Starting The College Search As A Homeschooler
My oldest is barely into the high school years in our homeschool but college is already on their mind and ours. We are starting a discussion about which of their interests could lead to different careers and what will be needed on a transcript. Behind the scenes, Dad and I are thinking about the financials of it as well.
Today my husband, Bob, is joining the discussion as a homeschool graduate as we talk about the college search with our sponsor Thiel College.
The College Search for a Second Generation Homeschooler
In our case, attending college after being homeschooled isn’t new. My husband Bob was homeschooled throughout his K-12 years. A generation ago, co-ops and community were rare so his homeschool experience looked very different from our kids who have always had a local homeschool community. As he reflected back on his transition to college he had this to say,
“I was homeschooled throughout my younger years, and even through high school, which was very uncommon in the 90s. I enjoyed my homeschool experience, but transitioning from that to college was very intimidating to me, and I wasn’t sure what to expect or what would hit me sideways and throw me off.”
It’s true that an overwhelming college experience can throw anyone off, but especially someone who has the extra learning curve of no experience in a traditional classroom. Small colleges like Thiel College can be a great place for homeschoolers because the small school feels more comfortable and the students don’t get lost in the crowd.
Challenges of a Homeschool Transcript
When the conversation starts about college transcripts is one of the first things that comes to mind is, “How do we, as homeschool parents, make sure we teach our kids enough to be ready for the college requirements?”
The answer is two fold: we can work backwards from the college requirements, and we also get to be creative in awarding credits to our students. In my state, homeschooler families are each seen as our own private school, and thus can create our own graduation requirements. For our family, this will look like making sure my kids have what they need to be ready for their after high school goals, which may or may not include additional education.
Suggested High School Graduation Requirements for Homeschoolers:
- 3-4 years English (writing, literature, speech, etc)
- 3 years math (Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Personal Finance)
- 3 Years Science (Biology, Physics, Chemistry)
- 2 years social Studies (World History, American History, Government)
- 2 years Foreign Language
- 2 Years electives (fine art, computer science, etc)
Homeschoolers can be creative in how we build the credits and courses on our students’ transcript. This isn’t creativity to take short cuts, but to include the natural explorations that our students are pursuing and give them credit for those activities where they are investing significant time.
One example would be giving science credit for volunteering multiple times a week at a horse barn where they are learning animal care and basic veterinary skills. We have a Shakespeare theater program for teens in our area. While a single show may not be equal to a high school credit of work, participating in multiple shows would add up to create an English credit in Shakespeare literature or a fine arts theater credit or both!
As you student gets closer to graduation it’s valuable to talk to the admissions office where you are considering applying to see what requirements they have for students and how admissions may look different for homeschooled students.
Thiel College has the same admissions requirements for homeschooled students but has a different process for obtaining the student’s records. Their admissions department is ready to walk through each step of the admissions process with you as a homeschooler.
Finding College Scholarships as a Homeschooler
As parents one of the biggest challenges is paying for college for our kids. There are many options from student loans, or family loans, scholarships, part time while working or community college with a transfer program. Ask the school you are considering, the right questions is important.
Thiel College gave $21 million in scholarships to their students in 2021. 99% of their student body received at least some aid! Private schools often have large scholarship funds available and should not be ruled out as an affordable option for your family. I know families that have found out of state private schools to offer the same or better value than going to an in-state public school.
Finding the Right College Fit for Outside the Box Kids
As we help our kids navigate their post homeschool plans, most of all we want to see them succeed as their parents. We can do that by helping them navigate the transition to college by helping them find a school that will support them in and out of the classroom. Small schools like Thiel College can be great at this because of their low student/ faculty ratio, at Thiel it is 11:1.
Bob said, “I made some mistakes and learned hard lessons on a few things, but even those seemed like much lower stakes compared to making the same mistakes on a gigantic campus with huge expectations and a safety net that is much more difficult to navigate, like it is on a campus with tens of thousands of students and a staff of thousands.”
Thiel College is committed to student success and has a big heart to help students succeed. Offering a First-Year Student for student Success program, they will help you adjust to college life and set you up for success throughout your college years and life beyond. Bob says, “Preparing for college when I’d never even been in a normal classroom before was an anxious thought.” Encouraging your student to participate in a First Year Experience program can help with the anxiety of college experience.
Outside the Box students can be extra anxious about college as they received the educational support they needed while learning at home. Most colleges, including Thiel College, have a Resource center to help these students continue to access the support they need to learn in the classroom.
Unlike in high school there is no formal IEP or 504 process to access these services at the college level and any student can visit the Accessibility Resource Center to ask for help. At the college level it is up to the student to seek the educational support they need. The college will not be proactive in offering services to the student, like at high school level. Common accommodations at the college level include having a note-taker for class, extra test time or peer-tutoring.
Look for the “Differences between high school and college accommodations” link on the Thiel College Accessibility Resource Center webpage for more details on the differences between high school and college educational supports.