Who has children in college/did you use a degree program?

[mollies73]

I live in PA, and everyone here uses a degree program that's been approved by the state to graduate their child. The parents say that colleges don't easily accept kids that haven't used one. Now I got to thinking - not every state has a degree program, how do those kids get into college? I'm looking into the degree programs, but I hate jumping through hoops. PA itself has stipulations for graduating with a "home brewed" degree as they call it, and it's just less red tape and a little more freedom to decide on the classes and the direction of their education. So I'm just wondering how many of you have college kids that you've graduated yourself? How did your child get into college (as in, records/transcripts, etc)? How well was your child received? What college are they attending? Thanks.

[creekland]

We are homeschooling in PA and have never heard of degree programs... We also have just started the college search and have visited a few so far - there haven't been any issues whatsoever with just providing a transcript and current SAT scores. Some schools will require SAT subject tests if my son opts to go there. None have asked for any sort of degree or GED. My son scored reasonably well on the SAT, so that might help us compared to average SAT scores.

 

Since I'm just starting the college thing... I'll be looking forward to seeing what other responses you receive. I have two more younguns coming up through the ranks - one should do superbly on testing, the other, well... time will tell. He's young yet.

[Orthodox6]

What follows is NOT what I would have liked to do. Light years away from what dh and I did. Yet. . .

 

Even a "poor church mouse" can want to obtain a college degree -- which determined what we have done, thus far, with two sons.

 

In our state, once a person turns 18, he may enroll in a community college with "no questions asked." There is a "core program" for academic track CC students, completion of which, with an average of 2.0 or greater, guarantees transfer of all credits to any state college/university to which the student gains admittance. At least one of our local private universities has a scholarship specifically for community college student transfers who earned a certain grade point average at the CC.

 

Neither son took the SAT or ACT -- just the placement exam for math and English administered by the CC.

 

We followed this plan solely from financial constraints.

[Leanna Tomlinson]

We did not use a degree program. My dd is attending Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio. This is a Christian college and is extremely homeschool friendly. The requirements for homeschool graduates are listed on the website.

 

1) a transcript with class descriptions included

2) a letter from pastor/spiritual leader

3) if possible, a letter from a teacher, other than the parent, who has taught the student

4) SAT/ACT scores

 

They even have a link for homeschool students on the website.:)

 

HTH,

Leanna

[kiana]

I haven't graduated any kids, but my siblings and I were homeschooled in Wisconsin, which required virtually nothing in terms of testing. My brother and I began university in Wisconsin, which required only SAT scores and a home transcript. I finished at the state university, he transferred to an Ivy League school after one year based on his state university transcript and SAT scores. My other brother just began at a CC in New York, which required placement testing in Math and English (which he was going to take anyway).

[Quiver0f10]

My oldest 3 have graduated. We have done our own thing, graduated them when we felt they were ready. The oldest two were accepted into universities and our 19 yo recieved a scholarship. The third is going the CC route to save money.

 

All they included with their applications were a transcript, ACT/SAT scores, two referral letters and an essay. Only one school, in NY, asked us for detailed class descriptions.

Edited June 6, 2009 by Quiver0f10

[cricket1178]

We live in Indiana so I'm not sure how much help this will be. We did not use a degree program, but issued a diploma ourselves. My oldest son attended a private university in state with a full scholarship. He graduated with honors. My second ds received a scholarship from a well known state university, but opted to travel that year instead of use the scholarship so lost it. He now has a job (which he had no trouble getting with the diploma we issued) and is finishing up CC this summer and getting ready to transfer those credits to the university to complete his degree.

 

Both ds's did excellent on the SAT's and the schools had no problem with the transcripts we made ourselves. Again, we are in Indiana so not sure this helps.

[Ellie]

Most parents in California do their own transcripts and diplomas, although there are a number of California-based umbrella-type schools which issue transcripts and diplomas. Many also take community college courses while still high school age, as Calif c.c.'s don't require high school diplomas or SAT/ACT scores to enroll. Community college transfer students are *guaranteed* to be admitted to any of the California State colleges or University of California campuses (campi??); at that point, no one cares about "high school."

 

Most colleges (not just in California) don't bat an eye any longer when an applicant was taught at home. The student fills out the application and produces SAT/ACT scores as well as his transcript, just as any other applicant does.

[MomsintheGarden]

We have graduated one with no "degree program." Our ds is at VA Tech in honors and the engineering program, and did fabulously his freshman year. To get accepted, we submitted:

 

1. His homebrewed transcript.

2. SAT scores

3. Application

 

For acceptance into honors (invitation only), we also submitted:

4. An essay

5. Another application

6. Two letters of reference

 

All were accepted without any quibbles. He also submitted AP scores, which didn't contribute to the process because he took them after he was accepted.

 

One caveat - I believe he had a tiny boost in acceptance because dh and I both graduated from VA Tech with engineering degrees. "Legacies" are important to Tech, but not so important that you could be accepted as a legacy with poor scores or grades.

 

From what I have heard it is more difficult to be accepted into the engineering program than the honors program. Getting into the honors dorms is more difficult, though. He didn't get into the honors dorms for his freshman year (for that we are thankful - he had a great situation in the freshman engineering guy's community), but he did get into there for his sophomore+ years.

 

I wouldn't worry about the "degree programs."

 

GardenMom

[Maryalice]

I have homeschooled in PA for 16 years, graduated 2 from highschool to college (3 more to go). There is so much misinformation in PA about diploma programs. 1)You do not need a PA homeschool diploma to go to college. 2)You are right, 49 other states do not have them. 3)PA homeschool diplomas are not accredited; they are simply "recognized" by the state and a diploma is one means of "proving" highschool graduation for PHEAA funding (PA Higher Education Assistance Assoc.). Other ways are to have your superintendent sign a PHEAA form (avail on website) or take the GED. Federal funding does not need any extra hoop. 4)You are under the authority of another governing body on what you want your child to do. The diploma programs have specifics for graduation, which may be contrary to what is best for your child.

 

I have made my own transcripts and diplomas (pieces of paper with fancy gold around them with fancy words saying that they fulfilled the requirements, gathering dust somewhere). My #1 went to St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA and then George Mason Law School in VA. My #2 went to Grove City College. They were never asked for a high school diploma. They applied to all of the colleges using transcripts that I made, application, SAT test scores, recommendations... and whatever else every other applicant needs.

 

I really wonder why PA home educators chose to buy PA diplomas.

[2cents]

I didn't use a program. We followed a classical format and kept to the general guidelines for college entry for FL. Our son began college as an early entrant at 10th grade. All he needed to do was pass an entrance test. His classes from that point on were at the college even though we kept him as homeschool high school because the tuition was free for those 3 years (we had to pay for books). Now he has a full Bright Futures scholarship and everything is free and he made a seamless transition from homeschool to college because he was already in college for those 3 years. We have never even needed a transcript but I have all the records in case we need one and he has taken the PSAT and the ACT.

[creekland]

My #2 went to Grove City College.

 

Not meaning to totally hijack a thread, but what do/did you think about Grove City? This school is just entering our radar... more for my middle son than my oldest, but possibly as a back up for my oldest too (different intended majors). The cost is appealing compared to similar schools. We plan to visit in Sept, but I'd love any other info from BTDT folks (privately or otherwise).

[mollies73]

Thanks for all the input. This relieves my mind a bit. Other homeschoolers that I'm in contact with are agast at my considering going my own way.

 

Thank you.