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Home : Getting Started : Home Schooling Teenagers : The Home School Graduate and College
The Home School Graduate and College taken from the Handbook for Texas Home Schoolers © 2007
Gone are the days when home schooled students wondered if they would be able to go to college. In 2004, the Texas legislature passed HB 944, a law that requires state-supported institutions to accept home school graduates without discrimination and on the same basis that their public school counterparts are accepted. (Read an excerpt from the Texas Education Code and a memo from Texas Commissioner of Higher Education Raymund A. Parades to all Texas Public Institutions of Higher Education.)
Gone also are the days of questioning whether or not home schooled high school graduates can make it in college; there is now plenty of evidence to show that they not only can do well at higher education institutions, they can excel.
Preparing for the Classroom Many people still wonder how their home school graduate will handle the formal classroom setting of a college campus since they have not had that experience. To prepare your student for college, it is important to instill independent study skills. Teach your children to assume responsibility—even when they might initially fail or fall short. The following are some things you can focus on as your teen approaches graduation to help make him prepared for university classes.
Note Taking A student can learn to take notes from lectures by starting with church sermons. Another possibility is taking notes from your class lecture. Start small-teach how to summarize rather that trying to write word-for-word what the speaker is saying. Take notes from a text, learning to make outlines. Taking notes from tapes is a great way to check what was missed the first time and evaluate how to do better.
Study Skills One of the greater weaknesses of home schooling is that the parent tends to “nag” to keep her pupils on track. In a traditional school setting, students are responsible for homework assignments and experience consequences for failure to follow through. With your student, set learning goals and deadlines together and write them down. Teach him how to pace himself using a chart. Encourage him to use his time efficiently and have unbending consequences when he does not have work completed when it is due.
Test Taking Introduce the concept of tests and the necessity of studying to prepare for them. Give the student tests on a regular basis. Purchase or check out from the library practice SAT and ACT books. Study the different sections in preparation for a timed test. Evaluate testing strengths and weaknesses.
Use of References It is important for the student to be familiar with reference books – dictionaries, encyclopedias, and the Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature. The Internet is also a vast reference tool. The student can learn to locate needed information through search engines or following Internet references. Train the student to depend upon these resources for research and report processes.
Research Papers Do not decide it is too much trouble to be worth it. Set aside six weeks for English to work on research papers daily. Helpful teaching tools for research papers are Writer’s Inc., The Write Source, and the MLA (Modern Language Association) Handbook.
Organization Require the student to put papers away neatly and in chronological order. Make certain places for books, pens, pencils, and other supplies. Organization can be learned; be a good example to your student. Put your things away.
Projects Do them. There are usually many opportunities for participation in science fairs, history fairs, etc. Start small, so you and your student will not get discouraged.
Preliminary to Making Application Academics It is important for college-bound students to have a strong background in writing, math, and thinking skills. If you think your teen might go to college, find out the high school requirements of the school(s) of his choice and map a plan. Most colleges will ask your teen what major field he wishes to study.
See if there are extra requirements for students in the area of the student’s interest. If he is unsure of a special field of interest, consider administering a career assessment or interest inventory test. See if your local institution or college of choice offers this service. This should help determine what extra requirements may be necessary.
Sample prerequisites: 4.0 English 3.0 Math 2.5 Social Science 2.0 Laboratory Science 2.0 Foreign Language 3.5 Electives
Testing Colleges rely more on tests than transcripts for home schoolers. Find out which test(s) and what scores are required for admission to the colleges or universities your student is interested in attending. The school he eventually attends might be determined by his test scores.
Testing takes place at local high schools, community colleges, and universities. Call the school to ask when testing will take place and how much it will cost. Then register your student for testing. The College Board, administrator of the SAT test, encourages high schools to include ALL high school students, as space allows. (Click here to read a helpful letter from the College Board to school districts about allowing home schoolers to participate at their local high schools.) Check testing websites for information about testing dates and locations and to see if the student can be registered online. When he goes to the test site, he should be prepared to show a photo ID.
Some of the test results that colleges might request would be from the THEA, GED, PSAT, SAT, and ACT.
THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment) is the new name for what was called the TASP (Texas Academic Skills Program) test. The THEA test is designed to provide information about the reading, mathematics, and writing skills of students entering public colleges, universities, and educator preparation programs in public institutions. It has been approved for use by Texas institutions of higher education as an assessment instrument for entering students.
The GED (General Education Development) tests measure knowledge and academic skills against those of today’s traditional high school graduates. This test is not required for admission of home schoolers to Texas state colleges and universities.
The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a three-hour test that measures verbal and mathematical reasoning skills students have developed over time which they need to be successful academically. Many colleges and universities use the SAT as one indicator among others-class rank, high school GPA, extracurricular activities, personal essay, and teacher recommendations-of a student's readiness to do college-level work. SAT scores are compared with the scores of other applicants and the accepted scores at an institution and can be used as a basis for awarding merit-based financial aid.
The ACT (American College Testing) Assessment® is designed to assess high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science.
The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is used in the determination of National Merit Scholarships. It is also a good practice tool in preparation for college entrance exams and can be taken both in the sophomore and junior years. Taking the test at least once will make students familiar with the flow of the whole process and may reduce test anxiety when the scores really count. The score report will allow you to gauge areas of needed study and to work on appropriate test-taking techniques.
You can visit your local high school to register and to get a copy of the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin. Schools can set their own fee for administering the test. The tests must be ordered, so contact your local school as soon as possible. Most large bookstores carry test preparation books; computer programs are also available.
Develop a Transcript A transcript is simply a list of classes taken and grades and credits earned. It can be traditional or built on a spreadsheet on your computer. A transcript must have an explanation of grades, grade point average (GPA), and honors. A GPA is calculated based on grades for classes, points assigned for grades, and total number of classes/hours. The transcript should include the signature of the principal. Class ranking is usually required but does not apply to home schoolers. TranscriptPro is a tool for recording classes and assigning credits for your student’s high school career. Other helpful information can be found on the Internet.
Build a Resume Your student should prepare a resume for interviews. It should contain action verbs and should state facts, not opinions. Some of the information in the resume might also be used in a portfolio. (See Other Options below.)
Financial Assistance It is advisable that neither you nor your student go into debt for college. Consider having your teen pay for part or all of his college. If he works, it should be less for than 15-20 hours per week. That will provide money to help him start taking responsibility for his own life.
Many home school graduates have been able to receive financial assistance toward their college careers through numerous scholarships and grants. Be aware that scholarships and grants abound. Scholarships and grants are awarded according to several different criteria: academic, ministerial, athletic, departmental, need, ethnicity, etc. There are books in the public libraries concerning scholarships in certain fields.
When seeking financial aid, complete the necessary paperwork early in the process. An admissions packet from the college/university will have financial aid information. Application for financial aid can be started on the internet site for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (www.fafsa.net) and finished by providing the needed financial information to the school the student plans to attend. It is very important to start looking during the junior year. Get an admission packet in the summer and apply in the fall. Do not postpone until spring; by then it will be too late for many scholarships.
In 2001, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board issued a memorandum to all colleges and universities in Texas to explain that home school graduates are eligible for Texas grants and scholarships. Click here to see a copy of the memorandum.
Receiving Federal Aid In 1998, the U.S. Congress passed legislation clarifying that home schooled graduates are qualified to receive federal aid (grants and scholarships). Click here for directions to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The clear intention of the U.S. government is that home schooled graduates not be discriminated against in college admission policies and procedures. The U.S. Department of Education also considers that a home-schooled student is beyond the age of compulsory school attendance if the state in which the institution is located does not consider the student truant once he or she has completed a home-school program.
Other Options for Earning College Credits Dual credit Consider enrolling your high school student in a local college to receive dual credits, for high school and college simultaneously. Community colleges in Texas are now required to offer dual credit courses to private school students, which includes home schoolers, in the same way they are offered to public school juniors and seniors. Your student could graduate from home school with college hours already to his credit.
CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) Many home schoolers and their families are unaware of the opportunity to earn college credit through CLEP tests. The program extends the opportunity to earn course credit to students who have acquired an unusual amount of information through independent reading and experience. The CLEP examinations cover the material taught in introductory courses that students are often required to take during the first two years of college study. Check CLEP testing at www.collegeboard.com to learn about the tests and locate testing sites in your area. Costs will vary according to location, as will the procedure. Be forewarned that if you have a child trying to take the CLEP, you must have a picture I.D. and a Social Security number.
The College Board website will provide a downloadable free demo that will familiarize your child with the computerized test format. You will also find more information about the individual subjects that CLEP offers. In general, there are tests for English and literature, foreign languages, history and government, mathematics, and science. There is not minimum age limit, so a student can gain credits and experience at any time.
Portfolio A portfolio may translate prior college-level experience and learning into college credits. You can begin by taking a thorough inventory of his learning experiences. Evaluate special skills he has learned and knowledge he has gained on a particular subject through personal study, classes, or workshops. Include unique volunteer or ministry work. Music lessons, landscaping, counseling, home economics, computer skills, and mission trips are just a sampling of the activities eligible for credit.
A portfolio encompasses two parts. The first part, the narrative, describes in detail (5-15 pages) how and when the learning took place. The second part is a compilation of documents, pictures, letters, and certificates verifying specific learning. A portfolio includes a narrative about the learning experience and documentation through pictures, letters, certificates, etc. The student should “make the case” that this is worthy of college credit. If the college of choice does not offer a portfolio program, the Internet will be helpful in locating one that will offer transferable credits.
Online and Distance Courses These options offer the flexibility for a student to study on his own time with accountability to an instructor. There is a vast selection of on-line courses offered today. With e-mail and the Internet, a student can pick classes and instructors from virtually every continent. Online courses are usually the most expensive of the credit-earning options unless taken from a junior college. Your student might benefit from taking self-study courses in accelerated reading, writing, and memorization that can help streamline and enhance time spent learning.
The student generally will read assigned text, write several essays in response to chapter questions, and then email assignments to a course mentor for grading. Sometimes there are online lectures and group discussions in which to participate. The course mentors are available to answer questions by phone, e-mail, or live chat.
Some Cautions Even though the prevailing thought in our society is that a person cannot make a good living without a college education, there are some considerations a family should look at before automatically pursuing college for their young person. Many Christian young adults lose their faith through facing discouragement and moral temptation, even at some Christian colleges. Parents and students should pray and the student should enter college only with clear confirmation from God.
If the family concludes that the student is to pursue college, they might want to consider the following suggestions to help prepare their young person to face the onslaught of evolution, humanism, liberalism, immorality:
******************************************** TEST CODE NUMBERS Home-educated students in Texas should use these numbers when completing their applications for the following tests: ACT Code: 969-999 PSAT Code: in Section 6a: 99449 SAT Code: 970000 in Section 6b: Home School
For more helpful information, see the following: ACT: www.act.org PSAT: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/reg/homeschool.html National Merit Scholarships: www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php SAT: www.collegeboard.com
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