Homeschooling College-Bound High School Students

Is It Hard For Homeschoolers To Get Into College?

This is one of the most common questions homeschooled high schoolers and their parents ask. Fortunately, the answer is no – in general it is no more difficult for high school students to get accepted into college than it is for students who attend traditional schools. Different universities have different ways of assessing homeschooled applicants, but in general the admission process is very similar for both types of students. The only disadvantage for homeschoolers applying to college may be a lack of guidance in the application process. Guidance counselors are available to traditionally-schooled students, and in some cases – particularly at elite private high schools – these counselors know quite a bit about how to help their students get into competitive colleges. But as long as homeschooled students are able to find the guidance they need in the college application process – whether from their parents, from doing research online, or from homeschool organizations – they should not be at a disadvantage when applying to college.

Do Colleges Like Homeschoolers?

What about the idea that it is easier to get into a good college if you are homeschooled? These days, it is common to hear homeschool proponents say that elite colleges actively recruit and prefer homeschooled students over traditionally-schooled ones. It is hard to determine how much truth there is to this, however. Elite universities actively recruit many students, including those in public and private schools as well as homeschooled kids. In the case of Ivy League and similarly competitive colleges, only a very small percentage of those students are actually accepted.

Competitive colleges assess applicants on a variety of different factors, and it is unlikely that being homeschooled in itself gives applicants a huge advantage (if any at all). There are benefits to homeschooling, however, that may turn into advantages when applying to competitive colleges. For example, research has shown that on average, homeschooled kids score better than their traditionally-schooled peers on standardized tests, including the SAT and ACT – and these scores are included in college applications. Because homeschoolers do not always have standardized GPAs, some admissions officers may see these tests scores as a more valuable indicator of how a homeschooled student compares to his or her peers academically.

Another benefit of homeschooling that can give students an advantage when applying to college is the ability to develop a talent, skill, or area of expertise to an extent that is much harder for their traditionally-schooled peers. Homeschooling is by nature more flexible than regular school, both in terms of the student’s daily schedule and the content of his or her education.

Let’s take the example of a traditionally-schooled student who may be extremely creative and love music. His options for developing these interests in a public school will likely be limited to taking a choir class or participating in the school band; any music training outside of school will have to be fit into an evening already busy with homework if he is taking honors and AP classes. A homeschooled student with the same interests, on the other hand, is likely to finish most of her academic commitments early in the day, often before lunch. She might participate in the orchestra at the local school or perhaps a larger state orchestra a few times a week. This still leaves her plenty of time to perfect her instrumental skills through lessons and practice. She also has enough extra time that she is able to learn music composition. Perhaps she is also able to fit in volunteering at a local arts center, where she gives music lessons to underprivileged kids.

Assuming that their grades, test scores, and other merits are similar, which one of these students do you think will have the advantage when applying to the same Ivy League school? The one who has taken band and learned an instrument and likes music – or the one who has mastered her instrument, plays in a state orchestra, regularly teaches music to underprivileged kids, and has composed her own symphonies? In other words, it is not homeschooling itself that gives the second student her advantage – it is the skills and talents she has been able to develop and the opportunities she has been given because of homeschooling that make her so attractive to a competitive college.

It is unlikely that being homeschooled in itself will either help or hurt you when applying to a competitive college, therefore. What is more important is how you compare academically with your peers (regardless of how they are schooled) and the unique talents, skills, and abilities you have developed.

What is the Best Curriculum for College-Bound Homeschooled Students?

In general, there is no single “best curriculum” for homeschooled high school students preparing to attend college. There are many good options, and the one you choose will depend on your student’s learning styles and your own homeschooling philosophy. When looking for a homeschool curriculum for your college-bound highschooler, you may also want to take other factors into account, such as whether you travel frequently or are considering dual enrollment. You may also wonder whether it is necessary to use an accredited curriculum if your high schooler plans to attend college. While there may be some benefits to using an accredited curriculum, it is not a requirement or necessarily even an advantage when applying to college.

It is also important that you look into the high school course expectations and requirements of the universities your child may be interested in eventually attending, preferably before they even begin high school. On their websites, universities often provide lists of the types and number of courses they expect homeschooled students to have completed. These sites will also list whether or not the university requires a high school diploma (surprisingly, not all colleges require this of incoming students). If you do decide to seek a diploma for your homeschooled high schooler, you will need to check the state requirements for attaining this. Knowing these requirements will help you as you make a choice about the appropriate homeschool curriculum for your high school student.

How Do Homeschooled Students Graduate?

Surprisingly, not every college (even very competitive colleges) requires its applicants to obtain a high school diploma. You’ll want to research the specific colleges your student is interested in to find out what their requirements are in regard to high school graduation. Even if it’s not necessary, you may still want to seek a high school diploma for your homeschool student. In order to obtain this, you will want to make sure your student has met, or will meet, all the requirements necessary for high school graduation in the state where you live. This information should be available on the Board of Education website for your state, along with state-specific information about how homeschoolers can obtain a diploma.

Although the laws related to this may vary slightly in some states, there are four types of high school diplomas that may be available to homeschooled students:

Parent-Issued Diplomas

This is the most common type of diploma obtained by
homeschooled kids. With these diplomas, the parent in effect stands in as the academic institution and certifies that the student has completed the necessary work to graduate. In many states there are no specific actual requirements for homeschooled high schoolers, so these “necessary requirements” are ultimately up to the parent (you’ll want to check the Board of Education website in your state for more information on this). There are many online templates for creating such a diploma, as well as companies that will create one for you.

Institution-Issued Diplomas

In some cases, homeschooled students will be able to obtain a diploma through a correspondence school, umbrella school, or virtual school. If your student is enrolled in such a school, check the institution’s website for information on how the diploma can be obtained. Public School-Issued Diplomas: this type of diploma is fairly unusual for homeschoolers. Most states and districts do not issue diplomas to homeschool students, though in a few states (Pennsylvania, North Dakota) it can or must be done this way. So make sure to check the laws regarding this where you live.

GED

The GED is a test your student (or anyone) can take to attain a high-school
equivalency diploma that will be widely accepted at legitimate. It is one option for obtaining the diploma, but it is generally not necessary for homeschoolers.

Transcripts, Letters of Recommendation, and Admissions Essays

Transcripts, letters of recommendation, and admissions essays are usually required when applying to college, and homeschoolers often get confused about how their students will complete these components when they don’t attend traditional schools. Here is the information you will need to make sure these aspects of the college application can be completed for your homeschooled student.

Transcripts

If your homeschooled high schooler is planning to attend college, he or she will need to submit a transcript as part of the application process. Homeschooled students who are enrolled in a correspondence school, umbrella school, or virtual school are usually able to get a transcript through that organization. Unless your student falls into this category, you will need to create a transcript on your own. It will need to include the names of all the courses your student has completed during the high school years, as well as any high-school level courses completed earlier (such as if your child took algebra in 8th grade). There are formal transcript templates available online.

Letters of Recommendation

To fulfill this component of the application process, you will need to look into the recommendation letter requirements for the specific colleges your student is applying to, as these vary in both the number and type of recommendations asked for. In some cases, you as the supervising parent may be able to submit the recommendation generally completed by the guidance counselor (sometimes this is called the “Homeschool Supervisor’s Report”). However, colleges often prefer to see recommendation letters not written by a student’s parents or relatives, so make sure that you are able to gather recommendations from other sources, as well. Because colleges want to see academic references, you will want to plan ahead to make sure your student has some significant
interaction with potential academic recommenders. This could be accomplished through dual enrollment (either with the local public high school or a community college), private tutoring, or even a homeschool coop.

In some cases, non-academic references will also be requested or allowed, so your student will want to look for recommendations from community members such as coaches, music instructors, or leaders of organizations where the student has volunteered. If your high schooler has been very active in local community theater, for example, she could request a recommendation from a director who knows her well and can comment on her acting abilities, work ethic, and the development of her talents over time. Of course she will need to make sure she still has the appropriate academic references, as well.

Admissions Essays

Whereas some students attending traditional high schools – particularly those in elite private schools – will receive guidance on writing a successful college admissions essay, homeschooled kids may have no idea where to start when it comes to this component of a college application. Fortunately there are some great resources out there for this task. You might first want to look to your local homeschool organization to see what sorts of resources they have to help students put together their college admissions essays. If your student is enrolled in a virtual or correspondence school, that institution may also have
resources that can be helpful. Finally, consider these two important tips when writing the college essay:

First, have your high schooler read examples of successful college admissions essays. Many of these are available online. You can also find examples in books such as 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays. There are also books that will give you step-by-step guidance on how to craft your own successful essay (two good choices are Conquering the College Admissions Essay in 10 Steps and Write Your Way In: Crafting an Unforgettable College Admissions Essay).

Second, once your student has a draft of his or her essay, consider hiring a professional editor to look it over. You can find editors online or locally through sites such as Craigslist, and some of them specialize in editing college admissions essays. Outside feedback on your student’s writing, especially from a professional, can be extremely valuable in helping him or her craft an essay that will stand out both for its writing and content.

Do Homeschoolers Do Better in College?

When it comes to the question of whether homeschoolers do better in college than their traditionally-schooled peers, many will say that that yes, homeschooled students have an advantage academically in college. Others say the opposite, however, claiming that gaps in homeschool education can leave these students unprepared for the rigors of college academics.

The more accurate answer to the question of whether homeschoolers perform better in college is probably that it depends on the student. Just as there isn’t one type of student that attends regular schools, there isn’t one type of homeschooled student. Academic success in college depends on many factors, and homeschooled students are individuals who will react to these factors in different ways. How well homeschooled students perform in college may also relate to the curriculum they used in high school. Some curriculums are better for college preparedness than others. Again, it is important to remember that students will differ, as will their college experiences. Homeschooled students certainly can and often do perform well in college, however. How well they do depends a great deal on their unique personalities and goals.

Conclusion

Preparing for college is often overwhelming for high schoolers, whether or not they are homeschooled, as well as for their parents. Homeschoolers will need to research the colleges they are interested in as well as the laws in the state where they live to make sure they are meeting all the requirements necessary for graduation (if a diploma is desired) and college attendance. When completing their college applications, homeschooled students, along with their parents, will need to fulfill certain tasks on their own that traditional schools often do for their students. These might include creating a high school transcript and obtaining a diploma. They will also likely need to get letters of recommendation and write an admissions essay, just as their traditionally-schooled peers
do.

Although there can be lot of anxiety surrounding the process of applying to and attending college, homeschoolers should know that, in general, homeschooled students do just as well as their traditionally-schooled peers when it comes to getting into college and succeeding once they are there. How well students do at both getting into college and succeeding once there is likely to be less related to their homeschooled status and more influence to their individual personalities, abilities, and talents.

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1 Martin C. Yu, Paul R. Sackett, and Nathan R. Kuncel, “Predicting College Performance of Homeschooled Versus Traditional Students.” Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 35, No. 4 (2016): 31-39.