Trade School & College

College & University
Many homeschooled children go on to attend colleges & universities across the country. Homeschoolers have been accepted at almost all colleges and universities in the United States, as well as many abroad.

List of Colleges & Universities in Connecticut
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Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (public)
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Connecticut State Colleges & Universities Admissions Policies
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Connecticut State Colleges & Universities Financial Aid
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Connecticut State College & University Immunization/Vaccine Waiver Forms (scroll down)
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Connecticut College & University Statistics
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Preparing for College – Timeline for Planning
Planning to attend college is a process that should be started in 9th grade. Read this website to learn about what the timeline of events is for your student to plan forward to an easy transition into college.

 

1. Whether a 2 or 4 year college/university, each one has their own admissions criteria.

2. It would be helpful to narrow down which route you want to go; 2 year or 4 year school, to start.  Spend some time reading the websites of colleges you're interested in and see if they already have info on "homeschool admissions".

3. Once you have decided where to begin, contact several colleges and ask them for their homeschool admissions criteria. Of course, write everything down when you talk to them on the phone or in person.

4. As for needing a high school diploma, that, too, will depend on the college’s criteria.

5. If you want/need a high school diploma, you can simply print one out and it “counts” since the parent determines when graduation occurs. Some colleges offer a blank copy that you can fill out online for free (you can ask if they do).
Or, you can use this link or a similar one that you search for: high school diploma

6. What some colleges like as admissions criteria is a portfolio (with or without a diploma). Here is a link to give you an idea of how to compose a homeschool portfolio for college admission.  There are at least hundreds of free, online templates for developing a homeschool transcript. Just do a quick internet search.

7. It is common for parents to worry, at least a little, about their teen getting accepted into college/university, when they’ve been homeschooled. Why? Because we love our kids and want the best for them. If the teen wants to go to college, we, as parents, want to feel confident that they will gain admission. For parents who haven’t yet experienced their homeschooled child getting accepted into a college, please trust those who have gone before you. I don’t know of one single child who has been denied college admission! Quite the contrary; colleges are known to have open arms welcoming homeschooled children. Why?

8. While it is common for public/privately schooled high schooled teens to experience external pressures to “go to college to be a success”, it is not common for homeschooled children. Homeschool parents know that a successful college experience will only come from a student who WANTS to be a college student; the attitude in which they will want to maximize their academic experience in a field they have a passion for. Why else would one go to college?

Advice for making the transition from high school to college as smooth as possible for a homeschooled student is simple; plan well in advance and keep your documentation organized. That said, there are plenty of homeschoolers who have gained college admissions without doing portfolios, SAT’s, GED’s, or similar testing. Community colleges typically have very flexible admission criteria; they may want a parent-created diploma (print it out online), and a basic math and English placement test. The test is not for grading purposes, but simply to see what courses are most appropriate for any new student whether they are age 13 or 53.

Whatever path you choose to take; no college, delayed college, community college or starting at the university level – homeschoolers have a long time, proven track record of successfully attending and graduating from colleges across America. Relax, do your college admissions ‘homework’, and enjoy the ride! The road has been paved by thousands of homeschool college graduates who have gone before you, and you will continue to pave it for those who will come after you. Make it a memorable, positive experience!

Yes, you can take college courses without a fee. Open-access journals, open courseware, online magazines, teacher-to-teacher networking sites, and other web-based resources offer numerous benefits for students of education programs. Since these materials are posted online, they are accessible anytime of day or night with a few clicks of a mouse. Many of these sites also offer a wide range of platforms ― articles and blog posts, videos and interactive games, and customizable lesson plans, to name a few ― that cater to educators specializing in certain subjects or teaching at specific grade levels. And most importantly, these resources are free-of-charge to anyone who wishes to access them.
Link here

 

 

 

 

GAP Year: Taking Time Off After High School & Before College

College: Studying Abroad After a Gap Year
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8 Things to Know About a Gap Year
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Choosing a Gap Year
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Teen Life: The Gap Year
Link here

 

 

 

10 Reasons Homeschoolers Rock at College and Adulthood
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The Big Transition: Homeschool to College
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The Truth About Homeschoolers in College
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Episode 33: How To Help Our Teens Transition to Adulthood
Read article here

How Homeschooling Affects College Admissions
Read article here

Homeschool to College: The Essential Guide
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As increasingly more people question the wisdom of college attendance, considering the thoughts of others on the topic can help a family endeavoring to decide.

Is College Worth It?
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Is a College Degree Still Worth It?
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The Great College Debate: Is College Still Worth It?
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A Comparison of the Pros and Cons of Going to College
Link here