Higher Education

Worried that your children will have a hard time getting into college if you homeschool? Fear not! Homeschoolers are not only being accepted into the colleges of their choice, their acceptance rate by desirable colleges and universities exceeds that of the general public. Some universities have gone so far as to create guidelines expressly for home-educated students, helping them plan the portfolios they will submit in lieu of typical public school transcripts.

Now that we have that out of the way, what does your child delight in? What does he see himself doing for a lifetime? Haven’t given that much thought? Then you know where to start! Determine your child’s giftings. One of the best things you can do for your child is help him discover his life purpose. He has been gifted with particular skills and talents and interests. If you give him time (from the beginning of your homeschooling career) to discover these giftings, then when the time comes to choose a path, the decisions will be easier to make.

Once your child has investigated his interests and has chosen a life path, he’ll need to determine what type of training will be required for him to succeed in his area of interest. Obviously if he plans to be a lawyer or a doctor, he will need a college degree. But sending your child off to a four-year state institution shouldn’t be a forgone conclusion. Just as there are alternatives to public schools, there are also alternatives to your typical college education – apprenticing, entrepreneurship, studying and passing professional certification tests, and vocational training, among others. Should your child’s future aspirations include a college degree, there are many non-traditional options available including distance learning, and AP, CLEP and other types of college credit.

As we prepare our children for the purpose for which they will be called, we can rest easy knowing that homeschooling will in no way limit their options. If our children have been trained in a learning lifestyle, then their education will have only just begun!

Further Reading

• After High School
  “What comes next? Further academic education? Vocational training? A year of specialized study? Time off to see the world? (Wouldn’t that be nice!) Whatever your child’s next step, these resources will help you plan for it.” Resources compiled by HSLDA.
• High School
  Helps and resources for the upper grades and beyond at our DIYHomeschooler site.
• Homeschooled Students Excel in College
  An extensive report from Christopher J. Klicka, HLSDA.
• Homeschooling Through College
  Options for those looking for an alternative to the typical college option.
• Homeschoolers on to College: What Research Shows Us
  Fall 2004 article in the Journal of College Admission. “Numerous studies, employing various psychological constructs and measures, show the home-educated are developing at least as well, and often better than, those who attend institutional schools.”
• A New Season
  Thoughts from a veteran homeschool mom about higher education, having sent two off to college, and her reasons for considering different plans for her remaining children at home.  “I am no longer interested in thrusting them right back into the world’s definition of success.”
• Preparing for College
  Article by Dr. Mary Hood on skills parents and their children should develop when college is an option.