Three Ways to Build Success for College Admission

College admission packets typically include their unique forms, SAT/ACT scores and the student’s high school transcript which is a record of their classes, grades, GPA and number of credits earned. The purpose of this document is to evaluate where the student graduated from, their quality of work and whether they meet minimum admissions requirements. Colleges want to accept students who can handle the level of classwork at the institution and be able to earn passing grades; they seek to avoid student failure. Homeschool students who enroll in a formal school program will have a transcript while those that utilize other approaches will have to rely on the SAT/ACT scores.

The best online homeschool programs are designed to prepare students for college and they provide dual enrollment, college prep, advanced classes and other options in addition to the standard high school classes. This gives students the flexibility they need to find a path that aligns with their learning ability and builds the foundation for the next step. Homeschool programs should be accredited to ensure that colleges and universities all over the country will accept the transcript record of classes. Otherwise, students may have to take additional courses before they can enroll in the regular classwork for their selected program. The higher the work level, the more appealing this is to the university because they have more confidence the student will be able to successfully handle the classwork.

Sports are a large part of high school life and can help students who otherwise would not be able to afford to go to college and set them on a path that is not completely dependent on academics. Scholarships, both academic and athletic, are important as they reduce the financial burden on the student and their family.

To be eligible for athletic financial aid, the homeschool student will need to have taken NCAA core courses online through a school that has maintained their eligibility with this association. When the transcript is submitted with the application request, the college can easily verify the student has the minimum number of courses to satisfy the number of credits needed for the different levels of scholarships available. Schools without the NCAA approved designation, limit the options their students will have in this area at the next stage.

There are a variety of online homeschool programs to choose from but finding the right one takes careful research and consideration of the future. Before high school, the education journey is setting the foundation and building the concepts for the last stage of early learning. Grades, curriculum and developing excellent study skills are important but they become a critical and visible piece starting in 9th grade. To give your high school student the best possible chance of success, take time to look for a program that is accredited, offers NCAA courses and a solid curriculum with a variety of options. In this way, your students can have both academic and athletic avenues open to them when choosing the university they want to attend.