5 Things Homeschooled Students Need on their College Application

Homeschooler Admissions Numbers Have Skyrocketed Over The Past Decade...

With over 2.3 million homeschoolers in the U.S. and climbing, this non-traditional form of schooling is quickly becoming a popular option for families who want a more personalized education for their children. However, just because this form of education is non-traditional doesn’t mean that homeschooled students don’t have a good chance of getting into college.

College applications for homeschoolers can seem like a foreign language at first, but the process isn’t that different from a traditional students’ experience. However, there are some specific components that requires special attention in order for homeschoolers to deliver a well-rounded college application.

Whether you’ve been homeschooled since you were a child or just started recently, you’re probably wondering how you can apply to college.You’ll need to collect items like an accreditation, school reports, and transcripts; all things that normal schools provide for you when you’re a traditional student.

Still, thousands of homeschoolers every year get accepted to the college of their dreams, and once there they succeed in every way imaginable. If you’re homeschooled, don’t worry; your college applications will give you a unique opportunity to show colleges that you belong there!

WHAT YOU’LL FIND IN THIS ARTICLE:

• How are College Applications Different for Traditional and Homeschooled Students?
• Do Colleges Want Homeschooled Students?
• What Homeschooled Students Need on Their Application
• A Homeschooler’s Path to College

How Are College Applications Different For Traditional And Homeschooled Students?

The craze of homeschooling has dramatically risen over the years. Due to its convenience, more and more parents are pulling their kids out of public schools so they can have more control over what their children are learning. Many parents even pull their kids out of private schools because homeschooling is significantly cheaper.

Although this type of schooling is more convenient, there can be some difficulty when it comes to college applications for homeschoolers. Instead of having a college counselor to compile documents for you, your parents, a homeschool co-op teacher, or your legal guardian are the people responsible for making sure you have everything you need for your college application.

Applying to college as a homeschooler is largely the same process as traditional students, but there are certain components that may be more difficult.

FOR TRADITIONAL STUDENTS:

As a traditional student, most of the work is done for you.

When it comes time to fill out college applications and provide documentation, traditional students simply have to notify their school’s office where they’re applying, and the administration provides them with all the official documents they need.

At a traditional high school, all students have their documents like transcripts and school reports prepared by an appointed guidance counselor or administrative officer. Since all of their records are held in the school’s office, traditional students don’t have to worry about gathering their college application materials on their own.

Traditional students also have greater accessibility to college fairs, teachers to write their letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities to include in their college applications.

FOR HOMESCHOOLED STUDENTS:

As a homeschooled student, you’ll have to do most of the work yourself.

If you’re homeschooled, the person who oversees your schooling is responsible for creating your documents from scratch. These documents include transcripts and school reports. If you’re involved with a homeschool program with a board of presidents, trustees, or administrative officers, there is usually someone appointed to handle students’ documents.

Either way, as a homeschooler you’ll also have to go out of your way to find things like college fairs, people to write your letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities.

However, this could be serve you well in the end. Since you have to be a self-starter and find your own opportunities, you’ll be showing colleges that you are independent and know how to make things happen for yourself.

So, if you’re homeschooled and want to begin applying for college, don’t let the possible hurdles scare you off! It’s possible to get through your college application process like a pro.

Do Colleges Want Homeschooled Students?

Some people may think that colleges have a negative attitude towards homeschoolers, but this is simply not true.

If you’re homeschooled, colleges don’t view you negatively. In fact, many colleges are intrigued by homeschoolers’ 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 don’t look at homeschoolers negatively, they still look at them differently. Homeschoolers don’t 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 they’re 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:

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Of all the Ivy League schools, Harvard University in New Haven, Connecticut is probably the most non-discriminatory towards unique types of schooling. Harvard views all applications the same, regardless of educational background. They don’t even release specific homeschooler admission statistics, simply because homeschoolers aren’t viewed any differently from traditional students.

Many homeschoolers have found success at Harvard, and claim that their non-traditional form of schooling actually prepared them for their experience at this legendary Ivy League school.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California is a private institution that openly accepts applications from homeschoolers.

In addition to transcripts, they ask that any applying homeschoolers provide SAT scores and scores from three SAT Subject Tests. One of these subject tests must be math, but the other two may be whatever the student wishes. USC also asks for a detailed record of courses taken, including textbooks used and some more specific information about the curriculum or program the student was taught.

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON

The College of Charleston is a small liberal arts college located in the heart of downtown Charleston, South Carolina. This quaint and historically rich town is the perfect backdrop for any student’s academic experience, regardless of their background. However, they do have certain requirements for homeschooled applicants.

College of Charleston sees a strong homeschooler application as one that includes challenging college-level courses, and at least three years of a foreign language. They recommend the student’s local community college as the best place to participate in these kinds of classes. They also require a detailed transcript, indicating all courses taken and difficulty level.

This college is more flexible with homeschooled students accreditation than most schools. If the homeschooled applicant did not receive an accredited education from home, they’re required to provide a GED for Charlestons’ admissions office.

However, Charleston also states that they abide by every U.S. state’s homeschool laws. So, if the homeschooled applicant is from a state that does not require an accredited education for admission to college, neither will the College of Charleston.

U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY

The U.S. Military Academy, or West Point, as it’s most commonly known, considers applications from homeschoolers alongside traditional students. West Point represents the Army branch of the five U.S. Service Academies, and is located in West Point, NY.

On average, the service academies admit one to five homeschoolers every year. At West Point, they accept homeschoolers, but they recommend specific action for homeschooled applications in order for a better chance of being accepted.

West Point recommends that all homeschoolers take advanced classes in math and science at their local community college during their junior and senior years of high school. They should also take lab sciences and calculus to prepare them for West Point’s curriculum.

Additionally, very applicant for West Point must acquire a congressional recommendation. In order to obtain the correct forms, you must contact your U.S. Senator and Representative’s district office and ask for a nomination for West Point. An administrator at the district office will send you the necessary forms.

West Point also puts a strong emphasis on athletics and extracurricular activities. They recommend that homeschoolers get involved with athletics at their local public school and participate in community service activities in their free time.

What Homeschooled Students Need On Their Application

Although the college application process for traditional and homeschool students is almost exactly the same, there are some specific components that homeschoolers need to pay attention to.

TRANSCRIPTS AND GPA

In general, in order to apply for college as a homeschooler, you don’t need an official GED or diploma saying you graduated from high school. All that matters is that your homeschool education was accredited, and that it met your state’s requirements for a well-rounded education. This includes valid transcripts and standardized test scores.

Accreditation simply means that an outside party has reviewed your educational procedures and deemed it satisfactory. It’s a good idea to either get your homeschool curriculum accredited or find an accredited homeschool program to join.

Alongside accreditation, your parents or homeschool program administrator is responsible for making your transcript. There are four primary ways most homeschool administrators go about this process:

• Using an umbrella school and commissioning them to make one for you
• Creating it on their own
• Using a homeschool transcript service
• Using a homeschool group where someone is appointed to handle everyone’s transcripts

Sometimes, homeschool curriculums aren’t straight-forward. It can be hard to translate class experiences and courses into “credit hours”. Homeschooling often looks like a very fluid thing filled with experiences outside of a typical classroom. Regardless of your experience with homeschooling, there are some specific things your transcript must have:

General Information:

• Your name
• The name of your homeschool or homeschool organization as well as its address and phone number

Educational information:

• Your high school course list organized by grade
• The institution where each class was taken, whether it be a homeschool, public school, online school, or community college
• Your overall GPA and explanation of your homeschool’s grade scale system
• Credits per course
• Expected graduation date
• Parent signature and date

PERSONAL ESSAYS

If you’re using the Common App for your college applications, you’ll have to provide a personal essay; sometimes several. This is where your experience as a homeschooler can really shine.

In your essay, write about your homeschool life. What were some important life lessons you learned that you otherwise wouldn’t have had you gone to a public school? Did you travel to any interesting places? Did you have an opportunity for employment that helped you decide what you want to study? Were there any unique community service opportunities that inspired you?

Every detail about how homeschooling benefited you, not only as a student but as a member of society, will help the college you’re applying to feel confident that you’ll do well.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Most colleges ask for two to three letters of recommendation. Typically, two of them should be academic-based and any others should be focused on your character.

Note that your parents shouldn’t write your letters of recommendation. If you’ve taken classes at an outside institution, ask your teachers from there. Other great options for who to ask for your recommendations include a coach, mentor, or older friend who has either already graduated from college or was able to work with you in a professional environment.

STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES

It is very important that you take the SAT or ACT, or both. You should also consider taking SAT Subject Tests in a variety of subjects. If you’re homeschooled, standardized testing scores will be one of the first things that colleges look for.

Standardized testing is used by the US education system to hold all US students up to the same standard. This is why your scores as a homeschooler will tell colleges if you’re ready for the rigor of collegiate academics.

A SCHOOL REPORT

A school report simply notes your grades in each class that you take. At a traditional school, this is done by the administration. For homeschoolers, it’s up to your parents or administrator of homeschool program.

A typical school report includes:

• Grades
• GPA and grading scale explanation
• Any AP classes and test scores

If you’re using the Common App to apply for colleges, the website compiles a school report for homeschoolers if you input all the needed information.

BONUS: EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Probably the biggest concern colleges have about homeschoolers is the student’s ability to interact with other people and their amount of experiences outside of their homeschool environment.

On your application, make sure you put down any sports, theater experience, bands, or clubs you were apart of during your time as a homeschooler. This includes accomplishments and awards. Also be sure to include any community service efforts you participated in.

All of this shows the college you’re applying to that you had both a well rounded education, as well as a thriving social life.

A Homeschooler's Path To College

Thousands of homeschoolers every year get into their dream schools, and you can too. If you’re a homeschooler and are ready to start the college application process, you’ve 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 you’re 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 don’t 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 don’t have access to a college counselor or homeschool administration, reach out to one of WeAdmit’s counselors. We’re 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!

Because Ultimately, Being Homeschooled Doesn’t Bar You From Opportunities; It Can Even Open Up More!