College Admissions Special Considerations for High School Homeschoolers
Homeschooling has surged at historic rates in recent years, defying predictions that families would return in the wake of eased COVID-19 restrictions. The trend cuts across geographic region and demographics.
Even before the pandemic, access to and organization of homeschooling how-to resources made great strides. Groups like EnrichRI, which I collaborated with to provide college planning support for high school homeschoolers, offer families everything from advocacy and field trips to parent-run co-ops, community community events and classes. (Rhode Island’s homeschool population has increased by 91% since 2017-18, one of the fastest-growing state in the U.S.)
College planning for high school homeschoolers
The college planning process is no less daunting for high school homeschoolers and their families. If anything, it’s more stressful.
“The idea of getting ready to get into college really kind of makes me very anxious,” one homeschooling parent, whose homeschooled daughter is starting high school in the fall. College admissions offices have become more accommodating of homeschool applications, but there is still much to think about without the support of school counselors.
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 for Homeschools
Start Building Adult Relationships
Students in a traditional high schools ask two teachers for recommendation letters during the spring of junior years.
If your parent is playing the role of teacher and counselor, you’ll need more than just a letter from them.
College admissions officers want to see what people other than your parents say about you.
Ask 1-2 adults other than your parents for recommendation letters. This could be coaches, community college professors (via dual-enrollment courses), neighbors, supervisors, co-workers, or family friends.
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
To assess your college readiness, admissions officers will want to see additional examples of academic prowess beyond the homeschool high-school transcript.
A popular option for this kind of “outside evidence”, as it’s known, is a dual-enrollment program at a local college. In addition to earning college-level credits, dual-enrollment is an opportunity to show another dimension of your academic achievements.
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
A lot of 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!
On the college essay, quirky works.
Feel free to lean into the seemingly quirky. If you spend a lot of your time crocheting, for example, think about specific crochet skills you have mastered, what you’ve created (and for whom), and how you have shared your knowledge with others.
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.
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