How do you deal with a college that doesn't understand homeschooing and is asking for a GED?

[EKT]

My daughter is interested to applying to Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in the fall. Their website says homeschoolers not in some sort of specific program must have a GED. I emailed them to ask if the GED requirement is flexible. I got this response:

Homeschool applicants must provide the equivalent of a high school transcript with course or subject titles, duration of study for each title, the content of study for each title, and an assessment of performance or "grade". Preferably, the courses completed at home are part of a curriculum developed and evaluated by a nationally recognized diploma-granting organization or agency. If not connected with such an organization and an official transcript from a state homeschool association or sponsoring public high school is not available, homeschool applicants must obtain and submit GED, TASC or HiSET exam results as confirmation of completing a generally acceptable secondary school curriculum. Individual homeschool transcripts with date of completion do not suffice as official proof of graduation.

In my original inquiry, I tried to explain that Ohio (where we live) fully recognizes homeschool diplomas, so like, the diploma I grant her should be proof that she has really graduated. The admissions counselor seems to believe that because Ohio recognizes diplomas, we are in some sort of umbrella program, but we are not. Basically, they don't seem to understand homeschooling at all, and I am trying to communicate that yes, my daughter absolutely is doing proper high school. (By graduation, she will also have 28 credits of dual enrollment with our local CC!) 

None of the other major art schools seem to have this disconnect; they all have reasonable homeschool admissions requirements. So I just feel at a bit of a loss; we don't have the requirement they mention (and making my daughter get her GED feels insulting), but I don't think the school even understands how homeschooling works or what they are asking. It's like they don't even know what they want. MICA is a respected art school and it has a lot of pluses, so I don't want to take it off my daughter's list if I can find a way forward, but I don't really know how to proceed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[bibiche]

We got a letter from the school district approving our transcript and that was that. Do you not have to report to the local school superintendent in Ohio? If so, just ask them to look over the transcript to make sure it meets requirements for graduation and then get it in writing.

ETA we were also told we needed a GED for one school. As it happens, it was a very junior admissions person who told us that and when we went up the ladder it was straightened out (of course a GED was not needed).

Edited February 27 by bibiche

[catz]

That is weird.  I will say I had very detailed transcripts for my kids with class names, curriculum, abbreviated syllabus, outside sources, links, teacher names, etc and they got through a number of fussier admissions processes.  It did start with a standard one page transcript.  My kids dual enrolled for 2 years, I’m sure that didn’t hurt. 

I would be trying to convince my kid this wasn’t worth the trouble, or just applying with what you have and let the chips fall.  I think it is extra weird an art school wouldn’t see a bunch of non traditionally schooled applicants?   ETA totally agree this could be a communication misunderstanding with some random person I their office.  Turnover can be high for those anyway, sometimes it’s a student, etc.  

Edited February 27 by catz

[regentrude]

We encountered a school that said on their website that they require a GED from homeschoolers. I pointed out that our kid wouldn't even be eligible to take the GED because he had legally finished highschool. They realized that the info on their website was "misleading" and ended up changing it.

You might want to speak to a different person in admissions. Just because one counselor is clueless about homeschooling  doesn't mean the entire department is. Turnover in these offices is high, and I'm not sure how much training and information they get.

Edited February 27 by regentrude

[kokotg]

I looked up the response you got and they were just cutting and pasting from the website; it's certainly possible that it was written years ago and no one remembers who wrote it or why anymore (and they don't deal with homeschoolers enough to bother updating/clarifying/learning more about why they're wrong). I'd probably stop going back and forth with them, let my kid apply if they wanted, and see what happened. Particularly if this is just one of several schools she's interested in and not somehow uniquely wonderful. FWIW, my oldest kid ignored homeschool "requirements" at at least one college (in that case they wanted 3 subject tests from homeschoolers, and he only had 2) and was accepted anyway. 

Edited February 27 by kokotg

[jplain]

I would attempt to explain that because a homeschool high school diploma is recognized as valid in your state, the GED is not appropriate for your student.  It is primarily intended for individuals who need to demonstrate the equivalent of a high school diploma.  It is not intended for people who have earned or are on track to earn a high school diploma. 

[catz]

50 minutes ago, jplain said:

I would attempt to explain that because a homeschool high school diploma is recognized as valid in your state, the GED is not appropriate for your student.  It is primarily intended for individuals who need to demonstrate the equivalent of a high school diploma.  It is not intended for people who have earned or are on track to earn a high school diploma. 

I agree and  I think it would be fine to spell this out in your school profile and transcript - how you have fulfilled the graduation requirements for your state.   I'm not sure it is worth the ongoing back and forth when you don't know who you're speaking to.  In general, we just sent way TMI.  Our transcript  was 

• Typical one page summary - class titles, credits, grades sorted by subject.  
• Credit worksheet by subject to show how graduation requirements were fulfilled
• Scanned copies of outside grades - dual enrollment transcripts, a few online classes
• Many pages of detailed class information - Title, Credits, Provide, outside teacher if applicable, grade, description, curriculum list, links to applicable info 

Our profile included our homeschool background and philosophy, description of state graduation requirements, information on outside educational providers (co-op, professionally taught classes, online classes, dual enrollment providers, etc), covid impact 

My kids also got into a couple schools they shouldn't have according to verbage on a college's website about homeschooler requirements.   

[EKT]

5 hours ago, regentrude said:

We encountered a school that said on their website that they require a GED from homeschoolers. I pointed out that our kid wouldn't even be eligible to take the GED because he had legally finished highschool. They realized that the info on their website was "misleading" and ended up changing it.

You might want to speak to a different person in admissions. Just because one counselor is clueless about homeschooling  doesn't mean the entire department is. Turnover in these offices is high, and I'm not sure how much training and information they get.

Your comment made me lol. It made me realize that yes, my daughter won't even be eligible to take the GED because she'll legally be a high school graduate! (And I recently looked this up on the GED website.) Thank you for your input!

 

[EKT]

Thank you so much to everyone has chimed in, and for sharing stories! I was freaking out for a bit there, but I think the school just don't know what it's asking. This information was coming from a regular admissions officer (not a student), but I suspect it will be fine. (It's just frustrating when the school's policy doesn't seem to understand homeschooling/seems to contradict itself. Like, what magical agency cranks out homeschool transcripts and diplomas? lol.) I think my daughter will just apply with all the same, thorough documents we'll be providing her other prospective schools and let the chips fall. 

Like others have said, it just seems weird that as an art school, they don't get more than the average amount of "alternative" students; you'd think they would be more familiar with homeschooling. It stands in stark contrast with another school on her list, Savannah College of Art & Design, which has super homeschooling-friendly language on their website (screenshot attached). For this and other reasons, SCAD is definitely a school she is especially interested in....

Anyway, thank you again! So helpful!

[freesia]

18 minutes ago, EKT said:

Thank you so much to everyone has chimed in, and for sharing stories! I was freaking out for a bit there, but I think the school just don't know what it's asking. This information was coming from a regular admissions officer (not a student), but I suspect it will be fine. (It's just frustrating when the school's policy doesn't seem to understand homeschooling/seems to contradict itself. Like, what magical agency cranks out homeschool transcripts and diplomas? lol.) I think my daughter will just apply with all the same, thorough documents we'll be providing her other prospective schools and let the chips fall. 

Like others have said, it just seems weird that as an art school, they don't get more than the average amount of "alternative" students; you'd think they would be more familiar with homeschooling. It stands in stark contrast with another school on her list, Savannah College of Art & Design, which has super homeschooling-friendly language on their website (screenshot attached). For this and other reasons, SCAD is definitely a school she is especially interested in....

Anyway, thank you again! So helpful!

I think one of the homeschool options in Maryland is an umbrella school, which is a "magical agency that cranks out transcripts and diplomas."  I think colleges in the states with umbrella schools tend to write from that perspective.  You "could" register with something like HomeLife Academy in Tennessee and get the transcripts, diplomas from there.  I did that for various reasons when we were in NY.

[EKT]

21 hours ago, freesia said:

I think one of the homeschool options in Maryland is an umbrella school, which is a "magical agency that cranks out transcripts and diplomas."  I think colleges in the states with umbrella schools tend to write from that perspective.  You "could" register with something like HomeLife Academy in Tennessee and get the transcripts, diplomas from there.  I did that for various reasons when we were in NY.

Yes! Fair point. (We used to live and homeschool in Maryland, though we never opted for the umbrella option.) 

I guess I just feel that since colleges are assessing applicants from all 50 states (and internationally!), they should be better-versed in the variety of ways homeschooling functions. Or at least, the admissions counselors for each geographical region should understand how homeschooling works in the states they are responsible for. (For instance, my daughter's admissions counselor at MICA is in charge of applicants from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mass., Michigan, Minn., Missouri, Nebraska, and Ohio. So I don't think it's unreasonable to expect them to be familiar with homeschooling laws and procedures in these states. Student applicants are expected to adjust their applications for every individual school; schools should likewise have to know their prospective students.) 

Thank you also for mentioning the Tennessee academy. I hope to not have to need something like that, but I appreciate knowing it exists as an option!

Edited February 28 by EKT

[teachermom2834]

Two of my boys graduated with diplomas and transcripts from Homelife. We are in TN and it was the easiest legal path. I will say, even in a state with a significant homeschool population, and applying to non-competitive schools, there is something magical about having a diploma coming from “somewhere”. Now, it made me crazy on principle because I knew that all I was doing was telling Homelife what to write, and it meant no more than printing it up myself, but it did make things easier and satisfy the people that just need it to be “official”.  

[ScoutTN]

2 hours ago, teachermom2834 said:

Two of my boys graduated with diplomas and transcripts from Homelife. We are in TN and it was the easiest legal path. I will say, even in a state with a significant homeschool population, and applying to non-competitive schools, there is something magical about having a diploma coming from “somewhere”. Now, it made me crazy on principle because I knew that all I was doing was telling Homelife what to write, and it meant no more than printing it up myself, but it did make things easier and satisfy the people that just need it to be “official”.  

Exactly. But SO easy! 

[Dmmetler]

I've also found with M that an HLA transcript is accepted to apply test optional, but "homeschoolers" have to provide scores.  Which can make a difference. 

[teachermom2834]

10 minutes ago, Dmmetler said:

I've also found with M that an HLA transcript is accepted to apply test optional, but "homeschoolers" have to provide scores.  Which can make a difference. 

Wow. That could about make me crazy but I won't let it because I have no dog in this fight anymore. LOL. I'm glad it helped! 

[Clemsondana]

I had heard that UA-Huntsville was challenging for homeschoolers.  But, because we had an umbrella (a local private school that is very hands-off - I actually wrote all of the counselor materials for my kid), I could submit their transcript and didn't have to jump through any homeschool hoops.  It was well worth the yearly fee.  

[Zoo Keeper]

Just adding to the "umbrella" options... NARHS is very easy to work with.   https://narhs.com/

(according to people I know who have used it... my kids have been fine with my homeschool transcripts so far. )

[silver]

While looking for schools with my oldest, we came across one that is test blind and accepts everyone with a 3.0+ GPA just with transcripts ... unless they're homeschooled. Then then have to do the "holistic review process" that kids with <3.0 GPA need to go through, which involves writing essays and doing interviews, and jumping through extra hoops to prove that you're serious about college and have learned how to ask for help. The common data set from 2019-20 shows their middle 50 percent for ACT scores was 15-20, it's not like this is a high standards school.

It's an affordable college with ABET accredited engineering programs (the current top two criteria right now). But I'm not sure my oldest will be willing to jump through those hoops.

[EKS]

On 2/26/2024 at 5:56 PM, EKT said:

None of the other major art schools seem to have this disconnect; they all have reasonable homeschool admissions requirements.

We have a local art school (so not major) that has exactly the same requirement. 

I wonder if the school you're considering would accept an SAT score instead.  I mean, assuming that your student's score is reasonably good.