Homeschooling and Preparing for College
By Mimi Rothschild
Preparing for college requires the same curriculum for homeschooling students as for children who are educated in public or private schools. Colleges and Universities recommend that students take four years of English, including grammar literature and composition. They recommend four years of math, up to trigonometry or calculus. They recommend four years of history and four years of science. Homeschooling students, like other students, should also learn a foreign language, and computer science. Extracurricular activities, such as sports, music or drama, are also important on a college application. Homeschooling students, fortunately, are often allowed to participate in these activities at their public school. Parents who homeschool their children should also encourage volunteer work and/or summer work.
Some parents who homeschool their children are concerned that they do not have the expertise to teach certain subjects, such as higher level math. They may feel that, in a homeschooling setting, they do not have access to the same materials. For this reason, many homeschooling parents register with an accredited distance education provider. You can find online lectures ideal for homeschooling, as well as lessons given by certified teachers. Make sure that these distance learning providers are accredited and have certified teachers.
Homeschooling is not a disadvantage on a college application. On the contrary, many admissions departments are aware that homeschooling students are more organized and self-motivated than ordinary students. Students who were homeschooled have gone on to attend such prestigious universities as Dartmouth, Rice, Stanford and many others. Students who were homeschooled are able to deal with the independent study required of college students.