Today I've got a question on whether or not official homeschool school transcripts are necessary in order to get your kids into college.
(This was an easy post to get up today as we are saying good-bye to Ron this week, and I've been wondering about it for a while…)
This first year of homeschooling our three younger kids has gone well so far for the most part, only a few bumps here and there, and I've loved the flexibility of piecing together the curriculum for the different subjects myself, based solely on what I think would work best for us. That way if something isn't working out, or one or the other of us can't stand whatever we're doing, we just change it up and try something new.
Next year, however, we'll have one in high school, and I really don't want to screw this up.
So I've been thinking and praying a lot about how we'll need to do things as he enters 9th grade. Many people I trust and those who I've been getting most of my advice from suggest signing up for Mother of Divine Grace (I know there are a lot of options, but I'd probably do that one) so they can guide us through the whole process. The main thing, they tell me, is that they'll provide official transcripts. With these it's a breeze to get your kids into college.
But besides the expense of doing this, the thought of someone telling us what material we have to get through each week sort of makes my skin crawl, because it reminds me of the kids being back in school and our lives cram-packed with all the work the teachers assigned. Work that was a nightmare to get through because our kids move so slow some days.
On the other hand, without their guidance, it's probably pretty likely that we just won't get through all that we should.
- What's your best advice on this?
- Then I've also heard stories of Moms who keep very good records/transcripts on their own and their kids got into college just fine. But is this rare?
- Would this make it more difficult for him to get into college? He really wants to be a pilot someday, and I'm afraid I'm going to screw that up for him!
- Does what state you are in make a difference or is it the same anywhere?
- Does anyone have a high school transcript template or sample, or know where online I could find good ones?
Question/Issue #2:
I have one more question for those of you still reading…
I know that here in Michigan there are no testing requirements for homeschooled kids. (How awesome is that?!) But out of curiosity, I'd like to have them take some sort of end of year test just to see where they're at.
- How many of you do that?
- I'm wondering if there are any certain tests you think are best or are they all the same pretty much?
I know our local homeschool building offers one (not sure what it's called) for only $20/child or so, and I may do that one, but first wanted to see what you all suggest.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP AS ALWAYS!!! 🙂
karen trasler says
My Daughter is applying from the UK to study at a drama school in NY. I have made a transcript and had it signed by out local home education department. I have now been told by the college that I have to send the transcript to a professional evaluation service to have it evaluated and certified before i send it to the them. I’ve not noticed on any of the above comments that anyone has had to do this. Also, the college doesn’t require SAT’s but my daughter is sitting them in Oct/Nov so can they be added on at a later date for other Uni’s that do require them on the transcript. My daughter has taken IGCSE’s in English & Math so they will be listed and I have to send official copies of the certificates to WES, who are the evaluation service. It’s costing over $150. It states that the GPA has to be calculated by them too. The college have said it’s per US standards. Could anyone advise please? I was looking at HSLDA but is that offering the same service. Thank you and I have found the above comments very helpful considering our education is different here.
kitchenkop says
Karen, that stinks!!!
I’ll put this question on my FB page and see if we can learn anything, be sure to check back over there: https://facebook.com/kellythekitchenkop.
Kelly
karen trasler says
Thank you
Sue E. says
Forgive me if this was already addressed above as I didn’t take the time to read all the comments there. We just applied to a university and all they required for homeschooled students is a notarized transcript that has been put together by the parents. Easy!
KitchenKop says
That’s good to know Sue, thanks!
Kel
KitchenKop says
Thanks Heinrich, you’ve totally made your point, and I think we’re all going to just have to agree to disagree on this one.
Good luck with your homeschooling journey!
Kelly
Ann Marie says
I have been homeschooling for 10 years now and have had MANY friends who have graduated their children from homeschooling and had them successfully enroll in college with no problem. I personally came up with a transcript for my daughter using an Excel spreadsheet. We ordered her a nice diploma, which we signed, through the Home School Building bookstore (for those who are local to Grand Rapids). The school she attended did not even ask for her transcript, just a copy of her diploma.
Heinrich says
So you illegally forged documents?
Right. Well, I will do that too. But they will still be forged documents…
Jason says
Ultimately you are a troller or do not understand homeschooling in America. As a home school you are classified as a private school and signing the documents is legal because you are the principal, superintendent and the teacher.
Sharon Williams says
Homeschoolers can get in the military: I know several that did
https://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/Issues/M/Military_Issues.asp
Homeschoolers can get in a college with a high school transcript from that homeschool. Most colleges also require a test like SAT/ACT with a minimum required score. This is required of high school students in public school as well
This article shows they can get financial aid, get in with a homeschool diploma, etc. If you are truly looking for facts, then you can read it https://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/College_Federal_Aid2010.pdf
“Congress has revised and clarified federal law affecting homeschoolers. The U.S. Department of Education has changed its policy as well. Both point to a common principle: homeschoolers should be admitted to colleges and granted financial aid without having to take additional tests beyond what is required of traditionally schooled students. Ignoring a homeschool graduate’s diploma and requiring him to take a GED, SAT II, or ability-to-benefit test while graduates from traditional high schools are not required to do so is seen as discriminatory by Congress.
Furthermore, institutions of higher learning that receive federal aid can admit homeschool graduates, at any age, without endangering their institutional eligibility. For federal financial aid, homeschoolers need only self-certify their homeschool diplomas.”
You can take the SAT. The college board site says so: Over the age of 21
“If you will be 21 years old or older on test day, you are considered an adult test- taker, and the following restrictions apply to you:
Identification
You must present an official government-issued ID (for example, a driver’s license or passport) that has a current and recognizable photo. Expired identification is not acceptable. The name on the identification must match the name shown on your Admission Ticket.
No other form of identification will be accepted. Student ID cards are not valid forms of identification for test-takers aged 21 or older.
Waitlist status is not available for test takers 21 years old or older.”
Heinrich says
Sorry, I am not religious.
And colleges will not accept SATs or ACTs from people over 21. I have to research it, but even if it were possible to take them, no one will accept them. Or rather, I should say I have never seen a school that will.
S Williams says
you don’t have to be “religious” to be in HSLDA. It is not a requirement.
Colleges will accept your scores. Community colleges will accept people with a pulse and a GED.
Laurel David Ring via Facebook says
Our oldest son, who was home schooled through high school, was accepted to college with no problems. We kept a transcript of his schooling and submitted it to the college at the time of his application. Financial aid was available to him. No forged documents needed!
Anita Stevenson via Facebook says
This information above is not true here in AR. My homeschooled son (with a GED also) had no problem enrolling with a local college (and qualifying for federal financial aid) and we know homeschoolers enrolled in and qualifying for financial aid for many of our colleges here.
Dara Weaver via Facebook says
None of my MI home schooled siblings have had any trouble getting into college- their transcripts were all they needed…
Heinrich says
Yes, but where do they get transcripts from if they never went to an accredited primary school? I would like to know. My kids are homeschooled. I have a GED and can do NOTHING with it. And a GED is WAY more valid than a homeschool education, which gives you nothing…
Sharon Williams says
Colleges recognize transcripts from homeschool. They are valid. The school administrator(parent) creates one on their own or through one of the many websites or software available and submits it with all the other records to the college.
Heinrich says
If a college will accept a home-made, unaccredited transcript, why don’t more people just make their own documents and avoid a world of trouble? Why does the GED program even exist if it has less value than something you can make in 5 minutes at home?
I am sorry, I am not buying it. If it cannot be verified by an official record, from a clearing house, or accredited database, I do not see how it could be accepted by anyone. The whole system would unravel.
S Williams says
if you are legally homeschooling in your state, you are legally able to create a transcript as the school administrator.
Kristi Stout German via Facebook says
I agree with the other posters. Homeschool graduates are not having a hard time getting into most colleges, because they are in fact being sought out to attend their colleges. We just submitted my daughter’s transcripts today and she was promptly accepted (within hours). They already had her application and ACT scores.
Heinrich says
I call bullocks.
For one, you cannot take the ACTs when you are 40.
Secondly, how do colleges “seek out” potential students that do not meet their basic requirements?
I am homeschooling my kids. I am not a opponent. But every single person on here is like “My kid never went to school and doesn’t meet the basic requirements and colleges WANT that”.
These statements make no sense. There are a lot of stories here that would be tossing around a knitting or scrapbook get-together or whatever women do. However, they are just stories, unless substantiated. If there are so many women on here that have this magical secret on how one can get enrolled into a secondary education institution without first completing primary education, please share it with us!
Another fun fact: Home-schoolers are forbidden from joining the armed forces, police force, or any other government job.
tyler says
lol i was homeschooled since 4th grade, i joined the Marine Corps in 2014 and im signing my reenlistment package soon.
KitchenKop says
Thank you for setting this straight Tyler, and God bless you for your service!!!
Kelly
Sharon Fenton via Facebook says
I don’t know where the reader is getting this information. I have been part of a vast homeschool community for years and can attest to the fact that our students have had no problems entering universities and qualifying for aid without a high school diploma. We have even found that universities are forming separate admission requirements for homeschoolers. A GED is not necessary. The main thing to consider is that the ACT and/or SAT score will be weighed much more heavily without transcripts. It is then worthwhile for students to spend a bulk of their senior year studying for these exams.
Heinrich says
OK then. Explain how to do it then. Enlighten us. Please.
By the way, there is only ONE college in the entirety of the USA that provisionally allowed home school students, who met OTHER criteria. And that school has since rescinded that policy.
You cannot get Federal Financial aid without a high school diploma or GED. It is the law. It is a major query in the FAFSA.
Again, it is illegal to take the SATs and ACTs when you are 40.
Katrina says
I’ve been reading your comments and I have to say I believe your trolling for attention. You say you’ve done the research when clearly you either haven’t or your pretending you don’t know. You can be home schooled or have received a GED and receive FASFA, it says right on the website https://fafsa.ed.gov/help.htm
“Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or have completed homeschooling. If you don’t, you may still be eligible for federal student aid if you were enrolled in college or career school prior to July 1, 2012. Go to https://studentaid.ed.gov/eligibility/basic-criteria for additional information.”
Also about the SATs again you clearly haven’t done the research or your just trolling. I’m thinking both. Here you go anyways straight from the SATs website under FAQ’s
“Who can take the ACT?
People of all ages and grade levels are eligible to take the ACT. This includes students in grades 6, 7, 8, and 9 and high school graduates. Of course you’ll need to register and pay the test fees.”
Notice it says ALL ages? You also keep saying you’ve looked at hundreds of schools and none of them allow admission of home school students or will accept your GED, however you don’t mention any of their names. Many other commenters have also said you can at the very least go to a community college and then transfer to a 4yr college after you receive enough credits but you haven’t commented about that. Here is University of California’s website which has a section for home schooled students https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/homeschool/index.html the link to that website came from UC of Berkeley.
Kelly, Have you looked into the CLEP exams? You can take the exams and receive college credits at many colleges while still in High School/Home school. I first heard about it when looking into the Ron Paul Curriculum https://clep.collegeboard.org/
Katrina says
I meant the ACT tests, Also why don’t you contact the college board about taking the tests if your really serious about going to college or doing the research?
Jeannie Miller via Facebook says
I home schooled my children…and they went to college. Some people believe this, just beat the bushes till you find a college. Start with a two year..pass the tests to get them in…have them take a semester or two , then transfer to a 4 year. It is doable.
Lynne Clonts Ninas via Facebook says
if you have difficulty, HSLDA has helped a lot a people. It’s worth belonging!
Heinrich says
I am an Atheist, thanks. I teach my children facts and reality in my home school curriculum.
Dogwood Penworthy via Facebook says
Our Homeschool provides official transcripts sent to colleges and universities, diplomas and assistance with prep for the ACT and SAT. Honestly, if you can make an adequate score on one of those to get admitted, you won’t have trouble getting in. Actually university admissions offices are seeking out homeschoolers because they are motivated, independent learners in general and have a high rate of success in college. No one from our area has had any problem getting in to college. My daughter is a sophomore in college with a 4.0 average. Her homeschooling is serving her well.
Heinrich says
Indeed? Who is your accreditation institution? And what did it cost you? I heard it was in the tens of thousands.
Angie Carswell via Facebook says
This is so not true. Not accurate at all. Do your own research. Speak with college admissions and ask lots of specific questions. Every state is different.
Heinrich says
I have been contacting school admission for decades…in multiple States….
Kelly the Kitchen Kop via Facebook says
Hey everyone, the person who wrote the question above has follow up questions/comments at the blog (responding to your comments here) if anyone cares to respond: https://kellythekitchenkop.com/homeschooling-question-are-official-transcripts-necessary.html#comments
Amber Lucero via Facebook says
Wrong. To make it easy go to a community college and get your transfer credits. No SAT or ACT required.
Sheri Puckette via Facebook says
My son is a homeschool graduate and decided not to take the SAT’s, so what he did for starters was to CLEP some of his high school classes. That gave him a few initial college credits without attending any extra classes (he’d already passed the courses at home), and then he took a few prereq’s at the local community college. Got excellent grades and from there was able to easily transfer into the university of his choice. So I don’t know about a GED- but my stepdau who dropped out of hs (didn’t homeschool- moved out on her own) went back and got her GED, then was able to go on to several universities including one in London. I don’t know her details, but was surprised she didn’t have any problems. Wondered why I bothered with the SAT back in my day.
Jackie-Ben Bahun via Facebook says
I have a GED (no homeschool diploma) and had absolutely no problems obtaining my associates degree from our community college.
Heinrich says
Many people boasting about an AA at a community college. Most people do not “get” an AA. My friends growing up were AP and had the equivalent to an AA by the time they were working on their BAs.
An AA and a community college will get you nowhere. No PhD programs at any of them. I do see that some community colleges are offering BAs, which is strange. Still cannot be worth much.
If I would have known how important a real high school education was, despite the fact that it was stupid, I would have completed it. I will forge some documents for my kids when they grow up, like many people here. Though when talking about it online, I will not pretend they are real. Forged documents are all they are.
Sarah Thompson via Facebook says
Got my GED and never took SAT or GED. Applied to a program specifically for adults and got right in. Transferred to a traditional university a couple of years later with no trouble.
Ann Duncan via Facebook says
Good resource for navigating this issue. I recall a warning in there abouat GED’s and a list of other options: https://www.amazon.com/Teenage-Liberation-Handbook-School-Education/dp/0962959170/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421714556&sr=8-1&keywords=teenage+liberation+handbook
Guggie L Daly via Facebook says
Hmm, schools took one look at my ACT and just about wined and dined me. I did have a transcript and diploma, not that they seemed to care but I did include them. I applied to 2 schools, and about 10 tried to get me. I was interested in science, though, so maybe it’s different depending on the field you choose.
Heinrich says
One caveat that a lot of people seem to forget, is that one cannot take the SATs when they are 40…
Heinrich says
And schools usually wine and dine you when they find out how rich you are, not how smart you are…
Janet Novielli via Facebook says
In Florida in the 90’s I know that a GED diploma had more value than a high school diploma as they knew you had done the work. Most colleges have found homeschoolers to be excellent students, can handle both academics as well as the social and work skills necessary to stay on an even keel
Heinrich says
Um….what does that mean? GED is just a test. No work involved at all. Apart from a 45 minute test. Nowhere near as good as a high school education. Unless Florida in the 90’s was so bad, 45 minutes of your time was better than 12 years of education???
Jan O'Brien Schaefer via Facebook says
Any junior college will take you on a probationary basis. If you maintain a B average, you’re good to go. You can then use your JC college transcript to get into a 4-year college. The upside to this is that junior colleges are far less expensive than universities.
Rosanne Sancho Muncy via Facebook says
My eldest son was homeschooled and was accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy without any problems. He also went to our state university without any problems .
Susie Que via Facebook says
I got my GED and went straight to community college and transferred to a university. They are acceptable. Mine said Maryland High School diploma.
Heinrich says
If your GED said “high school diploma” on it, it was illegal.
Ginger Jahn via Facebook says
I had a friend in college who had a GED. She finished high school really young (like 14 or 15) but couldn’t get an official diploma so she got a GED online so she could go to college.
Cindy Landskron via Facebook says
No college in the us??? No way. Give me a break!
Not even gonna answer this.
Heinrich says
None that I have heard of. And when you are poor, it is hard to pay cash for school. Would be nice to get financial aid. Which homeschoolers cannot get.
S Williams says
all my children got financial aid. all were homeschooled from day one.
Debbi Tippet via Facebook says
My children are homeschooled and my son had no problem getting into college or the military. No GED, transcripts of his classes were all we needed.
Heinrich says
Now THAT is a lie. I am a veteran. Only a very few GED holders are allowed in a year.
I do not believe that I can just make some fake transcripts and fake diploma and you can get in. You do realize that it is a DoD job right? It required security clearance. Not having a high school education will come up in the check!
Sarah Encinas via Facebook says
I have a GED no hs transcripts and I am a college student
AMy Lee Waters via Facebook says
What nonsense!
Kristina Frazell Myers via Facebook says
My son was homeschooled since he was in the fourth grade. He had no trouble getting into his school of choice. I printed out a transcript myself of his grades. He took the SAT like everyone else. He did not take a GED or get an official diploma, but the school had no problem accepting him. He graduates in May.
Heinrich says
Care to share your secret on how your son accomplished the impossible?
Stephanie Bogan via Facebook says
B.S.! I am 37 ! I Dropped out of school in 8th grade, I later got my GED , have never taken a SAT or ACT and have attended 5 Colleges! Including a university ! And Medical School ! Sometimes I qualified for financial aid and sometimes I didn’t – guess what? I also Homeschool! 4 children my oldest (19) is on a Full Ride Scholarship at university of Hawaii , my 14 and 12 year olds are already being sought out by colleges and universities. ( not that schooling, college, or degrees are the end all in Life – and Does Not Equate success or Happiness – where there’s a Will there’s a way and your amount of / or where you “school” has very little to do with anything 🙂
Heinrich says
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!!!!!
This site seems to draw real winners.
It is sad that there is not a single website out there for people who want to do homeschooling. Only religious nuts, anti-Patriots, and other unhealthy individuals…
Now I know why people give us strange looks when we tell them that are kids are homeschooled…
Merry Lynn Shepherd via Facebook says
I live in FL and here homeschoolers are allowed to do “dual credit” college classes on campus for free at our local community college. Dual Credit means they receive both high school credit AND college credit at the same time for any college level classes they take. We only pay for books. All four of my girls have done this and have graduated with their AA degree by the time they graduated from highschool. I made transcripts for the older two thinking I would need them. Never did, so I didn’t bother with the other two. With an AA degree in hand, no college is going to care about highschool transcripts. This is our experience. Hope this helps. 🙂
Heinrich says
Is that State-wide? Do you have a link to that law? You would think people would flock from all over America to go to Florida!
Florida is not even a friendly State for homeschooling.
Janette Leah Ross via Facebook says
Government wants more control.
Heinrich says
The people elect the members of the government. So the citizens are in control. You know, the whole Democratic-Republic thing we call “United States of America”. The government does not want more control. The people need it. People are too stupid to rule themselves directly. I love the idea of home-schooling. However, the US States that have liberal home school laws, also have the lowest literacy rate and horribly abused children. In Idaho, not only can the kids not even read and write, but they wear rags and all their teeth are rotted out of their heads. Michigan is another good example. Home school laws allow kids to deal drugs at the age of 9 and no one cares.
What would really be good, is if the kids could chose their own courses like in other countries, if they abolished GE courses and standardized testing. For example, my wife is a French major. How exactly does algebra, US history, psychology, and so on have to do with French vocabulary? Absolutely nothing. Why can she not just take French? The schools want too much money, that is why. More government control would solve this problem. While we are at it, we should make our schools completely free like every other nation in the world. In America it is a business.
Melissa Naasko via Facebook says
Kelly, my oldest applied using his SAT scores and the transcript I made and was accepted without problem. I think this is strange and I highly doubt that the lack of transcripts was the crux of the problem.
Heinrich says
Have you looked into schools? Official, sealed transcripts direct from the institution are required for every school in every State I have looked into.
Plus, 40 year olds cannot take the SATs. The cutoff for me was like 1992. Were there even SAT’s back then? I do not remember them. They probably are not even valid, even if I had taken them. My GED has already expired in most jurisdictions. When I took it I got a 250. I was ranked in the one percentile in the nation. One of the highest scores ever given. Now? You need like a minimum of 2000! Clearly they have changed the grading of GED’s since the 90’s.
Shauna Johnson via Facebook says
Back when I wanted out of high school, some 20-odd years ago, my parents called around inquiring as to the usefulness of obtaining a homeschool high school diploma and were unanimously told that I would be required to take the general equivalency test to give them something measurable to rank me among my graduating peers. The GED test ranks you in percentiles against graduating seniors. Since all of the schools required a GED anyway, we skipped the homeschooling part, I scheduled my test, and went straight to college upon receiving my test grades.
That was long before homeschool had gained the popularity it enjoys now. At 16, armed with just my GED, no SAT/ACT, I had not trouble starting college. I was required to take an entrance exam, along with all other I coming freshman, but nothing special.
Keri Schreiner via Facebook says
I got a GED and have two associates and a bachelors degree. So I’m not sure how your unable to go to college.
Sharon Wright Bohannon via Facebook says
Years ago my 2 homeschooled kids did dual enrollment. Both graduated from community college and my son is working on a degree from a university.
Cherie Pelletier Roberts via Facebook says
I use a homeschool umbrella group that keeps my girls’ transcripts and will provide me with an official diploma when they graduate. I COULD do it myself if I wanted to, but like the idea of having the umbrella group take care of all of that paperwork. It’s worth the $70 per year.
Claire Shepard via Facebook says
Many faith based colleges take home schooled kids including private schools.
Heinrich says
Faith based colleges also do not accept financial aid nor offer real degrees.
Margaret Winn via Facebook says
I am a homeschool graduate. I have a bachelors and a masters degree. I had no trouble being accepted into any college or university.
Heinrich says
Care to share your secret with the rest of us? Or are you just bragging? Or making up stories?
Nikki Wallace Flory via Facebook says
An option, for some, is dual credit for high school and college at community college. We will be looking at this option when the time comes.
Sarah Farris Manry via Facebook says
You can enter college with a GED. Start at a local community college and then transfer, if you wish to do so, to a college attached to an university or transfer fully to an university. Homeschoolers can have a highschool diploma and official transcripts. Whoever is providing the education can type up transcripts and print off a diploma. You can also order transcripts with official watermarks on them. We ordered ours through HSLDA. Homeschoolers can also take SAT or ACT tests without any hassle.
Jennifer Allen Wilford via Facebook says
In most states any person who administered your high school education can issue you an official high school diploma and it must be considered as an equivalent an official diploma from a brick and mortar high school. Read up on the Home School Legal Defense’s website: https://www.hslda.org/
Heinrich says
Any source for these wild claims?
And Christian sites do not count. They need to be Federal or State Department of Education sites…
Ann Marie says
Here you go, from the OFFICIAL Michigan website:
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/home_schools_122555_7.pdf
Heinrich says
Says nothing of the sort on that link.
The only thing it says there is that, among other things, diplomas are the responsibility of the parents. In other words, the State of Michigan is not responsible to issue them.
NOWHERE on that page does is say anything whatever intimating “any person who administered your high school education can issue you an official high school diploma and it must be considered as an equivalent an official diploma from a brick and mortar high school”.
Yes, anyone with a printer may legally print as they like. That does not mean that it has any authority. Have you never heard of a little something called “accreditation”? If you have that, and issue a diploma, then you are fine. Though if you are just some housewife with some kids that never went to a real school, whose only authority is to do the laundry and clean the toilet, you cannot issue an ACCREDITED high school diploma.
I keep hearing people on here talk about their fake high school diplomas being BETTER than a State-issued GED. That makes no sense.
Perhaps you got confused used the wrong link?
Sue E. says
I am only going to comment once, Heinrich, in defense of many misinformed things you have said about homeschooling families. I don’t desire to get into further debate, just comments on a few things you have said.
1. I, and probably many others here, take offense at your comment about us being “just some housewife with some kids that never went to a real school, whose only authority is to do the laundry and clean the toilet”. I, and many other parents who school their children at home, happen to have a degree in education, and I taught for almost 10 years in the schools. I chose to teach my children at home so that I could teach them at their own pace and give them experiences they might not get at school. Having been a teacher, I knew how much time was wasted in the classroom. Most parents work hard to school their children in high school and are serious about giving them a good education. They aren’t trying to cheat the system. Many colleges see this when these students then come to their colleges very well prepared, and most times better prepared. than their traditionally schooled students. (In fact, the admissions counselor at our recent university visit (NCAA Division II school) made it a point to say that homeschooling is very popular and they welcome these students who are well-adjusted and do very well at their university).
2. A GED is different than a high school diploma in that, while you were smart and could get excellent scores on the test, you didn’t complete the courses that the state wanted you to in order to receive a proper diploma. When I began teaching my daughter high school, I went to the State Board of Ed and took note of all the required classes for graduation. Then I carefully picked courses from various sources that she is in the process of completing. In my experience, in my state, it is the colleges who are going to look at the transcripts, not the state, so it is up to the parents to provide the courses needed for further post graduation study.
3. When it has now become the time to apply for college, the websites for ones we have looked at give their own requirements for the homeschooled student process. We recently applied to one and they required a notarized transcript (which had all the courses my daughter completed, as well as the ones she will complete this year, and the grades she received.) Nowhere have I seen a required high school diploma. The transcript shows someone met the proper requirements. I put my daughter’s together myself, and I even eyed the woman when she took my application (at the college visit we had) who didn’t bat an eye when she opened the sealed envelope and saw it was from a homeschooling family. These documents shouldn’t be seen as “illegal” or “fake”. If one is serious about schooling children at home, it would be a tragedy to not give them the best that can be given so they can do well in life. It is a completely different matter to not take the education of children at home seriously and with great responsibility.
For what it is worth…
Emily Sirbaugh via Facebook says
My “GED” says high school diploma on it. It doesn’t say GED. I got into college. My sister is finishing college. and she has gotten fafsa too. And colleges prefer homeschool kids. The GOOD colleges love them.
Heinrich says
Your GED is illegal then.
Aida Kling via Facebook says
as having had 2 graduate from college, and one of them from med school, all I can say is: relax! be familiar with the laws and guidelines for your state. Keep track of courses and grades – letter or number scores (A= 4.0 = 100%). You can also figure out Carnegie units by the time that was spent on each subject matter – one of mine did a Japanese studies course – all delight directed! We also included any high school level work that was completed before high school. We held our own private high school graduation for each of them – diplomas included! Both also attended community college – for a couple of courses of their choosing – in their last 2 years of high school – which was a given for them to enroll in colleges. When we visited colleges, they were more concerned about their success at the community college than their SAT scores, or their high school grades. You’ve gotten your kids to high school, you know that you won’t do anything to harm their futures! Relax!!!
Jeff Dowd via Facebook says
Why do you think that a GED will bar you from gaining access into college? I know plenty of homeschooled kids that go to college. I think you need to dig for more facts… I think you are missing quite a few.
Jill-David Boman via Facebook says
My understanding is that a GED is the equivalent of a 10th grade high school education and that for university-bound homeschoolers, it could actually be a bit of a stigma. My daughter got accepted everywhere she applied, and ended up going to Baylor, in the honors college, on scholarship (she graduates in May). I made up our own transcripts, listing high school classes, grades, credits per class, SAT scores, and included an attached list of extracurricular activities and great books read. Nothing professional or “official” about it, but it was accepted with no questions asked. On paper, it was clear that the education she got at home far surpassed a 10th grade education, and talso hat of most public high school seniors.
Heinrich says
GED is supposed to be the equivalent of a high school education, actually. Though it is not. I did not go to high school. I still aced the GED, as it is really basic stuff. No one considers it equivalent to a high school diploma, however.
Indeed, I am going to forge a bunch of legal documents for my kids too. It may be illegal, but…not really. What could happen? Well, apart from illegally receiving the scholarship. That could be troublesome. But we will stick to Federal Aid.
Christie Lynn Edds Cali via Facebook says
1. GED’s can go to college you just usually have to start off in a community college.
2. There are real online schools that issue diplomas to homeschooled students.
3. As Heather Smith said most colleges are aware of homeschoolers and what they as for is a transcript of the courses you have completed. I have had several friends who have homeschooled through highschool and they have had no problem going to university.
Heinrich says
But doesn’t accreditation cost something like tens of thousands of dollars?
Amanda Yoder via Facebook says
Actually GEDs absolutely can get into college!. Most likely, you start at a community college first butyou send your proof of GED as proof of high school graduation. (The homeschool diploma was always a tricky question and I don’t know the answer to it. We homeschooled off an on until high school, but luckily then our parents put us in public school because of these complications with college!)
Heinrich says
You cannot “send your proof of GED as proof of high school graduation”, because your GED says “GED” on it. Anyone would easily see it is not proof of high school graduation.
Cheryle Watson Martinez via Facebook says
My 2 oldest children are homeschool graduates. We also have several friends who are. They’ve all been able to receive FASFA and attend college. Both Universities and Jr colleges.
It is sad to say but I think people with a GED have a harder time.
Also, homeschoolers often score high on entrance tests.
Heinrich says
How do they manage to get the FAFSA without an accredited primary education? Even if one managed to find a college that would accept them without a primary education (doubtful), it is illegal to receive the FAFSA without first completing accredited primary education.
Heather Smith via Facebook says
There is an enormous difference between a GED and a homeschool diploma. Colleges are well aware of this. I think you’ll find that homeschoolers are actually being sought by most colleges, as they tend to do better overall in college. Having several friends who have already done this, their kids had zero issues getting into college.
Heinrich says
How do they have “zero issues getting into college”….when they have not graduated from an accredited high school? That is one of the requirements to be admitted in college. No primary education-no higher education.
Heinrich says
Well, I have a GED and cannot get into any college in the USA. So, I would imagine a homeschool student having a much harder time. Every university and college I applied to REQUIRES (among other things):
1. Original high school diploma
2. Official, unopened, high school transcripts, sent from the school
3. SAT and ACT transcripts
Another fun fact, once you realize your homeschool education will do nothing for you, it is too late to go back! And you cannot get Federal Financial Aid without an official high school education.
And no I am not biased. I love the idea of homeschooling and am doing so for 4 boys right now. But they will have some seriously forged documents when they get older, if they want to go to uni…
Jen says
Heinrich – You are very misinformed. A GED alone will not get you into college so there must be other areas (like the ACT or SAT test) that you are not doing well in. In most states any person who administered your high school education can issue you an official high school diploma and it must be considered as an equivalent to an official diploma from a brick and mortar high school. Read up on the Home School Legal Defense’s website: https://www.hslda.org/
Heinrich says
If all these universities and colleges in the USA are “very misinformed”, perhaps I can give them your contact information and you can set them straight for me?
I have lived all over the USA and applied at MANY universities and colleges. Always a denial. GED will not get you in to an institution of higher education.
I did not receive a high school education. I received a GED. Remember? So no one can issue me a high school diploma. Besides that, a high school diploma usually does not mean much.
You cannot take SATs and ACTs when you are 40. I think the cutoff is 18 or 21.
Oh, and I am not Christian. This isn’t a Christian blog is it?
Ann Marie says
According to the official ACT and SAT websites, you are never too old to take their tests.
Heinrich says
According to hundreds of schools I have looked into, the cutoff is 21. Or 18. It is not higher than 21, that is for certain.
On an aside, standardized testing is a big thing that many homeschoolers are opposed to. My children will be smarter than most kids their age, when they are becoming adults. However, they likely will not be able to pass the SATs and ACTs.
Could you explain how an adult may take the SATs? How? Where? And who would accept it?
Sharon Williams says
while your GED and no test scores may be making your entry into college difficult, a homeschool diploma and SAT scores proved ample in both my girls being accepted into the colleges of their choice. They also were able to get scholarships and Federal Aid. Homeschooling is not going to prevent a child from entering college.
Heinrich says
How exactly did you make the high school transcripts and diploma official? I mean, didn’t the school say “Wait a minute, this was sent by your mom. We can’t accept this”.
I just have a hard time believing all these stories of people’s home school diploma’s and transcripts being more accepted than my State-issued GED…
I mean, I can make up transcripts and a diploma at home right now that say I have multiple PhDs. I just do not think anyone would accept something that is not from an accredited institution.
Elizabeth says
If you are concerned about your child entering college, I would suggest you enroll
them in a community college, if available. They only need to take a course or two,
and make sure they take a standard course, such as English 101. That way, when they
want to go to a four year school of their choice, the credit hours should transfer. This way you have an independent source crediting your student. Some four year schools, once they see college credit earned, won’t even inquire about high school. Then again, some four year schools won’t take any credit from a community college, ie, University of Chicago. However, it will demonstrate your student’s ability to handle college level coursework. Take the ACT (if the school the student wants to enter is in the Midwest) and check your scores. If you are happy, send them to the school of your choice. Otherwise, there is always the option to retest.
Some of the other posts have excellent advice, some of which we followed. We spoke directly with the admissions counselor at the college our student wished to attend. They were willing to tell us exactly what the expectations were as far as a transcript, and what courses would be accepted from other schools.
As far as formal testing younger students, I would be aware that teachers in public schools (at least where we live) must teach to the tests. Sometimes, they take as many as six weeks out of the year in order to insure their students do well. I am not sure you would be comparing apples to apples if you tested your students.
Best Wishes
Sue E. says
Hey, Kel. I, too, thought a lot about transcripts for our oldest, who is 9th grade this year. I really considered enrolling in a homeschool program that would provide transcripts so we could be “official”. But I began talking to homeschooling mothers with college kids and many said what others said above: they were able to get into college without “official” high school transcripts. So, after some thought and prayer, we decided not to enroll. I did look into the State of Michigan Education Department’s class requirements for graduation, just to cover the bases. I can now decide when I would like my daughter to take her two years of foreign language, etc.
Something to consider with high school standardized tests (ie, ACT): Have your kids take them when they are younger than the districts say to take them. This way, they can learn test taking skills, and feel comfortable with the format, etc. I am having my daughter take it this spring (9th grade). I have heard of 7th and 8th graders taking them.
Hope that helps!
Sue E.
Kelly says
Thx Sue!!!!! Good info…
So how ARE u doing the foreign language? We have Pimsleur but don’t put the CD’s in enough.
Kel
Mindy M says
I used the forms at HSLD. They are a wonderful resource! My daughter took the ACT. The college welcomed her as a homeschooler.
Jen F says
I’ve homeschooled four, with two now in college. The older two both did some junior college for some of their high school, and then used that for transferring to university, no ACT/SAT needed. Our local jr college has a lot of high school homeschoolers, so it wasn’t an uncomfortable situation for my kids. We used ‘Rate My Professor’ to make sure they signed up for classes that would hopefully be good experiences for high school. It was a nice ‘baby step’ in between high school and university, and their grades helped guarantee them good scholarships.
A word about using an outside program – sometimes it can be very helpful to have older kids be accountable to someone outside the family. It’s a good step towards independence. Having an outside program can help the kids stay on track, I’ve seen many independent homeschoolers be very successful, but usually they are bound for a church or private college, not a state college, which has different requirements. It’s important to have an idea of what your student is looking toward after high school.
One more note – whichever path you choose for high school, it is nice to decide beforehand and let the student stay in that one path for high school. Bouncing around between programs can be quite difficult on the student.
Beth says
Maybe the area homeschool bookfair/conference will have some sessions about high school, transcripts, and college entrance. It may help you have peace of mind to go to one of those sessions. I went to a seminar recently and it was so affirming for me to see that what we were doing was fine and that I was making more of my concerns than was necessary.
I would also recommend talking to an admissions officer at the college of his choice (or even a local one that’s not his choice college) to see what is required. Our homemade transcript will be in conjunction with some CLEPs, SAT scores, and possibly some dual-enrollment to balance it all out.
I’ve started my binders to organize it all… just haven’t started putting it all together yet :). (yes, I have a junior – yikes!).
Debbie says
*Official* transcripts are not at all necessary. There are many, many resources available to homeschooled families. College recruiters are accustomed to the uniqueness of homeschoolers submissions by now and even enjoy their non-cookie cutter appearance that is seen customary to other education institutions. Colleges now have separate recruiters for private, public and homeschooled applicants. Even if one unschools, it is very easy to build a transcript around a child’s educational palette. I bought resources and in the end located a sample transcript online and followed its format. I never even started it until my oldest daughter’s 12th grade year but because I had kept samples of her best work and journaled all her extracurriculars, was able to almost painlessly transcribe all 4 years. Be creative. Research high school courses offered at regular schools and transform your child’s experiences into educanese that can be recognized by traditional facilities. Our evaluator (required by law in PA) offered to review it and make adjustments/suggestions. She returned it, stating she wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve graduated two, one of which went on to higher Ed, one still deciding what she wants and one still homeschooling. Anyone can do it. Really, it’s that easy.
Commenter via Facebook says
Going to bookmark this for future reference! My son is in 6th grade & it’s our first full year of homeschooling. (we are in MI too) This will be helpful down the road!
Sharon says
We use a program called homeschool tracker for our homeschool. It creates a fantastic transcript and we have used it for getting our oldest into college as well as proof of gpa for dual enrollment. It is an easy to use program and is great for planning, scheduling and organizing our homeschool.
Bevie says
We have used the Farm School as a sort of umbrella school because they help with record keeping and are very hands off in terms of curriculum. If you feel more secure with official records and so on they are a good resource. https://thefarmschool.wagn.org/
Meghan says
I graduated from a very, very small private school (sometimes only 2 of us!) that was basically homeschooling in a group. The curriculum we used is used by some homeschoolers. I took my ACT’s junior year and the school kept transcripts and printed me out a type of diploma. I had no problems getting into college right out of high school, but I didn’t finish. When I tried to go back to college (different one), I had a lot of problems. I was more than 5 years out from my ACTs so they didn’t count anymore. My mom couldn’t find my diploma and the school closed down and threw out the official copy of my transcripts. Even though I could give them previous college transcripts from a state college, they weren’t going to let me in without my high school transcripts. Fortunately, the first college I went to had them on file and was willing to give me a copy of them and my diploma. I was advised that I should keep them in a safe place and not lose them if I would ever want to go to grad school or anything like that. So, given my experience … I’d get transcripts! The more you can prove that your kids have learned what they have, the easier time they will have. I’m in WI and there is a charter online school here. When my oldest starts kindergarten, he will go there … it offers a lot of flexibility of homeschooling, but is technically a public school so they will track everything for us just like he was going to a public school.
Commenter via Facebook says
There are some great comments there. Its got my wheels turning. Thanks for the post, Kelly!
KitchenKop says
Wow. As usual, you all blow me away with your great advice that not only helps me to chill out, but also gives me assurance that I can do this!
Thanks to each of you who commented so far!
Kel
Peggy says
DO NOT run to the umbrella school just to get a transcript. I did that out of fear and had to jump through so many hoops! One of my favorite things about homeschooling is that I can tailor my childrens’ education to their talents and interests. When my 11th grader wrote AND PUBLISHED a novel, she spent well over 500 hours writing, editing and publishing, but the umbrella group would not allow me to issue a credit for this work done because it didn’t “fit in” with any of their pre-assigned categories.
1. My best advice: First, get really, really familiar with the requirements on the HSLDA page for your state. Then, get High School Form+u+la and Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens at the library. Those three resources will put your mind completely at ease and make paperwork a piece of cake.
2. Is this rare: Not at all.
3. Will it hurt his chances: In my experience, colleges are looking for students who want to be there and want to learn regardless of their background or the professionalism of their transcript. A transcript is not hard to compile, don’t be scared of it.
4. State differences: High school graduation requirements vary by state as far as how many credits and in what subjects. You can’t go wrong trusting what HSLDA says for your state.
Still reading! We do no testing other than that required by law. Even then, we contact the local homeschool support groups and test through them rather than the public school system. I keep the results in MY files and only send what is absolutely required to the authorities. The reason we don’t test “just to see” is because I don’t teach lockstep with the public school’s scope and sequence, so what my kids know is different from what they would know in school. We might not cover biology or American history the same year as the public schools, so that might cause problems on a test. But I don’t care about the test because the purpose of my kids schooling is not to pass a test.
We generally take the PSAT, SAT and ACT a year earlier than they need to so they have experience and get an idea of what’s on the test. All but one of mine have taken the tests twice and improved their scores. The odd one out got nearly perfect scores and didn’t want to bother retaking them.
Shannon Rop says
As far as standardized tests, I’ve had my kids take the MEAP at NRMS and RHS the past two years. It’s free and the school is great about working with me. Now, that’s too late for this year, but in future years it could work.
dara says
Hi! I just got accepted early decision to Babson college in ma, & I’ve been homeschooled my entire life. Here is what I submitted:
-Complete list and description of courses taken in high school
-Work samples from every subject area
-GED (the test was beyond easy, plus most colleges accept it instead of a transcript)
-Transcript generated with TranscriptPro software
-Recommendations from teachers I work/ed with
-SAT scores & SAT Subject Test scores
-Letter from my local superintendant certifying that I completed a high school curriculum
I submitted more than Babson askes for from homeschoolers, but every college admissions officer I talked too (Yale, Babson, UVA, Stanford, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, & UPenn) all said that they’ll look at everything a homeschooler sends with their application. The more the better!
If your son really knows that he wants to be a pilot, you should research the schools he might go to and talk to the admissions offices there. Most schools have an admissions officer who specializes in homeschool applications. They can tell you what an ideal homeschool application looks like for them, and give you other great advice. That strategy worked really well for me, I knew exactly what I needed to submit and I never worried that my application would be rejected because I was homeschooled. Hope this helps!
J in VA says
Many homeschool conventions and homeschool groups have informational meetings each year for planning high school and college entry. Seek one out in your area or ask other homeschoolers for a referral to someone in your area who has homeschool grads who are attending or have graduated from college.
Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama says
My husband got in with a GED and his ACT scores with no issue. He was homeschooled from 3 – 12. He also told me the other day that he thinks that standardized tests are valuable in older children, just to ‘prove’ that your kids are really learning year to year (but in Ohio you are required to keep records and show this). I really don’t like the idea with young ones — my oldest is about to enter K — but I could see the benefit for middle/high school kids, as they’re preparing for the ACT. At this point, a lot of colleges are actually coveting homeschooled students because they know they perform better, over all! I don’t think a transcript is all that important, personally, although I’m just speaking from my husband’s experience and not as someone who’s had homeschooled graduates.
Carey says
I kept good records every year (in high school) and spent many hours creating the transcript after my oldest graduated. The community college he went to never looked at it!
Brian says
I have three I am still homeschooling and a 4th who is all done. I don’t keep transcripts. My oldest is currently taking community college classes for a year or two (no SATs or ACTs were required to get in – just a match and reading test which were pretty simple). Then, if he chooses, he can easily transfer his credits to a university if he so chooses. That said, in typical homeschooling fashion, he has already begun carving out a successful career for himself without the benefit of a college degree.
My neighbor’s daughter, on the other hand, followed a similar approach for her daughter. She transferred to a law school after 2 years of community ed and is now a successful lawyer.
Melina says
I’m in Canada, and the Universities and Colleges here all have their own admission policies for homeschooled students. I suggest you contact a few colleges you may be interested in and ask them what their policies are (we don’t have ACT’s and that is probably all they need). Some colleges may even allow students to take the odd course while still in highschool – ask! In Canada, we have a distance learning univervsity – Athabasca University – where some homeschooled students have taken courses and then transferred when they had accumulated enough courses.
p.s. I love your site!
Susan says
You took the words right out of my mouth, Melina! My daughter and I are in the throws of college apps right now. (The last one will hopefully go out next week, thank God! What a process!) One of the things I’ve noticed is when you go onto the school’s websites and they give instructions on everything they need for the application process, that almost all of the schools had a seperate link with instructions for those who were homeschooled. I haven’t clicked on any of them to see what they say because it doesn’t apply to me, but I know they are there. Colleges realize that many, many kids are now homeschooled and the colleges seem to all be set up to help those kids that are, matriculate as easily -if you can call the college app process easy- as the kids who went to private or public schools.
I know as a Mama, Kelly, that you worry about everything, but you can Google “college application help for homeschoolers” and see what you come up with. Just make the sure the info you read is current. Don’t let an article from 2004 freak you out, because the one thing I’ve learned is that things in the college app process change often. If someone wrote an article in 2004 about how hard it was for their homeschoolers, simply overlook it, because 8 years later, you will find that many things have changed -for all applicants. Here is a link I’ve found with some info about college apps and homeschoolers…..
https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/home-schooling-college/874682-homeschool-students-admission-rate-harvard-princeton-yale.html
Knowing what colleges want now will put your mind at ease as your child starts high school that you are on the right path to what the colleges want. With, of course, plenty of of follow up through those 4 years to make sure you are still accomplishing everything onthe school’s list of requirements.
Bernadette says
I hadn’t thought of this! Went to the University of Michigan’s site just to see what they had. https://www.umd.umich.edu/homeschool/ Will have to keep an eye out for others in the future. I wonder as more & more kids are homeschooled how much more colleges will adapt. (??)
We just started homeschooling and are a few years off from high school, but this will be handy info to keep bookmarked for later!
Jill says
I just typed up my daughter’s highschool transcripts, listing her classes by year, grades, credits, GPA (yearly and cumulative), graduation date, etc… No template, but I did look at samples in a couple homeschool books and online as a guide–there are a variety of formats, but the information is the most important thing. She got into everywhere she applied, with scholarships, and is now a sophomore at Baylor in their Honors College. Don’t bother spending all the extra money on “official” transcripts! Colleges just want to know what your child studied and get a general idea of how they did. For homeschoolers, they put a LOT of importance on the SAT and/or ACT (and other applicable official tests like SAT subject tests and AP exam scores) since grades are given by the parents, so those tests will give credibility to your transcripts.
In addition to the lists of classes and grades for each school year, I included other information as well:
SAT scores and dates taken
Honors level and AP classes with official scores
Extra-curricular activities by grade level
Reading lists: Great Books and also Bible/Personal Growth
I also made out course descriptions for each class that I made available upon request, but they were never requested. I have heard some colleges may request them, so I was prepared just in case. I can send you my daughter’s transcripts so you can have an example to consider. I am not a computer genius at all, so the format was very simple.
Sherri says
Jill,
I hope that it is okay that I am writing you. I saw your response to a lady about what kind of transcripts to use, and your offer to share your daughter’s transcripts with her. I know the offer was back in 2012, and not to the general public; but I was hoping you would consider doing the same for me. I am totally lost as what to use, and the one I bought seems to be over-kill! I understand if this is not possible, and I thank you anyway for taking the time to read this.
Sherri
River Malik says
I also realize that this is a few years old, but I would also like to see an example of the transcript you used. My daughter is now a senior and we are homeschooling for her final year. She went to a traditional school in Vegas for 9th and then we relocated to another state where I homeschooled for 10th. Concerned about her socialization, she went to a $30,000 a year private school for her junior year, which I could not really afford. So for her senior year, I am going to homeschool since she doesn’t need that many more credits. I requested an official transcript but was told they can only release to a school. Well, I am the school. So it looks like I’m going to have to create the transcript myself. Do you mind sending me an example of what you did for your daughter? Thanks.
KitchenKop says
River Malik, I think they HAVE to give you her transcripts. If I were you I’d contact the Homeschool Legal Defense Fund and ask them!
Kelly
Lisa says
I have graduated all three of my children from our homeschool program and all three got admitted to college and recieved scholarships. A great book about homeschooling the high school years is: Senior High: A Home-Designed Form+ U+la by Barbara Edtl Shelton. She gives several examples of different transcripts. I made my own and had no problem with my children getting accepted to several types of colleges.
Amanda says
My 15 year old homeschooled daughter just started at the local high school in November – yes, mid-semester. We had been homeschooling for 7 1/2 years and had no transcript. I was going to pay someone about $350 to write a transcript until I learned through a friend that the public high school the school has to accept them even without an official transcript. So, I had my daughter type up her own transcript listing all of the classes she had been taking for the past 2 years as well as a sample of her writing and letters from the various teachers letting the school know what they had been working on – (neither of which the high school read). The registrar lady commented that taking classes (homeschool classes) and not getting a year end grade was an unusual way to do things and I responded that it has worked for us very nicely. She shrugged and welcomed my daughter to the high school! The system is not as tied up and unforgiving as they want you to think. My daughter did not do any testing, either, during her homeschool years. Yes, she is going through a bit of a learning curve right now but our main goal for her is to have fun, learn a lot and don’t stress. So far so good! I know that this is unconventional but homeschooling is unconventional. That’s what we liked about it! Good luck!
Bethany Nash says
(Homeschool graduate who’s been to college) My mom typed up a transcript for me, but in reality, I found my ACT score was much more important to the college admissions department.
I never did any standardized tests until the ACT, and that’s what I recommend if your state does not require testing. Once you have highschoolers, have them take the ACT and then retake it in subsequent high school years if they want to submit a higher score (ACT allows you to choose which score to submit to colleges). Princeton Review publishes excellent ACT prep books.