Has anyone used an Idiots Guide had a dc get into college?

[Storm Bay]

Just wondering about this before I even think of getting one for a course we do just to get it done, since we're focusing more on interests now in high school. How do colleges look at these books for Dummies & Idiots? eg, if dd is applying to major in math or science, will it hurt her to have studied anything with one of those books? But we do have a few things we're going to cover with just the facts, such as Government & Economics.

[Leonor]

This is a good question. I've been following the thread on "govt. and economics not rigorous" and was excited to find this suggestion for teaching a co-op. The parents don't want as much work as an AP Govt class and don't want the texts to be too expensive. I was excited about using the Idiot's guide.

 

Susan Wise Bauer recommends The Complete Idiot's Guide to Government in The Well-Trained Mind 2004 book.

 

Since I am planning a different approach with my dc and plan to use the text for AP Govt for him, I had not thought of this. However, the parents of the students in the co-op might have this concern. I would like to know how to address that.

 

Thanks for the thread. I'm looking forward to the replies.

 

:bigear:

[MomsintheGarden]

I would say that most colleges probably don't ask for course textbook lists, but if you're concerned about validation of your student's knowledge, you might want to consider having him/her take an SAT II exam.

 

I've had two children accepted into colleges so far, and neither has asked for a list - but others have needed to send them textbook info.

 

GardenMom

[Storm Bay]

Thanks for both of these. I have the first edition of WTM. I haven't looked there for Gov't because so much has changed (for eg, she hadn't published any history books yet for homeschooler.)

[Chris in VA]

Just wondering about this before I even think of getting one for a course we do just to get it done, since we're focusing more on interests now in high school. How do colleges look at these books for Dummies & Idiots? eg, if dd is applying to major in math or science, will it hurt her to have studied anything with one of those books? But we do have a few things we're going to cover with just the facts, such as Government & Economics.

 

We used SWB's Idiot's recommendation for Government, along with some reading (Anti/Federalist papers, etc)--ds spent 6 or7 weeks in 8th grade as a VA Senate page, and did Ancients in 9th, so by the time 12th came around, he had a good handle on the subject and we just used the easy route to get his .5 credit. I included a reading list in his transcript, but not a textbook list--and he got into VCU just fine.

[Storm Bay]

We used SWB's Idiot's recommendation for Government, along with some reading (Anti/Federalist papers, etc)--ds spent 6 or7 weeks in 8th grade as a VA Senate page, and did Ancients in 9th, so by the time 12th came around, he had a good handle on the subject and we just used the easy route to get his .5 credit. I included a reading list in his transcript, but not a textbook list--and he got into VCU just fine.

 

 

Thanks! Somewhere I got the idea that you needed to list your textbook with your course on your transcript. Perhaps some colleges require it, but I'll need to refresh my memory later. Right now I'm keeping track of it all, though, so I can remember then.

[Kareni]

Thanks! Somewhere I got the idea that you needed to list your textbook with your course on your transcript. Perhaps some colleges require it, but I'll need to refresh my memory later. Right now I'm keeping track of it all, though, so I can remember then.

 

While one wouldn't list a textbook on a transcript, it is quite likely that one would include the title as part of the course description. You're wise to keep track of all the information rather than try to dredge the information out of your memory four years from now!

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Nan in Mass]

My older one did this, too. He had practical experience through peacewalking, and read the foundational documents, three Uncle Eric books, and the Idiot's Guide. He got into college with no textbook list, but if I had needed one, I wouldn't have worried about the Idiot's Guide because we considered his real textbook for the class the documents. The Idiot's Guide was just to tie them together.

-Nan

[Storm Bay]

While one wouldn't list a textbook on a transcript, it is quite likely that one would include the title as part of the course description. You're wise to keep track of all the information rather than try to dredge the information out of your memory four years from now!

 

Regards,

Kareni

 

Thanks. I hadn't realized or had simply forgotten that course description is separate from the transcript.

 

My older one did this, too. He had practical experience through peacewalking, and read the foundational documents, three Uncle Eric books, and the Idiot's Guide. He got into college with no textbook list, but if I had needed one, I wouldn't have worried about the Idiot's Guide because we considered his real textbook for the class the documents. The Idiot's Guide was just to tie them together.

-Nan

 

Thanks.