What Documents Do Homeschooled Students Need to Apply to College?

Homeschooling continues to increase in popularity as parents and kids find it to be an effective and rewarding alternative to traditional education. But what happens when homeschooled kids apply to college? Is the process different? Are they at a disadvantage? What educational proof do students need to prove they’re ready for college rigor?

Here’s the good news: Colleges are well-versed in serving homeschooled students. Most have clear criteria of what documents they want as part of the application process. Look at the admissions website of the school your child is interested in attending for specific requirements (they’ll vary between institutions), but here are some general documents you should be prepared to show:

Standardized Tests

Some colleges and universities are moving away from standardized tests. Others have kept the SAT or ACT as a requirement for admission. If your chosen college(s) require a standardized test, your homeschooled student will need to take it. A general rule of thumb is to take it the spring of their junior year so they’ll have their scores to submit when they apply for college the fall of their senior year. If they want or need to improve their score, they can re-take the test in the fall of their senior year.

Transcripts

When a traditionally-educated student applies to college, they get their transcripts from their school authenticated by a school administrator. These transcripts include the course title, number of credits, grade, and overall GPA of all high school courses a student has taken. If you are homeschooling your student through a partnership program with your local school district, a local homeschool organization, or an online homeschool program, you may have easy access to a traditional transcript. However, if you’re managing your student’s homeschooling independently, then you (the parent) are the administrator and you will have to put together a transcript to document your child’s high school work and verify that it meets your state’s requirements. If you’re homeschooling through high school, keep detailed records of course descriptions, curriculum, content, projects, and reading lists. It’s far easier to craft a transcript when you have the information at the ready than to go back and try to dig up details about coursework your child did three years ago.

GED Test

The GED test is NOT required in most circumstances. Some homeschoolers opt to take it to demonstrate their competency in high school subjects. Check with your school of choice to verify whether or not it’s necessary for your student to take the GED, or if they’ll accept certain subject-area GED tests in lieu of coursework in a required content area (like math or science, for example).

College Coursework

It’s not uncommon for homeschooled students to take dual-credit courses through their local community college or other institution of higher learning to earn college credit while still in high school. Include these transcripts in your student’s college application. Not only does it show their area of competence, but it demonstrates their readiness for college-level coursework.

Letters of Recommendation

Many schools require letters of recommendation, and prefer that at least one is from an academic reference. This is another reason co-op courses and college coursework are great; it gives the student an external (ie, not the parent) academic reference for college and career references.

Extracurricular Activities

Colleges are looking for well-rounded students! Make sure your child shows character and/or skill excellence outside of their academic work. Whether it’s community service, musical talent, sports, robotics, or other interest group help your child find a place to thrive in connection with others around a common passion.

The Written Essay

Like many of the other requirements listed, a written essay isn’t unique to homeschool students. It’s required of ALL applicants. This essay serves a number of purposes in the application process and also demonstrates that your student has college-level writing skills. Proofreading and editing are your best friends here!

Can Homeschooled Students Qualify for Financial Aid?

A requirement of federal financial aid (loans & need-based grants offered through the standard FAFSA application) is high school completion. Homeschool students ARE eligible! When filling out the FAFSA, it will inquire about your high school completion status and ask if you have a diploma, GED, or are a homeschool student. Simply select “homeschool” and the requirement is met.