For those of you with high school students...

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by Gina, Sep 1, 2013.

  1. Gina

    Gina Member

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    My son is only four years old, so it will be a while before I have to worry about this, but I'm wondering.

    How do you "graduate" your children? I know there are ways of creating a high school transcript--I've found a few templates on various homeschool websites--but do colleges actually accept them? I'm sure they must, otherwise nobody would homeschool. And I know enrolling in accredited online high school courses is another option. Has anyone here just opted for their children to get a GED?

    I'm just curious as to how you all have or are planning on handling this.
     
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  3. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    My oldest is 19. To be quite honest, we enrolled her in a cyber-school her Senior year because it allowed her to get college classes for free, through a program called PSEO. The laws have just changed this year in Ohio (where I live) that allows homeschool students to participate in this program, so my next one can continue being homeschooled.

    To be quite honest, you're worrying about nothing. Colleges are accepting of homeschoolers for the most part. We've proved that, overall, we are as good as (if not better than) our public school counterparts. My daughter is enrolled in the Honors program at a state university, studying Electrical Engineering, and doing very well. Like I said, she took classes at a local community college during her Senior year. My husband was concerned that the Calculus class she was taking there wouldn't compare to that at a state university. So when we were visiting a the campus of a certain school, he asked the head of the Engineering department about that. The professor asked Rachael where she attended, and she said she'd been homeschooled. The professor replied with, "Oh, then you won't have any problem. Homeschooled kids know what they need to do, and aren't afraid to do it."

    People with GED's are still considered "drop outs". Now, I know that it's much tougher to get a diploma later by passing a GED test, and the people who are disciplined to do so (especially after they've dropped out!) should be commended. But the reality of it is that those doing the hiring don't see it that way.
     
  4. KrisRV

    KrisRV New Member

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    I did like Jackie did with both my girls the last year we did cyber-school we didn't want them to be consider a drop out..

    They both are in college and are rockin well.

    No trouble.. when we took both of them in the teachers were very excited to hear they were homeschool said they learn and want to learn sometimes better then ps. But, not all I am sure its the same with homeschool kids some want too and some don't
     
  5. Lindina

    Lindina Active Member

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    Whether to get a GED or not would depend on what the student wants to do after graduating, what field they want to go into, and where they might want to go for further schooling or training. The military, for instance, would prefer not to take candidates with GED, so students who want to go into the military do better if they get a year at a community or other college first. My son planned to go to a vo-tech school after homeschool, so a GED was just fine for that. For most colleges, yes, they do take mom's transcript -- along with the usual entrance exams and a good application.
     
  6. mschickie

    mschickie Active Member

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    We did not do the GED with sd and we will not with dd either. In NYS you can request a letter of completion from your district superintendent. You can send that to the colleges with their transcript. Some districts in my area do not do them but the homeschool kids have not had any problems getting into colleges with just their transcript. Sd is currently in college down in Florida, she did not have any issues getting in. Many homeschoolers also take college classes at local community colleges during their junior and senior years which can look really good on your college applications.
     
  7. Emma's#1fan

    Emma's#1fan Active Member

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    Em will receive a diploma. It is as official as a public school diploma; it is a certificate of completion. As of December, she will start dual enrollment at a community college. This will help, but isn't necessary. I have a few friends who already have children who made it to college with just their diploma. They have to test for admission and placement just like other students. Although CA doesn't require it, I am keeping a portfolio with transcripts, and letters from her music and choir directors, as well as letters from places she plays piano, and volunteers her time.
     
  8. crazymama

    crazymama Active Member

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    Though we don't have to, we plan on (and would be using it already if our oldest hadn't gone out to school) using a state accredited diploma program... ONLY because here there are some grants that the kids can not get if they don't have an accredited diploma. I still get to choose what we learn and how we learn it, we just turn in our transcripts to them our SR year, pay their fees and in May or June get the diploma in the mail.
     
  9. Shilman

    Shilman New Member

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    Mama transcript is what everyone in our area does. No GED needed in our local public or private colleges. However, they do compare Mama's 4.0 to students SAT/ACT! That keeps things honest. If things don't add up, "you got some 'splainin to do"!
     
  10. Lindina

    Lindina Active Member

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    I'm planning for my high schooler to get her diploma from me, accredited by NAPS through the CLE program.
     
  11. my3legacies

    my3legacies Member

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    I am planning on issuing my own diploma and doing my own transcripts.
     
  12. Mouseketeer67

    Mouseketeer67 New Member

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    With my older two, I did "mommy made" diplomas and transcripts. They are attending college on TOPS scholarships. I will do the same with my youngest in the spring.

    I do however know a few Louisiana homeschool moms who made there kids take the GED as a high school exit exam & the moms still issued "mommy made" diplomas and transcripts. No one ever saw the GED scores or diploma except the family and a few close friends. These kids went on to go to college on TOPS scholarships. Their moms said the key was to get the "approved home study" approval before registering for the GED. Of course the students had to get a qualifying ACT score too.
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2013

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