Home-Schooled Students and Admissions

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Your Child's Unique Approach to the Process

Each college evaluates home-schooled applicants differently. Some colleges admit many home schoolers. Others have yet to admit one. Either way, your child needs to take extra admissions steps.

Learn College Prep Course Material

There are certain "gatekeeper" courses that college admissions officers expect all applicants to have completed. Just like traditional students, home-schooled students need to take these college preparatory classes or otherwise learn the course material.

Stay on Top of Dates and Deadlines

Without regular announcements from a guidance office, it's up to your child to keep track of critical dates and deadlines relating to things like college admissions, SAT® registration deadlines, or AP® Exams.

Get Recommendations

Many college applicants ask for letters of recommendation from a teacher. This presents a challenge for your child, since you are most likely serving as her teacher. Some colleges do allow parents to write recommendations, but college admissions officers may consider these recommendations biased. Your child may want to ask an unrelated adult who knows her well to write at least one letter.

It's important that your child builds relationships with trusted adults, so make sure she is involved in activities outside the home. A recommendation could come from a coach of a sports team, a leader of a club, or an employer—as long as the person has known your child for a significant period of time and can speak in detail about her character and abilities.

Watch for Home-Schooler Friendly Colleges

Some colleges are friendlier towards home-schooled applicants than others. Several colleges evaluate home-schooled applicants using typical application requirements, such as admission test scores and personal essays. Other colleges require more application materials, such as several SAT Subject Tests™.

Before your child selects colleges, she may want to check to see if they have a home-school admissions policy, or if they've admitted home schoolers in the past. An easy way to learn this information is to call admissions offices directly and ask. You want to be sure your child's application will be reviewed, before starting the application process.

Go on a College Interview

College interviews allow your child to present her application directly to admissions officers. By meeting face to face, an admissions officer can get a more accurate impression of your child. If administered by the college, interviews can be conducted during a campus visit.

Each Home Schooler's Situation Is Different

For example, some students are associated with a particular home-based school program and others work with their local public school. The above tips speak generally about the college admissions process for most home-schooled students. If you or your child have any questions, contact your local high school's counselor or call the admissions office of the college to which she is applying.