{Day 29} Pointers For College Prep
{For an overview of all 31 Days of Homeschooling click HERE.}
To advance to the next lesson, look for the “NEXT LESSON” link at the end of this article.
Admissions requirements for colleges and universities are fairly straight-forward. Whether traditionally or non-traditionally schooled, all applicants must meet the same set of basic requirements.
For Freshman, these requirements usually consist of:
- a completed college application
- proof of high school completion
- an SAT or ACT score
- a transcript of high school course work
- a Freshman resume listing accomplishments, activities and extracurriculars
Although no two people are exactly alike, these requirements result in most applications looking exactly alike once they are submitted. Just imagine an admissions office receiving thousands of similar applications every year!
This begs the question, what makes certain students stand out? In particular, what can homeschoolers do to increase their chances?
Homeschoolers already several default advantages. Unlike traditionally schooled students, homeschoolers are able to mix and match courses and experiences to focus on specific areas, and then showcase their expertise in endless varieties of ways — projects, internships, jobs, service, special electives and more. Exploiting this flexibility by choosing high school experiences wisely is one way homeschoolers already stand out.
Another advantage is the result of homeschoolers being raised and schooled at home. Differences in character and maturity are immediately obvious during college interviews, making favorable impressions right off the bat. These characteristics come across in the activities that homeschoolers choose during high school, too. They shine through in written essays, as well.
A deliberate way for homeschoolers to stand out is to have a rigorous education plan. By completing a challenging curriculum and by investing the time and energy it takes to do well, graduates will be well prepared to compete for limited college vacancies. Adding into the education plan things like early college, AP and honors courses, and in depth treatment of certain subjects, and the transcript just looks better and better.
Another way to stand out is by sending additional exam scores. Instead of just taking an SAT or ACT, homeschoolers can take subject examinations, too. Subject-focused exams provide ways for homeschoolers who excel in certain areas to pull ahead from the rest of the pack. Working this strategy into the homeschool curriculum is crucial, so that a high level of mastery can be achieved by test taking season.
Finally, as a by-product of certain kinds of homeschooling, many homeschooled grads are already excellent writers. For those who are not, there is plenty of time to practice during high school. Strengthening writing skills makes it easier to ace college application essays, compared to students less skilled in this area. Colleges notice.
Across the board, homeschooled graduates have no difficulty get into good colleges, and great colleges too. For additional college prep advice, follow the ‘high school’ and ‘college’ tags at the end of this post. You’re invited to contact me for more specific advice, or to schedule a high school seminar for your group or organization.
Further reading:
Free homeschool curriculum for high school
Earning credit for life skills
Goal-setting for a great beginning
Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A liaison for regional school-to-home organizations, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT, Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.
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