What *is* a diploma?

<p>I would expect that some level of administrator could waive the requirements unless it is required by law. People do lose their diplomas and schools can lose transcripts - so I'd assume that there should be some kind of exception process available when documents can't be produced.</p>

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kenf1234, you actually might not. In the homeschooling community, taking the GED is usually not encouraged. It carries the stigma of being a drop-out. Most of those "in the know" in the homeschooling movement will encourage homeschoolers not to take the GED if there is any way around it. These days homeschooling is so widely accepted that it is rarely a problem to have a homeschool transcript.

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<p>No, I actually would. See above for many reasons/specific examples of where people NEED a GED. There is no stigma having a GED, especially since no one needs to know, unless you need to tell them. </p>

<p>I've never need to tell anyone about my CHSPE, except for UC Berkeley, which required it for me to attend.</p>

<p>BCEagle91, when I read the requirements you posted about CUNY for homeschooled students, I remembered earlier in our college search journey that I heard that NY's state universities made things pretty difficult for homeschooled students. Well....difficult if they don't take the GED. Like I said before, most homeschoolers are very leery of the GED.</p>

<p>It is funny because that was before I was a savvy CC reader, and I thought that NYU was a state university. My S was planning to major in film production, and though NYU has an excellent program, we decided early on that he wouldn't apply there since it wasn't "homeschool friendly". By the time I figured out that NYU wasn't a state university after all, S already had a list that he was happy with.</p>

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See above for many reasons/specific examples of where people NEED a GED. There is no stigma having a GED, especially since no one needs to know, unless you need to tell them.

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<p>kenf1234, it's true that sometimes you would have to go that route. The example of CUNY that was posted is one as is your situation. I guess I would be concerned that the stigma would be there when one applied for jobs in the future. You are right that others would not need to know.</p>

<p>My kids are homeschooled and both will be attending college full-time this fall. Neither has taken the GED, nor will they. For their college apps, they submitted a homeschool transcript, along with traditional transcripts from various institutions (high school, community college, local state univ.) where they also took selected classes. </p>

<p>I am making them each a pretty diploma for graduating from their years of homeschooling, but it's just a kind of personal keepsake gift. Kind of like a fancy Happy Graduation card from mom and dad. ;)</p>

<p>Oddly enough, the only time I've ever needed a copy of my high school diploma was to send in with my notice of intent to operate a homeschool :-) I understand that they do accept homeschool-issued diplomas now that we're seeing some second-generation homeschoolers.</p>

<p>My homeschooled ds did not take the GED either, and submitted only a transcript from us. He had no problem whatsoever with college admissions at both state and private colleges.</p>

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The same goes for college degrees... nobody ever asks to see the actual physical degree certificate

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<p>I've had to show mine to an employer, as did my best friend. She had her original (and only copy) of her diploma laminated to hang on her wall, and took that in to the employer so they could photocopy it (!) to put in her personnel file. The thing is huge, as the wood backing is much larger than the diploma. Mine? It's still in the tube it came in; made it very easy to carry in.</p>