“HELP! We’re looking at the college application process as a homeschool student/family, and we’re wondering how we will ever pull this off…”

 

Fear not!  Help is available – much of it free – from Oak Meadow and from other places, as well.  While applying can feel intimidating and grueling at times, the task of gathering information and making a ‘what’s next’ decision is a moment to celebrate your student as an individual and launch them into the next phase of their life. It’s exciting!

If you are a homeschooler who is seeking a college experience, here are some tips:

1. The college search process is about FIT. Who are you as a student, and what is important to you? What setting would provide the appropriate mixture of comfort and challenge, academic and non-academic options, and so on? A good college search involves a lot of self-awareness and prioritizing; first look inside, and then research programs to best accommodate your identified needs.
2. Isolate what’s most important to you, the student. There are myriad features to consider. Look at the content of the academic programs and other options, the campus climate, the sense of community and connection, and so on. For one student, a large international population will be essential; for another, a hands-on engineering program; for another, proximity to home or perhaps a city; for another, the ability to make one’s own decisions about curriculum. Figure out what’s important to you, and go after it!
3. Plan ahead. As a homeschooler, you must assume responsibility for the comprehensive documentation of the student’s work over 4 years. In addition, you’ll need to check out high school course selections (e.g. how many years of science do you need?  Foreign language?), as well as ways of ‘norming’ the student’s academic potential (standardized tests may not be required, but taking AP and/or college level courses can help admissions evaluate you against a larger population).
4. Research. Explore what’s out there, using unbiased search engines, such as those at College Board, ACT, or the Common Data Set.  Track what looks interesting or promising, then delve into multiple sources of primary and secondary information about schools and programs. Familiarize yourself with the structure of colleges, the steps to the application process, and the characteristics of places that ‘feel right’ and those that don’t.
5. Strategize. If you do this research thoroughly, you’ll be able to make strategic decisions, such as whether to apply early to a school, whether to apply to a selective major or just seek entry to the school, or whether there’s any possibility you might be able to afford to attend a school with a scary price tag. It’s an iterative process of ruling options in and ruling them out, and it’s best to keep opportunities open for as long as you can.
6. As a homeschooler (a student who won’t earn an accredited diploma), you bear a certain burden of responsibility. Don’t assume that admissions people understand homeschooling or the choices you’ve made. You need to educate them! Provide ample documentation (e.g., syllabi, reading lists, and project descriptions). If offered an interview, DO IT and be prepared with an ‘elevator speech’ about your educational choices and why you are primed and ready for college. You WILL stand out as a student who is accustomed to making choices and pursuing them . . . but you need to paint the picture for the admissions office.
7. Don’t succumb to sticker-shock. College educations are expensive—startlingly so. But don’t dismiss a school you love because of the price tag. Dig deeper. Look at the average cost of attendance (‘tuition discounting’ often brings down the cost of attendance, even for students who don’t qualify for need-based financial aid) and put yourself out there. Be realistic and apply for schools you know you can afford, but if you’re excited about a costly school, give it a whirl.
8. Recognize the value of a thorough college search process. Accept the challenge to look closely at yourself and what you want next; savor and share your high school successes; and position yourself to be a motivated, curious and eager college student. Keep looking until you find that college that will serve you best.

Oak Meadow can help!  Make use of our resources

• FREE College Counseling Webinar series (full series offered both fall and winter)\
  • Looking Ahead to College Admissions
  • Developing Your List
  • Going Deeper – Learning More & Making a Connection
  • Applying
  • *****Especially for Homeschoolers (if you will not be receiving an accredited diploma)
  • Writing Your Essay
  • Paying for College
  • Taking a Gap
• FREE Homeschool Transcript Template – instructions on how to create an official transcript, a sample transcript, plus a downloadable template to get you started.
• 1:1 college counseling, available for purchase  through our Bookstore.  Email or meet with KD Maynard to discuss the college search process; applying; creating a homeschool transcript, profile, and counselor letter; application essays and other writing; interviews; etc.

About the Author, KD Maynard: KD Maynard’s professional experience has revolved around assisting high school and early college students to find a fit in their choice of college and academic program, thereby enabling them to engage fully and to successfully meet their goals. She has held roles in college admissions, college counseling and financial aid, academic advising, teacher training and curriculum development, and various administrative/leadership positions. She has worked at Brown University, World Learning, Marlboro College, The Putney School, Community College of Vermont, and University of Massachusetts Amherst, as well as extended work on NSF and Gates foundation grants. KD’s liberal arts background (AB from Brown and MALS from Dartmouth) provides her with a worldview that seeks to make connections between and among people, ideas, and a sense of a greater good.