<p>Hi friends--</p>
<p>In a couple of weeks, I'm doing a workshop to help homeschoolers with the college admission process. I'd love to hear what you wish you'd known about college admissions, or what great suggestions others made to you, or what you learned along the way. All areas of college admissions are welcome, but of course, the things that particularly concern homeschoolers will be a big help.</p>
<p>I'll start: I wish I'd known how much the process has changed since we went through it. It seemed so much more complicated and time-consuming than I expected. I also didn't realize the sheer amount of paperwork added by being our own guidance counselors and applying for financial aid. We would have started earlier if I'd known!</p>
<p>I'm so grateful for you guys on CC!</p>
<p>Huguenot Mom</p>
<p>I think SAT/ACT scores are really important for homeschoolers. Prep well.
(Get the books and take timed practice tests at home).</p>
<p>Students can get all (well, almost all) of the info. they need on the colleges'
websites. Look them up and read carefully what each school requires. </p>
<p>I worried a lot about transcripts--that wasn't necessary. Keep them simple.</p>
<p>Apply early. Ditto to that.</p>
<p>(for all applicants, not just HSers) I think the feeling I get from these boards is that the Adcoms are just waiting to go through your application with a fine tooth comb looking for reasons to reject you. In fact, they are much more forgiving. They know it is a weird and complicated process. Sometimes there is no 'right' thing to put in that particular box. Relax.</p>
<p>(For HSers): I agree with atomom - keep the transcripts fairly simple. The adcoms do not want to feel they are getting something different from HSers. Try and keep it as similar to a regular transcript. It is ok to add stuff that explains what they were actually doing at home, but dont turn it into an epic. </p>
<p>I had an 8 page transcript - one page was a title page, and 5 pages were descriptions of each class, so there were 2 pages that looked very much like a normal high school xscript. Doulbe side printing - only 4 pages. I know someone who had an 80 page xscript. Out sons both got accepted at the same school. I asked the admissions director about our transcript. He said it was fine, but they only read about 3 pages. I asked about the 80 page version. He laughed and said they only read about 3 pages of that one too. </p>
<p>On the applications, try and emphasize as much outside activity as you can. There are still people out there that assume our kids are all isolated.</p>