Admissions Essentials for Homeschoolers
When applying to college as a homeschooler, three key documents are essential: the homeschool portfolio, school profile, and transcript. These documents tell the story of your teen’s education and showcase their readiness for higher learning.
The Homeschool Portfolio
Think of the homeschool portfolio as a scrapbook of your teen’s high school journey. It should include:
Course Descriptions: Details of the courses taken, their length, and the resources used.
Achievements: Highlights of awards, recognitions, special projects, or milestones.
Samples: Include examples of exceptional work or creative projects.
Because the homeschool portfolio takes time to compile, you'll want to begin as soon as your homeschooled child begins their high school years and update it annually. This will make for a smoother, stress-free timeline.
The Homeschool Profile
The school profile provides an overview of your homeschool. It tells admissions officers about your homeschool’s structure and credibility, giving them context for your teen’s transcript. The profile includes:
Learning Partners: Institutions your teen has studied under, cooperatives, or private tutors can be highlighted in this section. Provide bios of each institution or tutor.
History & Philosophy: Why and how you homeschool.
Grading Policies: Describe how grades are assigned, credits calculated, and course weighting.
Extracurriculars: Highlight clubs, sports, volunteer work, internships and hobbies.
Curriculum & Resources: Detail the teaching tools and methods used.
The Homeschool Transcript
The transcript is the most critical document the colleges will review. It outlines the specific courses your child took each year and the grades and credits they received. Here are a few tips for helping your child's transcript stand out:
Organize by Subject Rather than by Year: Rather than listing courses by year, categorize them (e.g., Math, Science, Language Arts, Religion, Humanities, etc). If your child has taken unique courses such as Passion Projects, this is a great way to help that subject stand out.
Use Creative Titles: A course titled “Creative Problem Solving through Robotics” is more engaging than “Robotics 101.” Admissions teams will be happy to see a unique transcript amongst the thousands of cookie-cutter transcripts that undoubtedly everyone will have.
Calculate GPA: Use Excel or Google Sheets which have formulas, to ensure accuracy. Make sure you find someone good at math who can help make sure your formulas and calculations are correct and that everything adds up before submitting. Note: Once a transcript is submitted through the common app, it can not be undone! No second chances here, so make sure to get it right the first time.
For more details, click here to read our past article on Preparing Your Homeschool Transcript.
Once your core documents for your homeschool are complete, your next essential step will be to start submitting your college applications through the Common App.
Completing the Common Application
The Common App allows you and your teen to upload homeschool documents directly. Create an account early, and dedicate time to answering both general and college-specific questions.
1. For Students
Your teen will create a Common App student account to begin answering general questions and adding their colleges of interest. Each school may require additional information, including essays or supplemental questions. Supplemental essays should be approached thoughtfully, as they can provide a unique voice to your teen’s application.
Once you have submitted your college applications don't forget to pay close attention to deadlines for additional forms such as the:
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service Profile)
SRAR (Self-Reported Academic Record)
2. For Parents
As the parent, you will create a Common App counselor account to upload the portfolio, school profile, and transcript. This account is also where you submit a recommendation letter highlighting your teen’s homeschool journey, unique experiences, and qualities that make them a strong college candidate.
You can use the following link for a step-by-step guide on how to complete this process: How to Navigate the Common App as a Homeschool Parent | Fearless Homeschoolers
The Personal Essay
The personal essay is a vital part of the college application process. Encourage your teen to choose one of the six Common App prompts and start drafting as early as junior year. Strong essays have:
A unique, personal story that reflects their character.
Honest reflections on their growth and experiences.
A clear structure with a beginning, middle, and end.
Avoid common pitfalls in the personal essay such as controversial topics, clichéd themes, or excessive personal details. Proofread carefully, and have multiple people review the essay to ensure it is polished and professional.
Take Advantage of Application Waivers
Once you create a Common App account, you’ll start receiving mailers from colleges.
Some of these include free application codes and waivers—don’t toss them! Each college application will run you anywhere from $65- 95 dollars so these fee waiver codes can be a great way to save money.
These mailers may also contain information about scholarships or programs tailored to your teen’s interests. Many colleges review an applicant's profile in advance, if the college feels they are a great potential candidate they may contact you with incentives to apply to their school.
Navigating these steps for college admissions requires patience and attention to detail, but they are essential for showcasing your teen’s hard work and individuality. With the right preparation, your homeschooled student will be well on their way to a bright college future.