As a homeschooled student, your trek to college has taken you off the beaten path. But even if you don't have the "typical" credentials colleges are looking for, you can still impress admissions counselors with a dazzling—and unique—application.
Keep a Portfolio and a Logbook
Without a transcript, it's hard for colleges to know about your academic background. So prepare a portfolio—a collection of some of your best work.
"Most homeschooled students make a list of courses and extracurriculars that look like a high school transcript and include a detailed explanation to show how they've met the requirements," says Laura Derrick, public relations director of the National Home Education Network.
A portfolio of some of your best work can give admissions counselors a sense of your academic skills and interests. Your portfolio should include homework assignments, research papers, lab reports or artwork.
Keep a logbook of any volunteer work, sports, field trips and hobbies. These activities will show the effort and energy you've put into your education above and beyond your academics.
Get Involved
Volunteer in your community, join a baseball team or do an internship in a career field that interests you. Take advantage of opportunities to connect with directors, sponsors and coaches who can become mentors and provide letters of recommendation.
Letters of Recommendation
The letter of recommendation can give admissions counselors a better idea of your personality and how well you work with other people.
Ask an adult who knows you well or works with you in a community activity, at a summer camp or through tutoring. Don't ask family members to write your recommendation letters; their comments won't be as credible to admissions counselors.
Get Some Credit
Many community colleges and universities allow high school students to take classes and receive credit. You can also get credit by scoring high on the Advanced Placement (AP) or the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. Earning college credits during high school demonstrates your initiative and gives admissions counselors a way to evaluate your potential for college success.
Standardized Tests
"We encourage homeschooled students to take the SAT and the ACT tests, especially the SAT subject tests," says Marlon Evans, development officer at Stanford University. "The exams will lend more weight to the application and give us a sense of their preparation from subject to subject."
Standardized test requirements vary, so check your college applications to make sure you've taken the correct tests. You can also take the PSAT or PLAN, a pre-ACT test, to help you perfect your test-taking abilities. Do well on these tests to prove that you're ready for college-level course work.
For More Information ...
Colleges and universities have different requirements for homeschooled students. Check with the admissions department of the schools you're considering and get their policies in writing.
Contact your state's department of education to see if there are any additional admissions requirements for homeschooled students.
And don't forget to check the Web! Contact these organizations for more information and support:
- The American Homeschool Association
http://www.americanhomeschoolassociation.org
- National Home Education Network
http://www.nhen.org
The college admissions process can be difficult for homeschooled students. But with the right planning and preparation, you can meet the challenge and succeed in the admissions process.
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