A Homeschooler’s Guide to College Planning
Homeschooling enrollment has increased significantly in recent years, a trend driven in part by the disruptions to traditional brick-and-mortar education caused by COVID-19 restrictions.
Even before the pandemic, homeschooling support for families made strides thanks to organizations like ENRICHri, which serves homeschooling families in Southern New England. ENRICHri provides a range academic and enrichment programs, parent-run co-ops, and free resources. For the last few years, I have partnered with ENRICHri to host free webinars for the homeschooling community. Our next one is April 22 at 7:00pm ET. Sign up here to register.
College planning for high school homeschoolers
The college planning process can feel daunting to parents and students alike.
“The idea of getting ready to get into college really kind of makes me very anxious,” one homeschooling parent shared in one of ENRICHri’s webinars. For the mother, whose daughter was just starting high school, a lot of the stress came from just not knowing what they should be doing to prepare.
As with a lot of things, knowing what to expect and about the timeline for preparation are the best ways to get ahead.
Special Considerations
Start Building Adult Relationships
Homeschool high school students can expect to ask two adults to write recommendation letters. This should start happening in the spring of junior years.
Besides a parent, ask 1-2 adults for recommendation letters.
Recommendation letters can’t just come from a parent. College admissions officers want insights from other adults who know you. This include coaches, tutors, dual-enrollment professors, work supervisors, co-workers, or volunteer coordinators.
Positive relationships only. Students supported by a network of positive adult relationships are much more likely to thrive in adulthood.
How homeschoolers can show ‘outside evidence’ on their college applications
Admissions officers will want to see examples of what you know, how you learn, and what you’ve done. This can take many forms.
Beyond parent-created evidence, which includes well-written course descriptions that demonstrate academic rigor, dual-enrollment courses are popular options for submitting outside evidence. Typically offered through a local community college, earning college-level credits is an opportunity to show another dimension of academic achievement.
Other examples of outside evidence include:
publishing a book
hosting a podcast
showcasing skills on a YouTube channel
exhibiting art or photography
conducting and documenting a citizen research project
participating in other creative and artistic endeavors.
Get Extracurricular: Taking advantage of your time
Traditional high school students may have a lot of the same experiences due to the nature of their schooling. They’ll play the same kinds of sports and join the same types of clubs. For homeschoolers, extracurriculars are a chance to stand out. Make the most of your free time to explore your interests and skills. Take a class, join something, and try something new!
The College Essay
The the college essay is a chance for students to speak directly to college admissions officers, in their own voice, about what matters to them. They aren’t looking for big words. They want insights into the positive attributes that they value in students.
I have learned that leaning into your quirkiness is a great way to set yourself apart on the college essay. An unassuming topic can present yourself in unpredictable ways to college application readers. One of my favorite examples of this is the Tea essay from a student I worked with in 2024.
To view the my full high school homeschooling presentation, visit my Workshops page.
1:1 College Essay Coaching: Take the first step
Interested in working 1:1 with me? Schedule a free consulting call by clicking the button below.
