Many homeschoolers worry about college. "How will my child get into college without a diploma? Without transcripts? Can I make transcripts? Can I download a diploma?" But none if this is necessary. Between equivalence tests, SAT and ACT scores and portfolios of real-life experiences, teens can choose to start at a community college or major University, and outshine any classroom learner.
College Admission Without High School Transcripts
The makers of Homeschool Record-Keeping software programs have made a case for transcripts, teaching homeschooling families how to turn their real-life experiences into an orderly spreadsheet of credit hours. Combined with test scores, this allows admissions officers to evaluate homeschoolers using the same tools that public schooled kids are analyzed with.
However, since so many homeschooling families stumble into the college world without pretty transcripts and shiny gold seals on their records, there must be another way. In fact, there are several other ways for homeschoolers to get into college, and to graduate.
Portfolio of Experiences for College Admission
Creating a portfolio that highlights the experiences a teen has had during their high school years can show that they've met the learning requirements. Instead of showing 2 years of High School Spanish, they may tell the story of a volunteer vacation, three month trip to Brazil to build a school, then volunteering in the school to teach students English.
In fact, the technique of creating a portfolio that sums up a child's learning experiences, whether from trave, independent research, internships, job shadowing and other real life experiences is something that unschoolers and homeschoolers have used to gain admission to major Universities and community colleges, without a high school diploma or transcripts can be used by anyone.
Blake Boles authored a book called College Without High School [New Society Publishers, 2009] which helps guide students and their families through dropping out of high school and into life, creating an enviroment that stimulates their passions and busies teens with activities that further their education, preparing them for college life.
Using Tests to Zip Through College Courses and Skip Prerequisites
With so many adults heading back to college, Experiential learning credits have become more and more popular. Colleges are offering college credits for experiences equivalent to the course's content, or based upon tests. One way to look at it is that if you can pass the final exam, you don't have to take the class.
Tests like the CLEP and DANTE examinations have been used for several years, by servicemen and others, to fast-track through a college education, without even taking the classes. Self-studying for these courses is one way that homeschoolers, unschoolers and even adults can get through college faster and cheaper. As of January 2010, the cost of the CLEP exam is $72, a small fraction of the cost of one college course, plus books. Self-studying is made easier by downloading study guides from College Board.
There's an underlying, unfounded fear that homeschooling families must force their teens through rigorous academic exercises in order to prepare for college, but it's simply not true. Whether the solution lies with beginning at a community college, or following their passions through real life learning experiences, or studying to get through equivalence tests, students and parents don't need to stress about college requirements.
Lisa Russell - Lisa Russell is a freelance writer and mom of six daughters. She blogs about their life at lisarussell.org
