How Is Getting Into College/Universities Using A Homeschooling Diploma and Transcript Honestly Fair?

@TsunadePrimroses, What prevents most public schools from lying on the transcripts they print for their students?

Wow, it must be nice to have such a marvelous life that you have to borrow trouble so adamantly. Cry me a river.

The answer that you’re looking for is that nothing can really stop someone from making a fraudulent transcript. That doesn’t mean that it will benefit them, however.

OP–my son is now in public high school, but I homeschooled him through 8th grade. For junior high, I gave my son a 3.8 gpa for the classes he took at home, including some advanced courses (i.e. my husband taught my son chemistry using his old Cornell University materials). At our homeschool an A- was 3.7, not 4.0 as at the local schools. Also, I never considered that I should be weighting some of my son’s grades (I didn’t know about this practice until after he’d started at the local HS). So, my son’s GPA was actually lower than it should have been (which may have hurt him when applying for admission to a prestigious local STEM program–he didn’t get in). So, sometimes parental grading can be tougher than that of the local the school system.

The Atlanta schools link you posted on page 1 is a decent example of what can happen if someone tries to commit fraud in the public school system. Once someone finds out there’s been cheating, there are other sectors of the government and multiple people that can be used to help and solve any fraud issues. Or, even if no one ever found any fraud or didn’t care to look for it for whatever the reason…There would still always be the possibility of finding any lying or cheating.

Not like how in a homeschooling situation, where someone could literally just print a transcript from their home computer.

Who would be there to stop anyone who was lying about the homeschooling, at all?

Why is this such a concern to you? Do you know anything about the legal requirements for home schooling? They do exist, believe it or not.

@TsunadePrimroses I think what you are asking is not why do homeschoolers get to make transcripts. I think you are asking whether this practice gives non homeschoolers an unfair option to mimic a homeschooler and make up transcripts. Is this correct?

If this is the what the OP is asking, then it is a fair question. What is to stop someone from fraudulently claiming they are homeschooled and submitting whatever documentation they wish. This would be a good option for someone expelled or who dropped out.

I think the answer may be that in the end, someone who was not actually homeschooled and who is fraudulently claiming to be, would probably not be able to prove him or herself using typical options such as SAT2s and AP tests.

Oh! I didn’t realize there were more replies @austinmshauri for my response.

To the others: How you personally feel or your personal situations,wouldn’t stop anyone from printing whatever they wanted to on their home computer…It concerns me because I don’t feel like it’s fair to be able to just print something and not have to provide proof! For the colleges at least. Yes, I’m aware that there are homeschooling laws, but I was talking about college admissions. How is that honestly fair?

Thank you, @LKnomad. While I do think that standardized tests only show so much, one has to be at least semi-educated to score reasonably. Home schooled kids can be on par with all levels of kids from public education systems. If they were not educated, they wouldn’t be.

@LKnomad Yes, that’s what I meant to a T. But, the problem I have…Do you realize that if someone attends a community college first, then they don’t always need to take any of those tests in order to get into universities? Do you see how EASY it would be to commit fraud?

Okay, we get your problem. Got any solutions? Let me guess - more government regulations?

As for the community college to regular universities - you don’t even need a transcript to get into community colleges as a dual credit student. But if the student can do the work, how is it wrong to let them take classes and then transfer?

@albert No, not exactly…Off the top of my head: What if in order to attend CC and universities, all students had to complete highschool equivalence? NOT the GED, but either attending a physical highschool or doing an online program? Otherwise, don’t go to college. I know you’ll probably hate my answer, but you asked for one.

Oh! I spelled it wrong: @albert69

@TsunadePrimroses not all students need to complete high school to move onto college. My sister headed to college at 15 because high school was simply a disaster for her due to her intelligence. She went on the high school counselor’s recommendation and SAT test scores from middle school - perfect verbal at 12. High school, as we know it, is simply not for everyone. It is a one size fits all answer to a situation with too many sizes.

I am guessing that adcoms rely much more heavily on standardized test scores and/or community college grades than homeschool grades anyway, when it comes to homeschooled kids.

Yeah, you’re correct, I hate your answer. Do you mean a test? Going to a high school or doing an online thing sort of defeats the purpose of home schooling, doesn’t it? What is so wonderful about a “physical highschool?” What, are you worried kids may not learn as well without the threats of school shootings, gang violence, peer pressure, and drugs?

And yes, @Zekesima, that is true. Most colleges more or less state that.

@LKnomad Of course I understand that. I’m saying that in the case of homeschooling, to prove who’s being legitimate and who isn’t, why not require that they have some sort of highschool equivalence to be able to attend college, instead of being able to print something from their own computer?

@Zekesima: You can attend CC without test scores and then use those college grades to attend University. Test scores aren’t always a requirement.

@albert69: I’m saying it should be required to attend college, not to be a homeschooled highschool graduate. Also, there are plenty of online private schools to pick from.

Bleh. Posted a double comment.

So what? If the kid can ace the city college classes, who cares?

@Zekesima Because it would be effortless for someone to commit fraud if they wanted to…And no one would stop them.

Home schooled kids aren’t all dumb, uneducated people who don’t want to go to college. Besides, people who went to public school and graduated flunk out of college all the time. Public school doesn’t seem like a flawless meter to use. How come you are so narrow-minded that you think the only way to be prepared for college is to be educated exactly like all the public schools do? Also, you didn’t give me a straight answer on what you exactly mean by “high school equivalence” if you don’t mean the GED.

You make me sick.