to their exclusive

use. Most young people find learning much more enjoyable if they use textbooks as a

springboard to branch into other resources for learning. Remember, however, not to count

time spent on a particular activity for two different credits. Activities may be divided, but

not counted twice.

Listed below are some examples of non-traditional courses that home schoolers have

used.

NutritionPublic Speaking Institute in Basic Life PrinciplesGrammar Astronomy Programs

and LecturesLinguistics Back-to-Genesis Science SeminarSign Language State or

National Park ProgramsJustice of the Old Testament Fashion Clinics or Charm

CoursesRhetoric and Articulation Sports CampPenmanship Music LessonsContemporary

Moral Issues Tennis and Golf LessonsShakespearean Plays, Sonnets Herb GardeningCivil

War HorticultureCivil War Literature LandscapingPre-Revolutionary America 1600-1776

AgricultureU.S. Constitution Unit StudiesInternal Relations American

LiteratureAmerican Revolution PoetryPolitical Systems & Government Russian

LiteratureEtymology English CompositionForensics Advanced CompositionCalligraphy

Creative Writing4-H Programs Communications

You might also consider using unit studies for some courses. Unit studies are a method of

teaching where an incident or specific subject like the Iraqi War is used as a springboard

to study the entire Middle East under specific topics like geography, religion, history,

culture, music, etc. An earthquake in Japan may set in motion a group of studies

including geology, geography, oceanography, seismology, etc.

Mini-studies do not necessarily comprise a course, but, over time, they can be added

together. Various categories of studies should be kept in a diary or other record. Over a

period of years, the necessary hours for granting units will be evaluated and recorded on a

transcript.

Work experience, apprenticeships, driver training, and team mission trips also have their

place in your transcript. It is also possible to record smaller courses as one-half of a unit

(20 weeks) or as a quarter unit (10 weeks).

The value of record keeping cannot be overstated as the primary ingredient to compiling a

transcript for college. When a member of the admissions department at Harvard was

asked what the department looks for on an application, he responded, “something

different.” You can build an impressive high school transcript by expanding far beyond

what conventional schools offer

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Preparing Transcript Records for College Entrance

Your transcript should be designed for the convenience of admissions directors who have

to go through hundreds and sometimes thousands of transcripts. You can create your own

transcript using the following information.

Your transcript needs to include grades 9-12. Classes are sometimes taken in the eighth

grade that count towards high school graduation, for instance, language or mathematics

courses. These may be included at the parent’s judgement. Some courses may begin in the

eighth grade and be completed in the ninth and would be included under ninth grade

records.

Your transcript should indicate the grade level of each course. This may be determined at

the parent’s discretion.

Work experiences or work study and a short job description should be included. All

information needs to brief, readable and complete.

An extra sheet of paper should be included to succinctly describe, non-traditional courses.

For example, Linguistics would be explained in one or two brief sentences.

Your transcript should indicate units earned:

(9)10 weeks = 1/4 unit (18)20 weeks = 1/2 unit (36)40 weeks = 1 unit

The number in parenthesis is the actual time spent after holidays and other out-of-class

activities are taken into account.

Your transcript should indicate grades earned and your grading scale. For example:

A = 92 - 100B = 84 - 91 C = 76 - 83D = 67 - 75

You can determine the scale you want to work with, but be sure to include this

information. Consistently use one scale throughout the entire transcript.

Indicate grade point average (GPA). This is normally computed with A = 4 pts.; B = 3

pts.; C = 2 pts.; and D = 1 pt. To average the points given for each class, add them

together and divide by the number of classes given each semester. It works like this.

EnglishA = 44 3.50 U.S. HistoryB = 336)21.00 AlgebraB = 33 18.00 FrenchB = 33 30.00

Music AppreciationA = 44 30.00 Computer KeyboardA = 4400. TOTAL2121 GPA is 3.5

The yearly GPA and the overall GPA for all four years of high school should also be

computed. For instance:

1st Sem.2nd Sem. 9th grade2.9 3.2 10th grade3.4 3.0 11th grade2.9 3.4 12th grade3.6 3.6

Sub-totals12.8 13.2

12.8 3.25Overall GPA 13.2 8)26.00 26.0024.00 2.00 1.60 .40 .40 .00

(Add GPA for each semester; divide by number of semesters.)

Your transcript should include your graduation date. Colleges want to know when your

studies were completed.

Your transcript should include the results of entrance tests if requested. Some colleges

will give exams to home schoolers or otherwise assist them in taking as exam. Some

colleges request that the results be sent directly from the testing service and need not be

included in the transcript. Check the college of your choice to determine what they

require.

Many admissions departments ask for a letter written by the applicant telling why he or

she wants to be accepted. The application form will indicate this, but it’s good to be

prepared. In preparing your application or the letter, supply only the information

requested. If admissions officers want to know more, they will ask.

College Entrance

It’s a good idea for your student to contact the colleges of choice two years prior to

planned admission to secure their college catalogs and applications. Application fees

range between $15 and $50, so you will want to narrow your list of possibilities. Public

libraries often have a selection of college catalogs.1

When your student receives a catalog, determine entrance criteria and begin to prepare for

required tests. Make note of all application and test deadlines for grant and scholarship

applications right away. Some tests are only given at certain times during the year. In

addition, it can take several weeks for a college to process an application. You do not

want to be caught missing an important deadline.

When contacting a college, try to gather as much information as possible about what will

be expected from the student. If the school does not have an entrance policy for home

schoolers (or ‘non-traditional’ students), and your student does not seem to fit in any of

the available categories, ask an admissions counselor what requirements the school has

for home educated students. It is possible that they may have never admitted a home

schooler before and need to work something out for you.

If a particular requirement keeps your student from being eligible for college acceptance,

contact the admissions office. Often entrance criteria can be waived and a compromise

may be worked out. Persistence is often a deciding factor. Ask to speak with the Director

of Admissions. He or she may be able to work out a problem that an admissions

counselor is powerless to influence.

Problems sometimes arise because a college official may be unfamiliar with home

schooling. If you feel this is the case, graciously explain the benefits of home education

and how it works. Meet with the official to explain your home school program. Once the

admissions official gets to know you and understand home education as an effective

educational choice, he or she will usually be more willing to work out the perceived

problems.

Achievement Tests

Colleges usually require either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American

College Test (ACT). Applications for achievement tests can be secured through local high

schools and, in some cases, the local public library. Some private colleges offer to help

home school students arrange to take these tests.

The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) must be taken to qualify for the

National Merit Scholarship. This can be done in 10th or 11th grade. Local schools who

proctor PSAT do have a certain amount of authority to impose rules on students taking

this test, whereas, when a school gives the SAT or ACT, they must follow strict

guidelines from the test publisher. Check with the school for it’s rules concerning

administering PSAT for home educated students.

There are several ways to prepare for these tests. The yellow pages and local newspapers

list private courses that will give practice tests and test taking tips. Check with local night

schools, community colleges, and continuing education centers to see if such classes are

offered in your area. These courses help make students more comfortable with the exam

and brush up on subjects that will appear on the test. However, such classes are not

designed to teach students a subject that they have not previously learned.

Check with your college to see what test it requires and what kind of scores it is looking

for. If you are interested in self-preparation, SAT and ACT study manuals are available at

bookstores and libraries. Both tests are revised periodically so you will want to make sure

your manual is up to date. You may want to purchase a manual in eighth or ninth grade to

use vocabulary lists for spelling and other areas. Computer software is also available for

test preparation.

You can take achievement tests several times and submit your best results. Some colleges

ask for other test results like the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, so be sure to ask. Test scores

are normally combined with grades on a coordinating scale to determine eligibility for

entrance. Generally, the higher the test score, the more flexible the GPA point

requirement. There has been debate in recent years as to how important these scores are,

and their significance varies from college to college. For instance, Bob Jones University

uses test results for placement only in freshman classes. On the other hand, one can have

a 4.0 or straight-A average and not be accepted at Harvard if test scores are not

impressive.

You might also consider having your students take the College-Level Examination

Program (CLEP) tests. CLEP tests are designed to assess the knowledge a student may

already possess for the purpose of assigning college credit. Colleges and universities

across the country give college credit for CLEP scores. Many home schoolers are

surprised at how much college level material they already know. Students may also save

time and money by studying a particular subject on their own and taking the CLEP test

for that topic. Since institutions do vary in which CLEP tests they will accept, what

minimum scores they require and how much they charge for processing CLEP credits, it

is important to obtain your college’s CLEP policy before having your student sign up for

any of these tests.

For an information packets on these tests call:

ACT: (319) 337-1429        SAT: (609) 771-7600          CLEP: (212) 713-8064

PSAT: (609) 771-7070

Scholarships

Some colleges make scholarships available specifically for home schoolers. A few

colleges, such as Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma and Nyack College in New York,

give scholarships based on the number of years a student was home schooled.

However, home schoolers do qualify for many of the same scholarships available to

traditional schooled students. A number of extensive guides cataloging available

scholarships can be found in your local bookstore or public library.

In addition, home schoolers are now officially eligible for federal aid for college. The

Higher Education Act of 1998, Section 483, amended 20 USCS § 1091(d) to include

home educated students as a category eligible for assistance.2 Home schoolers are no

longer required to take a GED or “ability-to-benefit” test to qualify. This legislation was

passed by Congress and signed by the president on October 8, 1998. For an information

booklet on federal aid for college, call (800) 433-3243 or visit the web sites www.ed.gov/

prog_info/SFA/StudentGuide and www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Conclusion

It is much easier for home educated students to enter college today then in past years. As

home schooling moves toward the mainstream, more colleges are writing specific policies

for home schooled students. Some colleges are actively recruiting home schoolers,

realizing that these students tend to be above average in academic achievement.

Whether you are dealing with home school friendly college or one which has never heard

of home schooling, there are two things you must keep in mind.

First, be prepared. Do your home work. Gather as much information about the schools of

your choice as possible. Be ready to provide the information they request.

And second, be persistent. Persistence usually pays off when dealing with college staff. If

you get encounter obstacles anywhere in the process, seek out creative alternatives. “No”

does not always mean there is no way.

Prepared by the legal staff of the National Center for Home Education. Permission to

reprint granted.

 In 1999, the National Center conducted an informal survey of the admissions policies for

home schoolers at nearly 1,000 colleges and universities across the United States. For a

copy of the results of this survey and a list of participating colleges, request a copy of our

1999 College Survey or see the Issues Library on our web site at: nche.hslda.org. 2. For

more information, please see the National Center for Home Education Special Report:

Recognizing Home School Diplomas for College Admittance and Financial Aid

(February 11, 2000)