| Making the decision to homeschool your child | | | | Placement (AP) tests. You child may be able to |
| throughout high school with an eye towards | | | | earn college credit based on the AP score. |
| college is a rewarding and challenging task. Here | | | | Homeschoolers can register for these tests at |
| are some things to consider: | | | | various testing sites along with public school |
| Choices for fulfilling college requirements | | | | students. AP prep books in various subject areas |
| One of your first decisions will be to consider how | | | | are available at your local bookstore. |
| you want to prepare your child for college. The | | | | Community Services |
| choices generally consist of using a portfolio or | | | | Every college-bound homeschooler should do |
| using an umbrella/distance school. With the | | | | community service work. This is not only for her |
| portfolio approach, you will be responsible for | | | | own good as a citizen, but also because it will be a |
| making sure all requirements for college entry are | | | | distinguishing factor on a college application. College |
| met and documenting all of your child's work with | | | | applications will generally ask you to list any |
| relevant samples to present to a college | | | | awards and honors that have been received. |
| admissions representative. | | | | Homeschoolers can earn awards such as The |
| There are several books and e-books available to | | | | Presidential Service Award or the more |
| help you self-prepare impressive high school | | | | demanding Congressional Award by displaying |
| transcripts and portfolios. The other popular | | | | consistent public service throughout high school. |
| approach is to use an umbrella school or | | | | Your child might also want to consider some form |
| distance-high school that is responsible for | | | | of volunteer apprenticeship or internship where |
| monitoring your child's academic progress and | | | | she can learn about a possible career path by |
| providing a certified transcript. You should make | | | | mentoring with an expert in the field. |
| sure that your distance program has a National | | | | Developing Interests and a Sense of Focus |
| Accreditation and will provide good personal | | | | Homeschoolers are often more focused on their |
| recommendations for your child. | | | | career goals because they have had more time |
| Fulfilling Requirements | | | | at home to develop their interests. Make sure |
| Every state has requirements for entry into their | | | | that your teen has the opportunity to focus and |
| state colleges or universities. If you think that | | | | develop interests and skills. Not every child will |
| your child will probably go to an in state school, | | | | have chosen their career path upon graduation |
| then you need to know from the beginning of | | | | from high school, but interests can certainly be |
| high school how to meet those requirements with | | | | developed and broadened by things like travel, |
| your homeschooling education. If your child has | | | | service work abroad, and stimulating |
| some special skills or interests that are not | | | | extra-curricular activities. |
| recognized by your state colleges, then you will | | | | Challenge and Communication |
| need to look at those schools and talk to an | | | | Challenge your homeschooler to do independent |
| admissions representative early on to determine | | | | work, to think deeply about goals, and to keep |
| what that specific college requires for admission | | | | communicating dreams and goals; even if those |
| to the school. | | | | might not be the same ones you hold for the |
| Most colleges will also require that your child take | | | | child. By continuing to truly claim their high school |
| the SAT or its equivalent for college admission. | | | | education, they will learn more deeply and be |
| However, there are some schools that do not | | | | more willing to do the work necessary to secure |
| require this form of testing. Prepare your child well | | | | entrance to a college that is in line with their goals. |
| in advance for the test, so you he achieve a | | | | Perhaps they may even decide to continue on |
| good score. Visit to receive information and helpful | | | | with distance learning throughout college. |
| advice on all testing for college bound students. | | | | It will take real commitment and follow through to |
| This site also helps student consider colleges that | | | | help your child achieve entrance into a desired |
| might be a good match for them and discusses | | | | college. Make sure that your financial plans for a |
| topics like financial aid. | | | | college are thought out carefully as well. Research |
| Going Beyond the Basics | | | | scholarships for outstanding students and apply |
| A homeschooled high school student will want to | | | | for them. There are many scholarships available |
| have something that helps them stand out from a | | | | that people are unaware of. Ask about them. |
| crowd of applicants. One of the things that you | | | | Prepare your child to do excellent academic work, |
| and your child might want to consider include | | | | meaningful service work, and participate in |
| achieving college credit while still in high school. This | | | | extracurricular activities so that he or she will be |
| is generally done in the junior and senior years of | | | | both distinguished and well-focused on the goal of |
| high school through an Open Admissions program | | | | college and career. Help your child to make career |
| at a local junior college or university. You will also | | | | exploration truly meaningful so that they will |
| want to have your child take honors level high | | | | continue to pursue learning with eagerness and |
| school courses that substantiate accelerated | | | | consistency throughout their college years and |
| learning and will prepare him to take Advanced | | | | into adulthood. |