Look before you leap....

Pre-College Issues Home Schooling and College
1

<p>I guess if you would like to hear my story all over again, you could go to the thread marked "Homeschooling in a different country"...but quick info anyway...</p>

<p>My family is moving to Japan, and under no circumstances can I go to any Japanese school or international school. Online schools are out because of the time difference, and traditional homeschooling (by the parents) is also out because both my parents will be working full-time. That just leaves correspondence classes. </p>

<p>I have another question, if you don't mind. I have found a nationally accreditted program that offers both individual courses or a high school diploma plan. Everything checks out, and my famiy and myself are pretty confident on choosing this program. However, I have one last choice: either enroll in the diploma program, and receive a transcript and diploma from an accreditted school, or take the same amount of courses anyway, just not enroll in the diploma program. </p>

<p>The latter choice really involves stepping over the edge, and hoping there's something underneath you to catch you, if you understand what I'm saying. I would be taking courses that aren't necessarily home-taught, but I would not be receiving a transcipt or diploma. Would this be okay for colleges? I'd rather not enroll in the diploma program so I can have more freedom, but if it messes up my chances...</p>

<p>I know that doing this would later require myself making my own transcript and supplementary materials. How would it look to the administrators that all of my core classes (plus some) are all correspondence courses, but I did not receive a diploma from that organization?</p>

<p>And what about the diploma? It's not necessary, right? I'm sorry if I sound abit panic-y here, but the deadline is soon, and I'm the kind of person who needs to be 100% confident (95% now). I'd appreciate it if someone would just come out and say "go for it!", so I know I won't be making a bad mistake.</p>

<p>btw. I won't just be taking those courses, I'll be self-studying AP courses too. :) :) :) :) :) :)</p>

2

<p>One more question....</p>

<p>Since I'll be living out of the country, and will become a non-resident, how will that all fit in? I'll still be a citizen, but what about all those state laws for homeschooling? Would I become an "international student"? Should I stay with the diploma program so I'll still be linked with a "U.S. education"? I feel like if I do the latter choice, I might be cutting off my only tie with a U.S. education and have to go through a completely different process like an international student.</p>

3

<p>check specific colleges you are interested in, but most colleges do not care about a diploma. They care about the courses you have taken. Many students who attend traditional schools apply and are accepted into colleges after junior year baseed on their preparation up to that point, and without a diploma. A diploma is only important if you don't plan to go to college.</p>

4

<p>THanks. It's all starting to fall together now...</p>

5

<p>Neither of my sons has any official diploma, just the ones I made for them. We have had absolutely no problems because of that. True, if there is a particular college that interests you, it couldn't hurt to check with them, but usually that is not a problem.</p>

6

<p>Lily415, check with the school, but it's quite possible you can enroll in the diploma program for now, and then decide later if you want to stick with that, or if you want to put together your own transcript down the road.</p>

7

<p>Lily, I don't think that colleges care much whether you have a diploma if you are homeschooled. From talking with the adcoms, they seem to want documentation (syllabi, textbooks, work samples) about the courses you took and love to see either AP or SAT II scores. All of the colleges that we have spoken to seemed eager to help and asked us to include as much information about our daughter's program as possible. </p>

<p>Best of Luck.</p>

8

<p>I think of it in terms of "data points" - official grades from high school or college classes, AP scores, SAT II scores all provide a quantitative data point that can be used to compare homeschoolers to peers from traditional backgrounds. My own kid had 19 data points (10 AP, 4 SAT II, 5 grades), which was probably more than he strictly needed. His homeschooler friends all take lots of CC classes and probably all have at least 12 by the time they are applying to colleges. Some have a LOT more than that. I'm not sure what the minimum number would be, but I don't think I'd go below 12. Your portfolio-type documentation for things you did independently should be in addition to that.</p>