What do I need to know?

[Bob S]

This has always been my biggest fear. What do I need to know to make sure my kids can get into college when they are ready?

Can you help me plan?

[Cria]

Hi,

This seems to be a common topic for a lot of us. I am just facing the college issue as I am a homeschooled senior. I am choosing to stay home and serve my family instead of furthering my formal education next year.

I would encourage you to first of all figure out what your reasons for sending your children to college are, and then proceeding with your planning.

Some resources I have found extremely helpful are those from Vision Forum. They are easy to find on the Web at www.visionforum.com Two resources I would reccomend are the audio messages, How to Make Wise Decisions about College and Life After Homeschool. And also (for your daughters), Whats a Girl to Do How to Wisely invest your Daughters Time.

I hope this is helpful to you. Let me know if you have any questions.
*Cria*

[Karen R]

I would echo the earlier comments - be sure you know what your goal is for further education before you worry too much.

Another tip I would share - my high school senior is not yet sure what path he'd like to take after high school. This year I have him dual enrolled at our local community college. This is allowing him to have some classroom experience, complete some requirements for high school and get a taste some opportunties that he hasn't really had (auto mechanics) in addition to his home school curriculum. It's also helping build a college transcript for him.

Entrance requirements for the two-year community college option are typically much less stringent and allow the child to build a readily accepted portfolio for further admission to a four-year program. Add to that the huge economic benefit, and the fact that he's living at home and not having to face the pressures of the whole college campus experience just yet, and I'm finding it to be a great bridge between home schooling and college education.

[Katrina]

The most important thing to know about getting your home-schooled child accepted into college is that it isn't something to worry about. God makes a way for everything He has planned for us.

Enough home-schooled families have gone before you and paved a way. Colleges don't want big portfolios with boxes of information. They want a basic transcript, test scores and letters of recommendation.

If you are led by God to prepare your child for college, find out what classes a college-prep high school program should include and make sure your child takes them. Your child should prepare for and take a college entrance exam (ACT/SAT).

Another thing a college admissions committee will look at is community service. Has he/she taught Sunday School, helped in the nursery, raked senior citizens yards, visited nursing homes, traveled to help build an orphanage in Paraguay or worked on a political campaign? If not, look for opportunities to do these types of things as a family or parent-child team.

Every admissions officer we talked to was impressed that our child had traveled to much of the world. We took advantage of off season and flew to Europe for $169 per person two Februarys in a row. It was cold, but we studied WWII on location and practiced our French. We also went to Mexico in November and Paraguay in January to visit missionaries (and practice our Spanish). We have been missionaries and know that most of them are so anxious for visitors from home that they will host you and help you learn about their adopted country. (You should expect to help them with their work and any extra expenses they incur because of your visit while you are there as well.) These missionaries can write great letters of recommendation.

Our first daughter is doing very well in a highly respected private, conservative but not Christian school. Her professors speak highly of her and are impressed with her skills in dorm life. She hosts a weekly prayer meeting in her room (attended by at least a dozen girls.) She invites other students to church and plans events Christian students can be comfortable attending.

(I would also recommend Summit Ministries camp or Worldview Academy if you can afford to go. They were very helpful in helping her know what might come her way in the classroom and to be prepared to counter it.)

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone. I wanted to contribute to this discussion about college and what to do. Robert Welch University will be exhibiting this year at the convention. We are an online university and have traditionally had a huge following among homeschoolers. Over 75% of those attending our summer camps have come from a homeschool background. We are introducing an online degree program that will allow homeschoolers to continue with the education at a college level from the comfort of their own homes. Visit our website at www.robertwelchuniversity.org to learn more about our degree programs. Our vision is to deliver an education reflective of the education received by America's Founding Fathers. Our unique curriculum reflects this focus.

We hope that you all visit us at the convention this year. Feel free to call me at 800-241-2882 for more information.

Thank you

Jesse Frickenstein

[michelle]

I would like to know where to obtain info on the academic requirements in Michigan for a high school student. My son is college bound. He is currently in 8th grade and I would like to be sure that he completes all course requirements as we homeschool in high school. I have checked out several websites including the Michigan Dept of Education but have been unable to find clear, specific course requirements. I have Inge Cannon's materials on transcripts but I'm not sure which classes he is required to complete. Thanks for the !!!!!

[danielsegura1]

I am an homeschooling parent and a college recruiter. I have recruited for Alma College and now Delta College. I will reiterate the comment that the community college may be a great place to start for both Dual Enrollment and entrance into college. Almost all Com. Col. have Honors programs, tutoring, sports, clubs, etc.- just like a university. The cost, though, is so low in !!!!.

Delta College is known as a very homeschool friendly institution. Consider Delta. You may email me [url]mailto:danielsegura@delte.edu[/url] if you'd like or you can check our website www.delta.edu/admit/homeschool.htm for more information.

DS

[RoxieMarie]

Michelle, If you call the INCH office (616-874-5656) and request a copy of the requirements for high school graduation, a sheet will be sent to you. It is also a very good idea to contact a community college, or whatever college you child is interested in attending, and find out what they require of homeschooled students for admission (transcripts, portfolio, essays, GED, etc.). Roxanne

[profamilyhome]

Bob S et al,

The college education system is in some transition digesting on-line classes which makes home-schooling through college very easy to achieve.

The Michigan public school requirements are on-line at the Michigan.gov web-site. That said all high schools are in charge of determining their graduation requirements. That is you do not have to follow the public school requirements. I recommend that you do if your child is desiring to go to college because the curriculum is adequate - I would raise the bar by adding Calculus and Physics as required.

At the same time I would investigate collegeboard.org for the CLEP (College Level Examination Program) - which allows students to get college credits by testing out of subjects. These credits are accepted by nearly 3000 colleges and are good for 20 years in applying them toward a degree. Basically by following the Michigan Public School curriculum and taking the appropriate CLEP exams - you can easily complete high school at home with enough credits for a two year degree.

If you wish to know more - I am available to speak on the whole high school / home-school / college topic in much greater detail - I can be reached at profamilyhome@comcast.net.

I home this helps, God Bless, Ed R.