What does college application process look like for homeschoolers?
Children from from our families have successfully applied to and been accepted to multiple colleges. We can offer a few tips that worked for us as parents and for our children as homeschoolers.
Colleges love homeschoolers. Homeschoolers are independent learners who don't need to be taught how to manage their own time. Many homeschoolers have already taken college classes on college campuses. Homeschoolers are eager to embrace a new way of living and learning.
That said, homeschoolers need to be prepared and invested in their application process. Every homeschooler's path to college will be a little different, depending on what the homeschooler has already accomplished and where they want to go. Not every homeschooler wants to go to college or wants to follow a traditional path to college. Applying to college is a big step and your homeschooling student must be self motivated to do all the work necessary more or less on their own, with their parent's help (of course), but without the backing of a school's professional guidance counselor and advising office.
Some groundwork for this process can begin in 9th grade. Start as early as you can. Don't wait til October of the senior year to start your preparation.
Tip #1 Keep good records of your student's accomplishments.
Keep all syllabuses from any dual enrollment or outside classes. If your student takes online classes or is working independently, be sure to screen shot or print out the curriculum so you can show exactly which topics the classes covered. Colleges sometimes ask for these. Keep a portfolio of work. A log of daily activities can help if you need a memory booster. If using a text book, keep a record of the publication info and copy the table of contents/list of topics. Start this as early as possible in your child's high school career. Paperwork has a way of disappearing off websites, so get hard copies and put them in a safe place or portfolio.
Get copies of official transcripts from college level classes or high schools. If your student took standardized testing, add those scores to the high school transcript.
Tip #2 Make an "official" transcript of grades and classes.
There are many formats available. Look them over and decide what you like. Start the official homeschool transcript at the beginning of the student's high school career. Make it look professional and leave some room for standardized test grades and a brief grading policy explanation, especially if you use ungraded courses.
If you start this early, you can just add your homeschooler's grades as they work their way through high school. Having grades already sorted also makes it easier to adapt the format if you (or the student) want to change things around.
Tip # 3 Research the colleges and their requirements. What is demonstrated interest?
Start checking out the colleges. Find out what their requirements are for homeschooled students. Most colleges will have a special section for homeschoolers that you need to find and follow. Make a check list or spread sheet of extra requirements. If your student loves that college but you can't fulfill its homeschooler requirements, call the college admissions office up and talk to them. Some schools are very flexible and understanding.
Colleges want to see demonstrated interest. Your student should sign up for an account on their admissions website. Encourage your child to go for interviews, check into the account from time to time, sit in on webinars and show that they want to go there. If your child goes for an in-person tour, check in with the admissions office so they know you dropped by. Call up and speak to an admissions counselor directly. Colleges check on this during the application process and it can make a big difference. Demonstrated interest lets the college know that the student exists and is very invested in the school.
Start early -- don't wait til November when your student should be already writing the essay.
Not all colleges use the Common App, so definitely find out what the admissions process entails at your child's prospective schools. Again, it never hurts to call and talk to the Admissions office directly. (more demonstrated interest!)
Tip #4 Find good recommenders. The more the better! (as long as they don't repeat the same things)
If your homeschooler is taking college classes or dual enrollment, they should get to know the professors. College professors are exactly the people your child will want to ask to write their letters of recommendation. They can show that your student is capable of work at a college level. If your child is doing extracurricular activities, they can ask coaches, supervisors or mentors to write letters.
The student wants to show a broad range of abilities, interests and passions, so don't ask two literature professors to write because they will say basically the same thing. Instead, ask a lit professor and a science professor (or math or language) as well as your robotics coach and/or your scout master to write. (Other options could be the child's employers, athletics coach, or students your child tutored or parents of teams your child may have coached.) As a homeschooler, letters of recommendation are one of the best ways to stand out to a college.
Ask in the spring of junior year, so recommenders have time over the summer to think and write. If the teacher/coach/mentor seems dubious about being asked, then consider asking some one else.
It is also makes the recommender's job easier if the student gives them a "resume" of some details of the child's achievements, grades or extenuating circumstances so they have material to write about.
Don't forget to send thank you notes.
If the college does not use the Common App, then the student may need to supply pre-addressed stamped envelopes for the recommender to mail the letters directly to the college. Some colleges accept emails from recommenders.
Double check each college's requirements for letters of recommendation
If using the Common App, the child needs to invite their recommenders by sending a link via the Common App. The letters are submitted using the Common App website. Recommenders will need to create their own accounts on Common App.
Tip #5 Part 1: Student signs up for the Common Application.
The Common Application helps connect member colleges (over 900) to prospective students. Students start here: https://www.commonapp.org/apply
Spend some time looking over the Common App's website. They ask for a lot of information. Don't try to do this the night before the deadline. Sign up as early as possible to give you and your homeschooler as much time as you need (usually the Common App opens in August for the following year).
There is a practice format for parents to understand what their child's side of the application will look like. This is different from what you will need to do as the "guidance counselor/educational facilitator". The practice account can be found on the student page of the Common App. You can have 2 accounts: a "practice account" and an actual account as a recommender. (It can be helpful to use different emails to tell them apart)
Part 2: Then the student invites parent to sign up as the School Guidance Counselor.
Once the student signs up, they must invite their parent to join as their school guidance counselor. This is different from the "independent advisor" who cannot submit materials on behalf of the student. The process can be a bit confusing since most of the questions are aimed at school-based college guidance counselors. You can look up your questions on line or even call the help line. Be sure to make this crucial account as a "recommender" (not as a student or parent)
Parents as guidance counselor start here: https://www.commonapp.org/counselors-and-recommenders
There is a special section for homeschoolers. As the guidance counselor/parent, you will need to describe your family's approach to homeschool, talk about the area you live in, and specifically describe how your the student is homeschooled. If you have other children, save this info, because you can reuse it the next time you have to fill in the Common App.
There are many additional resources on the Common App's website. Be sure to look it over thoroughly if you are using it.
The Common App will ask for
your grading policy
descriptions of outside course work
description of your homeschool philosophy or helpful information about your child's homeschooling experience for college admissions officials
Other standardized tests
How you determine credits and GPA (there are many websites that can help guide you through this.)
Awards/special achievements your child may have received
Important note: not all colleges use the Common App so be sure to double check your child's colleges.
For more information...
https://homeschoolsuccess.com/common-application-tips/
https://homeschoolsuccess.com/calculating-homeschool-credits/
https://www.homehighschoolhelp.com/one-common-application
Tip #6 Parent writes the letter of recommendation as the guidance counselor.
If your child received letters of recommendation in the past (perhaps as part of job search or an award process) pull them out and quote from them. You can use them as part of your letter as the guidance counselor.
Keep track of nice things people have told you about your child and specific examples that highlight the points you wish to make. Ask friends/tutors/coaches for anecdotes. Use a diary or daily log book to write these down and keep track of them over the years. Focus on positive aspects of your child's character and why this particular homeschooled student would be a positive influence on each college's campus. Now is the time to explain any extraordinary circumstances that might affect your child's application such as illness, disabilities or other and show how your child has overcome them.
Colleges have a lot of candidates to wade through. You want your child to stand out in the best positive way.
This essay should be well written, with perfect grammar and no more than 2 pages. It should focus only on what the child has accomplished, not on what they might not have done. Be honest about your child's abilities.
Be sure to state exactly who is writing this letter (the parent) and in what capacity (as high school guidance counselor). This letter needs to be as professional as possible because a lot is riding on it. You should not be afraid to ask for outside help and editing.
https://mitadmissions.org/apply/parents-educators/writingrecs/
Tip #7 Meanwhile... the Student is Writing the College application Essay.
The Common App will have several essay prompts to choose from. Your child should pick the one that speaks to them the most and get going. It can be helpful to write for your student to write several different versions of the same essay if possible. Then they can choose the version they like best. This is your student's chance to shine! Colleges want to hear the student's voice, so be authentic. Humor and details are encouraged.
Your student will want to use their life experience to tell the college who they are and how they will add something unique to their chosen college's campus. Remind them to be specific: give examples that illustrate a surprising angle that makes this homeschooler one of a kind. Be personal, be positive, be focused. Get a parent, trusted adult or advisor to go over the essay with the student, but be careful not to edit out what makes each essay speak for the student.
Again, if your college does not use the Common App, your child must follow the college's specific requirements. Check directly with the college's website for details.
https://www.homeschool.com/articles/how-to-write-college-essays/
Tip #8 Financial Aid
The FAFSA opens in October to apply for federal need based financial aid at most schools. If you have all the information, it only takes an hour to fill out.
Some schools additionally require the CSS form. The CSS is available through the College Board website. The CSS asks a lot more about the family's finances, and may include such things as how many cars you own, how much money the parent pays into their IRA and what medical expenses you have. (The good news, colleges that ask for the CSS often have very good financial aid packages.) REMEMBER TO check your colleges' requirements.
Begin applying for outside scholarship money as well. Scholarships should NEVER cost you money. That is the sign of a scam.