In This Chapter
Defining graduation
Granting a diploma
Preparing for college
Off to work!
Uncle Sam wants you!
Technical training and apprenticeships
Simple starting points
Resources
In This Chapter
Defining graduation
Granting a diploma
Preparing for college
Off to work!
Uncle Sam wants you!
Technical training and apprenticeships
Simple starting points
Resources
THE TEEN YEARS seem to fly by quickly for homeschooling parents. One minute we watch our early- and middle-years children climbing trees, building forts, and exploring pond life. The next day, we turn around and find them almost grown, looking at colleges, careers, and other adult opportunities. As we approach this next phase in our journey, we realize that we have done more than choose an educational option. We have created a lifestyle of learning for both our children and ourselves.
Our learning lifestyle continues as our nearly grown teens explore the paths that will lead them into adult life. As home educators, we have had time to know our children well. We know their strengths, their goals, and their dreams. We consider their assets as we help them make decisions about their lives after homeschooling.
Homeschoolers’ college and career options differ little from those of teenagers who attend the local public high school. Like their schooled peers, some homeschoolers enter the workplace, some seek vocational or technical training, and others begin college. In addition to these traditional paths, today’s young people have a growing variety of new options. The number of distance-learning, internship, and apprenticeship programs increase every year. The resource section of your local public library provides excellent references to explore schools and programs that might suit your teen.
Although opportunities for our children are nearly limitless, homeschoolers do have some unique situations to deal with. Our society and institutions are set up with traditional schooling in mind. While colleges and universities generally view home education favorably, we need to consider problems that homeschooled teens may encounter in the greater community.
PICTURE A FAMILY on a long automobile trip. Mom and Dad sit in the front seat with their youngest, a four-year-old son. Two older children, sharing the backseat, occupy themselves with reading and games. The youngest fidgets. Every ten minutes, he asks, “Are we there yet?” He focuses entirely on the destination.
Parents homeschooling teenagers also focus on the end of the journey. And, although they know their children will graduate at age seventeen or eighteen, they are often unsure how to define graduation. Unlike the front-seat traveler above, parents frequently ask, “How will we know when we’re done?”
Public schools make it simple. Complete X number of units over four years with passing grades, and you get a diploma. (For discussion purposes, one unit equals one credit which equals a one-year high school course. Two high school credits equal one college credit.) Some home educators copy the traditional high school format. Leanne says her teenagers will graduate when they complete 22 credits in the usual high school subjects, as well as a few credits in subjects specific to their interests. Deanna, homeschooling in Japan, writes, “We joined Clonlara [an independent-study school]. Their requirements are four units of English, ½ unit of speech, two units of math, one unit of U.S. history, ½ unit of American government, ½ unit of geography, three units of science, one unit of PE, and nine electives for a total of 22 units.”
As a home educator, you can rely on similar external criteria to decide when your teenagers have completed high school. If your children enroll in an independent-study school, they will, of course, meet the requirements of that program. Alternatively, you can adopt the graduation requirements of any high school, local or not.
Some families rely on testing to tell them when their teens have reached the destination. All states offer some form of the GED (tests of General Educational Development). The GED is not difficult. Most thirteen- to fourteen-year-old homeschoolers breeze through it. A few states, like California and Pennsylvania, offer more difficult high-school-equivalency diploma tests. Query your state homeschooling organizations about high school equivalency exams if working to pass a test interests you and your teenager.
You need not rely on typical high school requirements or test scores.
You need not rely on typical high school requirements or test scores. There are alternatives. They all begin with the radical idea that homeschooling families, not an outside institution or agency, determine when their teenagers are done. Donna explains that she will grant a diploma when both she and her son feel that he has progressed sufficiently and achieved enough to earn one. She frankly says, “It is completely subjective.”
Some families consider their children graduated when they meet requirements for college admissions. Other families base completion on age. When their teens reach sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen, they call it quits. One of the most interesting approaches I have heard to date comes from a homeschooling mother who told her teens that they will graduate when they have a self-supporting skill. Her oldest daughter became a piano tuner to work her way through college. Her son built a Web-page design business.
Still other parents envision a natural, unforced progression. Kay explains, “We are not planning on a graduation from homeschool, but a gradual transition into college instead. As our son reaches a certain level in each subject, he will continue that subject in college, until he is a full-time college student. After that, he can transfer to the college of his choice.”
DO HOMESCHOOLERS NEED a high school diploma? The answer is, “Sometimes.” Do they need a diploma from an accredited school? The experience of thousands of families indicates that that answer is, “Almost never.” Every homeschooler can have a document verifying graduation from high school because—as the principals and administrators of small private schools—all homeschool parents can create their own diplomas.
HOW WE DID IT
Our homeschool group made a diploma patterned after the public school. It acknowledges that [the teenagers] have finished the requirements of the parents, then our pastor and homeschool coordinator sign it along with the parents. It is more for the child to have than for schools or anyone else.
—LISA IN FLORIDA
Homeschoolers earn diplomas several ways. Some test out, earning an equivalent diploma by passing the GED or a state test like the California High School Proficiency Exam. Although a few people connect the GED to high school dropouts, others realize that many high school graduates could not score well on this comprehensive test.
HOW WE DID IT
I began fretting about the diploma issue when my daughter turned thirteen. We had always homeschooled and didn’t feel like we wanted an independent-study program. But I feared the day would come when my daughter might want one, so it was important to me. What a surprise when I read that there was nothing in our law that said I couldn’t issue my own! Even more of a surprise was a comment from my mother, a schoolteacher for over thirty years. She volunteered to help design the diploma! All three of us, grandmother, mother, and graduate, had a wonderful time creating a personalized diploma.
—NANCY IN WASHINGTON STATE
Grant, a homeschooling father in Oklahoma, holds a position that requires him to interview many young people every year. He sees the GED in a different light and writes, “I cannot tell you how many people with high school diplomas I have interviewed who have a difficult time reading a job application. A diploma means only that the person sat in a classroom for a certain number of hours. On the other hand, a GED tells me that the person can read and write and that he has basic skills and knowledge. Personally, I do not depend on any piece of paper when considering someone for a job, but I sure don’t attach a stigma to someone who comes in with a GED.”
Some homeschooled teenagers receive diplomas from umbrella schools and independent-study programs. Yet another group of families, perhaps the majority, grant their own diplomas. In our case, we fired up the word processor, designed one, and issued the diploma. Janice plans something similar, writing, “I will order a blank diploma from HSLDA, and my husband and I will sign it.” Dinah reports, “We have registered our homeschool as a private school and will grant our own diploma from Winston Christian Academy.”
If you have granted a homeschool diploma, your teenager can answer “yes” to the diploma question on most job applications.
Skeptics question whether homeschool diplomas are recognized—by colleges, employers, the military, and so on. That depends. College admissions officers rely primarily on transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation. Most never ask about diplomas because typical applicants, high school seniors, do not yet have them. Employers care mostly about experience. If you have granted a homeschool diploma, your teenager can answer “yes” to the diploma question on most job applications. Seldom does anyone ask to see the actual document. And, interestingly, employers never seem to phrase the question this way: “Do you have a diploma from an accredited high school?”
Historically, the military cares more about diplomas than either colleges or most employers. Military regulations pertaining to homeschoolers are in state of flux, with every recent change in favor of homeschoolers. Contact local recruiters for current information. If you know your son or daughter plans to enlist in the army, navy, marines, or air force, consider using an accredited diploma-granting independent-study program or making sure your teenager earns at least sixteen college credits during high school.
MANY YOUNG PEOPLE want a college education, and homeschoolers are no exception. “We have yet to come across one college that would deny admission to an otherwise-qualified young person simply because they were homeschooled,” Martha in Nebraska relates from her own experiences. Although the door is open, many colleges and universities expect homeschoolers to prove they can succeed as well as traditionally school applicants. Preparation makes the road less rocky for both teens and parents. Because colleges have individual requirements, it is impossible to provide a comprehensive guide for everyone. Instead, we will highlight common concerns.
Begin learning about college just as you learned about home education. Read, talk to experienced people, and visit colleges of interest. Many admissions officers tell us that the ninth grade year is not too early. Your teenager can contact them—either by phone or via the Internet—to obtain initial information and get on their mailing lists.
Look at schools of interest, and read their entrance requirements carefully. They will talk principally about courses of study, standardized test results, and letters of recommendation. They may mention a diploma or GED, but many copy Harvard’s policy, which states that a diploma is not necessary for admission. The few colleges that require diplomas accept GEDs.
Researching colleges involves assessing location, programs of interest, educational philosophy, competitiveness, cost, and other factors. Many will also want to consider alternatives such as part-time schooling, online college, and distance learning. For a detailed treatment, see the end-of-chapter Resources, and read my book, And What About College? How Homeschooling Leads to Admissions to the Best Colleges and Universities.
Homeschoolers applying to four-year colleges need to think about how to present their experiences to admissions committees. Families report success with both transcripts and portfolios. Transcripts list courses and often credits and grades. Portfolios, on the other hand, resemble scrapbooks. They include work samples, awards, photos, programs, reading lists, and so on.
If your teens enroll in independent-study high schools, these programs provide transcripts when they issue diplomas. Kate explains, “I work with my private independent-study program. I provide information, and they produce a snazzy-looking transcript.” All other homeschoolers (not associated with ISPs) write their own transcripts or compile their own portfolios.
Keep in mind, though, that all transcripts look different. No set format exists, and your homemade transcript will not stand out like a sore thumb.
Transcripts intimidate many families because they realize that colleges scrutinize them closely. Keep in mind, though, that all transcripts look different. No set format exists, and your homemade transcript will not stand out like a sore thumb. Many home educators have found that computers generate professional-looking transcripts. Or, if you prefer, several companies serving homeschoolers sell blank transcript forms. Look at your own transcripts, and ask friends if you can see theirs for ideas. Copy a format that appeals to you. Again, for more detailed assistance, including directions for computing credits, see And What About College?
Some teens look better with a portfolio than a transcript. And some colleges, especially those that based their reputations on innovative programs, prefer applicants with portfolios. When in doubt, call colleges of interest and ask. Your teen may end up submitting a transcript to one college, a portfolio to another.
Of course, you can avoid explaining or reporting your high school homeschooling to anyone, and your teenager can still attend college. Karen in Washington state explains, “My teens will be going to a junior college initially, so I haven’t worried about transcripts.” In other cases, homeschooled teens simply take classes for one to three semesters as non-degree-seeking students at colleges of their choice. This usually requires nothing more than a willingness to pay tuition. Some colleges also have minimum age requirements for non-degree students or require applicants to take placement exams. After non-degree-seekers accumulate one to three semesters of college credit, they apply for admission to degree programs, based solely on those credits.
Many families worry about college entrance examinations—the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and the test of the American College Testing Program (ACT)—and preparatory tests like the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT). Obtain registration materials for these general abilities tests from any high school counseling office or via mail or online (see Resources section for contact information). These general abilities tests help admissions officers assess applicants.
QUICK & EASY
Does your teenager test poorly? Contact FairTest, http://www.fairtest.org, for a list of colleges and universities nationwide that no longer use the SAT or ACT to make admissions decisions.
Homeschoolers seeking admission to very selective colleges like Harvard and Stanford will also take one to three SAT II Subject Tests. Subject tests assess specific areas, such as writing, biology, and American history. A few college-bound homeschoolers also take Advanced Placement (AP) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. Why bother with these extra tests? Some colleges convert good AP and CLEP scores directly into college credit.
Call colleges of interest to learn which test results they require. Then head to the library or the study guide section of a large bookstore. Various publishers market books and software for all the standardized tests. If your teenage homeschoolers have no experience taking multiple-choice tests, do help them prepare. There are many workbooks, software programs, and classes to help your teen become comfortable with the format and learn the necessary skills.
Homeschoolers apply for financial aid just like everyone else—primarily through the financial aid offices of colleges, but also through community groups. Aside from Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) awards, financial aid offices disburse most of the big money. Applicants for admission should always request scholarship forms when they get application materials. Students interested in receiving military funding in return for service should contact recruiters and colleges with ROTC programs for more information. Of course, don’t overlook community groups as a source of funding. Certainly apply for any scholarships awarded by groups with which you and your teens are associated—from employers and churches to service organizations like Rotary and Kiwanis.
If your teenage homeschoolers have no experience taking multiple-choice tests, do help them prepare.
Preparing for college is a big job no matter where our children are educated. Although homeschoolers have special circumstances, many of us have found our children better prepared than their schooled peers. Teenagers who matured in an institutionalized setting, in school, have always had someone there to tell them what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. Going to college and assuming responsibility for these things can be a big adjustment for many young people. Homeschoolers have a big advantage in this regard. Independent young adults who have taken charge of organizing their time and researching areas of interest without teacher support do well in most college settings.
PERHAPS YOUR HOMESCHOOLED graduate is ready and anxious to work. Many young adults explore job options during their teens and find exactly what they want to do, at least for the time being. Some enter satisfying and rewarding occupations without any formal training. Others find positions that offer on-the-job training, where they can learn as they work. Many homeschoolers say that entering the workforce after homeschooling seems the most natural thing in the world.
Dennis, a homeschooler, had a typical teenage gig—employment at a fast-food restaurant. He reports, “When I turned eighteen, the owner of the store where I worked offered me a management training position. My parents and I had always planned on college, but after looking at the training and experience this job offered, I decided to accept the position and delay college. After working as a store manager for two years, many career opportunities opened up. I am now assistant manager for a large supermarket, and I love what I do. I never did go to college, but I have found work I really enjoy and plan to stay with for many years to come!” We often hear snide remarks about jobs flipping burgers, but for the motivated young person, even basic jobs like this can open doors to valuable opportunities.
Many young adults explore job options during their teens and find exactly what they want to do, at least for the time being.
Some homeschoolers explore careers through volunteer positions during their teenage years. Volunteering helps young adults determine their affinity for certain occupations and working conditions. Volunteering can also provide personal references, real job skills, and important connections with people working in the field of interest.
Mary fell into her dream job. As a homeschooler, she studied and researched several hours each week at her local library. Not surprisingly, the librarian came to know her well. Mary reports, “The library was very busy one day. One of the clerks was out with the flu, and it was a school holiday. I was trying to decide if I wanted to check out a book when the librarian approached me. She told me that there were five or six youngsters in the children’s section and asked if I would help them. I had such a good time that I began volunteering two afternoons a week. I’m still at the library, but now they pay me. I get to see the new arrivals—books—before anyone else. What more could a person want in a job?”
Donna writes about her teenager’s work. “He opted out of college because he already has an experience base. If he wanted to, he could probably teach a few college courses. He will work either in the entertainment industry or with computers. He found work he loves through passion, desire, and persistence—and a bit of luck, of course!”
Carolyn’s children prefer employment to college. “Our son attended college one semester, got a 4.0, and quit to work. He decided he did not need college for his job. He is now a self-employed computer artist. Our daughter did not like college, even though she earned a 4.0 also. She quit and found employment as a full-time medical assistant. She now works in computers at another company. Her eventual goal is to go into the ministry.”
Certainly many occupations beckon capable, ambitious young people. Two titles can help your teen decide between working and college. The Question Is College by Herbert Kohl helps teenagers correlate their talents and interests with various career fields. What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles also helps young adults inventory their interests and also provides specific tips for that first full-time job search.
OF COURSE, ENLISTMENT in the army, navy, marines, or air force is not for everyone. Some young adults, however, find the training, educational, and travel opportunities irresistible. As they serve their country in uniform, they garner valuable experience along the way.
Military enlistment has been a problem for some homeschoolers because the Department of Defense uses a three-tier enlistment eligibility system. Tier I, the highest level, includes graduates of accredited high schools and those who have completed at least fifteen credit hours of college. Tier II includes correspondence school graduates, GED recipients, and homeschoolers. Tier III is reserved for high school dropouts.
Although Tier II and III individuals do enlist, Tier I people receive preference. Tier I positions comprise about 90 percent of all military positions available, leaving little for Tiers II and III. Recently, the Department of Defense has initiated a pilot program regarding homeschoolers. Each year, up to 1,250 homeschool graduates will be allowed to enlist under Tier I.
Homeschoolers can begin technical training at age fifteen or sixteen and learn a self-supporting skill before most adolescents have their high school diplomas.
If your teenager finds military enlistment appealing, do contact local recruiters. Interview more than one, if possible. Training of recruiters is uneven, and one may give you very different information than another.
MIRA IN OHIO says her homeschooler thinks ahead. “Our son plans to work as an electrician beginning at age sixteen. He figures if he starts then, he will be a journeyman at age eighteen. If he attends college for electrical engineering, he will have a good base to start with and a way to earn money working part-time while in college.”
Kate reports that her son thinks along similar lines. She writes, “He is taking a two-year networking course right now, but he still wants to go on and get a four-year degree in computer programming. He is hoping to use his networking skills to get a good-paying part-time job while in college.”
Homeschoolers have a tremendous advantage over teens who attend school full time. They can begin technical training at age fifteen or sixteen and learn a self-supporting skill before most adolescents have their high school diplomas. Still other homeschoolers wait and start technical training and apprenticeship programs after completing high school at home. Either way, homeschooling proves to be no bar to entry into most programs. In a few instances, you may have to document high school just as you would for college entrance. In most cases, however, a genuine interest and willingness to work hard will qualify your teenager for admission to programs. To research training and apprenticeship opportunities, begin with your Yellow Pages, the reference section of your library, and the Internet.
Stop, look, and listen! In order to help our teens explore their options, take every opportunity to listen to what they have to say.
Discuss how you will define graduation and grant a diploma. Are you most comfortable with a wait-and-see approach or would you and your teenager prefer working toward a series of stated goals?
Explore career options with your teenager, and then decide whether college is necessary.
Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges. Barron’s Educational Series, 2000.
Bear, John and Mariah Bear. Bear’s Guide to Earning College Degrees Nontraditionally, 13th Edition. Ten Speed Press, 1999. Also College Degrees by Mail and Modem 2000.
Bolles, Richard. What Color Is Your Parachute? Ten Speed Press, updated annually.
Buffer, Elizabeth, et al. Cracking the SAT II: English Subject Tests 1999–2000. The Princeton Review, 1999. See similar titles for other subjects.
Chany, Kalman et al. Paying for College Without Going Broke, 2000 Edition. Princeton Review, 1999.
Claman, Cathy. 10 Real SATs, edited by Cathy Claman. College Entrance Examination Board, 1997.
Cohen, Cafi. And What About College? How Homeschooling Leads to Admissions to the Best Colleges and Universities, Second Edition. Holt Associates, 2000.
Custard, Edward T. The Best 311 Colleges: 2000 Edition. Princeton Review, 1999.
Davis, Helm and Joyce Lain Kennedy. College Financial Aid for Dummies. IDG Books, 1999.
Ehrencraft, George, et al. Barron’s How to Prepare for the ACT: American College Testing Assessment Program, 10th Edition. Barron’s, 1998.
Farenga, Patrick. Teenage Homeschoolers: College Or Not? Holt Associates, 1995.
Fiske, Edward. The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2000. Times Books, 1999.
Gurvis, Sandra. The Off-the-Beaten-Path Job Book: You CAN Make a Living AND Have a Life! Citadel Press, 1995.
Kohl, Herbert. The Question Is College: On Finding and Doing Work You Love. Heinemann, 1998.
Latimer, Jon. Peterson’s Vocational and Technical Schools and Programs. Peterson’s Guides, 1997.
McKee, Alison. From Homeschool to College and Work: Turning Your Homeschooled Experiences into College and Job Portfolios. Bittersweet House, P.O. Box 5211, Madison, WI 53705, 1998.
Montross, David H. Real People, Real Jobs: Reflecting Your Interests in the World of Work. Consulting Psychologists Press, 1995.
Peterson’s Guide to Distance Learning Programs, 2000. Peterson’s Guides, 1999.
Robinson, Adam and John Katzman. Cracking the SAT and PSAT 2000 (Annual). The Princeton Review, 1999. See also the CD-ROM version.
Rockowitz, Murray, Editor. Barron’s How to Prepare for the GED: High School Equivalency Exam. Barron’s Educational Series, 1998.
Unger, Harlow G. But What If I Don’t Want to Go to College? A Guide to Success Through Alternative Education. Checkmark Books, 1998.
Wadsworth, Gordon. Debt-Free College. Financial Aid Information Services, 1999.
ACT: ACT Registration, P.O. Box 414, Iowa City, IA 52243, 319-337-1270, http://www.act.org
The Advanced Placement Program (AP), The College Board, 45 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10023, http://www.collegeboard.org
College Level Examination Program (CLEP): The Official Hand book for the CLEP Examinations published by The College Board, P.O. Box 6601, Princeton, NJ 08541, http://www.collegeboard.org
FairTest: National Center for Fair and Open Testing, 342 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617-864-4810, http://www.fairtest.org
Online Advanced Placement Courses, available to home educators nationwide from the Pennsylvania Homeschoolers’ Association, Pennsylvania Homeschoolers, RR2, Box 117, Kittanning, PA, http://www.pahomeschoolers.com/courses
PSAT: Given only in October through private and public high schools; contact a high school counselor’s office in August or early September for registration information; for general information, call 609-771-7300
SAT I and SAT II: College Board SAT, Princeton, NJ 08541, 609-771-7600, http://www.collegeboard.org
College and University Homepages, http://www.mit.edu:8001/people/cdemello/univ.html
Colleges for Homeschoolers, http://www.learninfreedom.org/colleges_4_hmsc.html
Financial Aid Information Page, http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs.cs/user/mkant/Public/FinAid/finaid.html
Princeton Review College Search & Test Information, http://www.review.com
U.S. Department of Education Student Guide, http://www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/StudentGuide
