How to Apply to College As a Homeschooled Student

If you’re a homeschooled student, you already know that you are having a unique academic experience compared to that of traditional high school students. But what about when it’s time to apply to college? In this blog post, we’ll break down the different ways you can go through the college application process if you’re homeschooled.

Introduction

Homeschooling has become an increasingly popular option for students and their families over the past few years, especially in the wake of the pandemic and improved accessibility for remote learning. In the U.S., about 3.7 million students are being educated at home, according to a study by the National Home Education Research Institute. This is a 12% increase from 2019, with parents citing a variety of reasons, from cost to religious and political beliefs to safety concerns.

That means that a decently sized group of students eventually apply to college as homeschooled students. Without the resources of a traditional school, such as college counselors and teachers to write letters of recommendation, the college admissions process looks slightly different from your average high schooler experiences. However, the general principles of the process remain the same, and there are different avenues to arrive at the same result. 

In this blog post, we’ll break down how most homeschooled students and families go about applying to college and the different things to keep in mind when preparing for the application process, even from the beginning of freshman year. 

Understanding College Admissions for Homeschooled Students

When college admissions officers review a student’s application materials, they are also supplied with the context of that student’s school to evaluate the application fairly. For instance, they might be able to see what kinds of classes are available to all students and the general level of college readiness graduates of this particular school might have. 

With homeschooling, that context varies from student to student and isn’t always readily available, so schools handle this issue differently. Some schools may require a decent amount of supplemental information about the curriculum and types of instruction, while others are more lenient with the amount of info they require. So while you’re creating a college list, make sure you’re fully aware of the homeschool requirements you’ll need to fulfill when submitting your application documents.

It’s also important to note that being a homeschooled student should not count against you in the admissions review process — in fact, it may actually help you stand out. If you’re able to demonstrate a certain level of independence and readiness for a challenging academic environment, you’re the ideal college candidate. And with less time spent in the classroom, you’re able to spend more time on extracurricular activities that matter to you and could significantly improve your application as a result. 

Creating a Homeschool Transcript

Your school transcripts are, obviously, a major part of your college application, but unlike at a traditional school, there are no standardized transcripts that are automatically generated and sent out via a college admissions counselor. Instead, your parent or primary teacher is responsible for creating and sending out your official transcript to the schools to which you’re applying. 

There are a few ways your parent or teacher can go about creating a transcript. If you’re part of a homeschool group or are working under an umbrella school, these organizations can sometimes produce and distribute official transcripts and diplomas. This can also provide a facet of standardization that allows your application to be assessed against your peers. Alternatively, homeschool teachers can create transcripts on their own, either using a template or employing a paid service to create a professional transcript. 

If you opt to create your own transcript, it should include:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Home address
• Parent/guardian name(s)
• Expected graduation date
• Name of homeschool (if applicable)
• Address (if different from home address)
• Contact information (email, phone number)
• Parent/teacher signature and certification statement (i.e. “I certify that this transcript is accurate and complete.”)
• Courses
  • Organized by grade level (9th-12th)
  • Course titles (should be as descriptive as possible, e.g., “Biology with Lab” instead of just “Science”)
  • Credits earned per course (typically 1 credit for a full-year course, 0.5 for a semester)
  • The institution that administered the class (i.e. online, homeschool)
    • If a student took dual enrollment classes, those transcripts should be sent by the school directly, but outside classes should also be included on the main transcript.
• Grades
  • Grades received in each course
  • Explanation of the grading scale used (e.g., A = 90-100, B = 80-89, etc.)
  • Cumulative GPA (weighted and/or unweighted)

Meeting College Requirements as a Homeschooled Student

When applying to college as a homeschooled student, especially if you’re applying for financial aid (see below for more info about this specifically), it’s important to declare that your education meets your state’s requirements, but you don’t need to get a GED or even a school diploma to apply to college. Admissions officers will focus more on transcripts and standardized test scores anyway, so if those benchmarks are met, you should be good to go, generally speaking. 

However, colleges can have their own requirements for homeschooled applicants, such as the completion of certain courses (this might vary depending on the student’s intended major or program) or other “outside evidence” of college readiness. This can include dual enrollment courses at a community college, a letter from a tutor or mentor, or outside work and projects that the student initiates themselves (i.e. publishing creative work or winning an academic competition). It’s important to keep this possible requirement in mind early in a student’s college application journey as it can be difficult to acquire this evidence in a pinch.

Standardized Testing: SAT, ACT, and Other Exams

Standardized testing becomes more important in the case of a homeschooled college applicant since it provides a benchmark for comparing a student’s academic performance to other applicants. Because of that, it’s advisable to start any standardized test prep as early as possible to maximize the potential for a high score.

 Whether or not a student takes the ACT or SAT can be a matter of preference; the Classic Learning Test (CLT) is an increasingly popular option. Whichever test you choose, just make sure that your school of choice will accept the score. Even as schools go increasingly test-optional, it is crucial for homeschool students to plan for standardized testing well ahead of application deadlines. 

Letters of Recommendation for Homeschooled Students

Letters of recommendation are another area where the college application process differs significantly for homeschooled and traditional students. While traditional students would get their guidance counselor and several teachers to write their recommendation letters, homeschooled students have to get more creative.

The usual counselor letter will be written by the parent or teacher. This is when it becomes crucial for students to have had outside extracurricular activities throughout high school since a mentor or coach is an excellent option for a rec letter. If a student has taken a class at a community college or similar institution, that teacher might also be a good option. Or if you’ve participated in a homeschool co-op, the co-op director might be a good option.

Above all else, choose recommenders who speak to your academic prowess and extracurricular abilities. These comments from recommenders can become critically important for the admissions team to get a better idea of who the student is, both in and out of the classroom. If you’d like to learn more about the role of letters of recommendation in the college admissions process, check out this blog post. 

Writing a Strong College Application Essay

Your college essay — more specifically, your personal statement — is a great opportunity to showcase your unique voice and story to your college admission rep, and this is no different for homeschool applicants. In fact, your essay can add even more context about your unique educational background and potential contributions to the school in question.

College admissions offices are always looking to create a diverse incoming class, and every homeschooled student’s experiences with homeschooling can set them apart from traditional students. That’s why it’s important to make the most of the advantages that homeschooling provides, like more time for pursuing interesting extracurricular activities, exploring a variety of academic subjects, and creating passion projects from the ground up. Then, when it comes time to write your college essay, you can expand upon how these experiences have shaped you, proving that you’d contribute a unique perspective to the school’s student body. 

Make sure you plan your essay ahead of time and seek advice and revisions from a trusted mentor, tutor, or college admissions consultant. If you’re looking for a college admissions consulting firm, H&C Education offers extensive, one-on-one application work with our Ivy League grad consultants — schedule a free consultation today.

Demonstrating Extracurricular Involvement and Social Engagement

As mentioned above, you will need to detail the activities you’ve done outside of your homeschool classes, such as sports, artistic and creative endeavors, debate, summer programs, and more. If you’re using the Common App, you’ll be filling out your Activities List like every other applicant, which allows you to detail your top ten extracurricular activities. If you’d like more info specifically about filling out your Activities List, check out this blog post.

Just because you don’t have access to traditional school clubs and teams does not mean you have to forgo extracurriculars by any means — you just might have to get a little more creative. If you want to play sports, look for a local club or YMCA. If you’re interested in performing, find auditions at your local community theaters. If you’re interested in science and/or research, look for local internships or summer research programs. These experiences will be incredibly valuable, not only in your eventual college applications but also in shaping your perspective and interests. 

The College Application Process: Step-by-Step Guide

1. Research & Create a College List: Identify schools that fit your goals and check if they have specific homeschool requirements. Categorize schools as safety, match, or reach, and note application deadlines.

2. Develop Your Transcript & Academic Records: Create a professional transcript detailing courses, grades (including the grading scale and GPA), and credits. Include course descriptions, textbooks used, and any outside coursework like dual enrollment (and/or submit separate transcripts from these schools if necessary). Some colleges may ask for a homeschool School Profile explaining your curriculum in more depth.

3. Prepare for Standardized Tests: Check if your target colleges require the SAT or ACT. Consider taking AP, CLEP, or dual enrollment courses to strengthen your academic record.

4. Request Letters of Recommendation: Since you may not have traditional teachers, ask a professor, mentor, tutor, or extracurricular leader who knows you well. Provide them with enough time (ideally six weeks or so) before the deadline.

5. Write Your College Essays: Craft a compelling personal statement that highlights your homeschool experience, independence, and unique learning journey, and customize your supplemental essays for each school with specific details.

6. Apply for Financial Aid & Scholarships: Submit the FAFSA starting October 1 and complete the CSS Profile if required. You can also search for merit-based and homeschool-specific scholarships.

Then, you’re ready to submit! And once you’ve submitted:

7. Prepare for Interviews: Some colleges require or highly recommend interviews for homeschoolers — be ready to discuss your education, interests, and goals.

Finally, you’ll receive your college admissions decisions and decide where you’d like to spend the next four years (or plan a gap year, if that’s more your style).

Financial Aid and Scholarships for Homeschooled Students

Like traditional high school students, homeschooled students are eligible for financial aid. The first step would be filling out the FAFSA for federal student aid (indicating “homeschooled” as their high school completion status instead of indicating that they’ve received a high school diploma) and the CSS profile. If you’re applying for financial aid from a private college or university, they should be able to use the information on your FAFSA to determine your eligibility as well.

It’s also important to look for scholarships tailored specifically to homeschooled students. Some individual universities offer homeschool-specific scholarships, and homeschooled students are eligible for National Merit Scholarships if they score high enough on their PSAT. They can also utilize the QuestBridge program if they come from a low-income background, which will match them up to their best-fit school and fund their education. You could also apply for homeschool-specific grants and scholarships, like those offered by HSLDA, or find scholarship programs run by private organizations that fit the student’s academic qualifications. 

What to Expect in College as a Former Homeschooled Student

College allows all students to broaden their academic and social horizons, but this is especially true for former homeschooled students. While many home school students develop better independent learning strategies in high school as a result of not being part of a classroom environment, they don’t have much exposure to a more varied social environment, especially like the one that college provides. It can be exciting to encounter students from all walks of life and find a kind of community that you might’ve lacked in previous academic experiences.

However, it can also be overwhelming for former homeschooled students to adjust to the fast-paced lifestyle of a college student. Their peers may have had more formalized college preparation and be accustomed to classroom etiquette while homeschooled students struggle to juggle various commitments, complicated college coursework, and extracurricular demands on a daily basis. That’s why it’s important to seek help from advisors and tutors in college as early as necessary to avoid any bumps in the road — college is an adjustment for all students. Still, you want to give yourself the strongest possibility of success!

Conclusion

In summary, applying to college as a homeschooled student isn’t radically different from the process of applying as a traditional student, but it’s important to keep in mind the different requirements and the need to maintain homeschool records throughout all four years. Preparing for the process as early as possible will help eliminate stress in an already stressful time, ensuring that you’re able to flourish and reach your college admissions goals.

Are you a homeschooled student who’s looking for a college admission counselor? Reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation!