With homeschooling becoming an increasing trend these days, a lot of colleges too are changing their attitude towards such students. Many homeschoolers complete standard high school academics eighteen to twenty-four months, which is a lot faster, compared to the four years in high school. Most colleges have realized this and are accommodating homeschoolers who have followed their own curriculum. Homeschooling, thus no longer means that the student has to be satisfied with a high school diploma only. A professional degree from a college is now possible, with various options.
However, for some universities, your child's high school diploma may need to be accredited. An accredited program is a program that meets the minimum standards of what a particular accrediting agency specifies. It is better to know these requirements of the colleges and universities your child wishes to apply to and include those requirements in your course work.
Accredited home school program
Many homeschooling parents prefer to join an accredited home school program. Such schools provide their own curriculum and study material. However, they adjust student's curriculum as per the family's needs and values. Each course is designed to be self-teaching and explains the material well, in a step-by-step process. It is however necessary to make sure that the school you join is itself accredited and recognized. Parents need to conduct some research to properly chart out a plan. Catalogues and curriculum can be obtained from the online resources by getting in touch with them via the net or mailing them.
Records
Most colleges you consider will ask for a high school transcript with details on subject matter, credits, and grades. Some ask for a description of the curriculum the student has used and/or work samples. Patrick Henry College requires the reading list from the student's last two years of high school. The format of transcript does not matter as much as the content. It should be concise and easy to read. It is a good idea to mention on the transcript that more information is available on request and to always be prepared to provide details if asked.
Standard tests
Some colleges specify either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Testing Exam (ACT), but most accept either test. The Preliminary SAT (PSAT) is a test typically taken in the junior year. The PSAT provides additional preparation for the SAT and is a qualifier for National Merit Scholarships. Students who wish to appear for this need to get registered with community colleges where these exams are held.
In the end, it is solely the homeschooling family's discretion whether to opt for an accredited degree or not. Many will argue that they have taught and raised their kids to believe in certain values. However, nobody needs an authority to declare whether or not the kids are eligible for college. The choice of not wanting the children to be judged is the main reason to home school them. Whatever the reasons and decisions, homeschooled families decide what's best for them.
You can decide the type of diploma, from the different options available. Even online high school diploma programs are available. These are very helpful as they are free from restrictions such as time schedules, location, etc. It is therefore necessary to consider all the aspects of the available types after discussing with your parents and get the help of counselors, if needed. Different schools have different diploma programs.
Can you change the diploma program after starting one?
The diploma should be decided at the beginning of the first year. It is possible to change the course midway. However, there are some disadvantages as well. You must take into account all these factors before deciding to change the diploma program.
Why is there any need to change the course midway?
If the chosen diploma is too demanding or simply not best suited, the student can still choose the one of his choice. However, care should be taken, as you may miss course requirements if you join midway. Usually such mistakes are realized at the end of the term, leading to extended term in summer vacation or even late graduation.
The most common diplomas available
The available common types are: Technical or Vocational, General, College Prep, Honors, and International Baccalaureate.
General: It is available with the regular academic courses. It is necessary to attain the required number of credits as well as GPA to earn a General diploma.
College Prep: In this, students complete the curriculum and attain the required GPA.
Honors: For an honors diploma, it is necessary to attain the required GPA along with the completion of the advanced honors curriculum.
Technical or Vocational Diploma: This diploma course has a number of technical or vocational courses to complete, in addition to the regular academic courses.
International Baccalaureate: This is a two-year course designed as per the standards set by the International Baccalaureate Organization. An intense academic course of pre-baccalaureate curriculum is to be completed in the final two years of high school education, before this course.
The diploma you choose becomes an important point in your future education plan. The students seeking a job and/or education in technical field opt for technical or vocational diploma. In case, you are planning to join a university, enquire about the educational requirements for admission and then based on that decide the diploma.
Some colleges require an honors diploma as a minimum qualification. As its content is rather challenging than the average college prep diploma, an honors diploma is regarded as higher and more prestigious. The highly regarded diplomas such as honors diploma, an advanced college prep diploma or International Baccalaureate diploma form the basic educational qualification of many selective colleges.
You may find there are diplomas that have different names but similar content. This is because the names differ in different states and school systems. Similar types of diplomas may have different names from state to state.
Remember, well begun is half done. Get to know in detail about the points mentioned here before deciding on a diploma.
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