Getting Started
If you arrange your transcript by yearCurious about what type of transcripts can win $187,000 in scholarships? Click to see: The HomeScholar Record Keeping Samples
I have an eighth grader applying to some college prep boarding schools. The charter school will provide a basic transcript, grades, and test scores.
However, one school asked that I provide a description of the curriculum being used, and how the student is being graded. They offer little guidance in terms of how long I need to go back or if they need a philosophy to our homeschool program. Should I include syllabi?
Hi Alejandra,
Of course, Lee helps parents gain college acceptance for their homeschooled students, so I'm not really sure how to answer regarding the boarding school. My suggestion would be to go strait to the source and ask the school what it is they need, exactly. That being said, your "philosophy" could be explained in your cover letter, as suggested in this blog post: Writing a Homeschool Profile Letter. The description for your curriculum could be gained by looking at the publisher's description, but if you need more guidance describing their courses, you might find it in this blog post: Inspiration for Course Descriptions. Lee recommends that your grading scale is included in all of your homeschool records. It's not difficult to place a key at the bottom of your transcript, letting the college (or in your case the boarding school) know how you assess grades. Lee has created a free training webinar for this purpose: A Homeschool Parents Guide to Grades Credits and Transcripts.
I hope that helps!
Blessings,
Robin
Assistant to The HomeScholar
Dear Sandi,
As long as your daughter is doing high school math (algebra 1 and higher), foreign language (using a high school curriculum), or science (high school biology or higher) then there is no age limit. Your job is to put on the transcript what you know to be honest and true - colleges can choose to take it seriously or not, and count those as high school credits or not. Each college will have their own policy - but that's not your job. Your job is to put on the transcript what you know to be true. My youngest son was in 5th grade when he did some of the foreign language on his transcript. It doesn't LOOK that way, because he ended up graduating early, but that's how old he was. The college admission office knew his age when they saw his transcript, and could easily figure out how old he was when they looked at it. I hope that helps!
Blessings,
Lee
PS. Yes, the link Robin gave earlier will give more information, and you can read that blog post here: http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/early-high-school-credits-earned-middle-school/
Hello Lee,
I am wondering if this may be the case for any grade? In our home our youngest just turned 11, and has completed 5th grade on paper. In our real life though, she has completed everything with her older sister through 7th grade. This past year they completed a Latin 1 high school course, and will complete Latin 2 this next year, giving them both 2 high school credits. As well, they both have already started on Algebra 1 (we gently homeschool through the summer). As you are aware, technically our youngest is going into 6th grade this fall, but we are completely skipping this grade and listing her as a 7th grader instead. In her course-work she could graduate early with her sister, except we would like to allow them both to have their own graduation experience and that is why we, with their input, will place her in 7th instead of with her sister in 8th grade. Will a college take it seriously that she has already completed and passed - we use the honors grading system- these courses? She does not intend to stop in her foreign language with the 2 credits, she will end up taking at least another year in Latin and then intends to try at least one other language for another two years! I guess our plan has been that if we do the course-work at a high-school level, we are counting it. I just haven't looked into keeping transcripts until now, going into 7th and 8th grades. Thank you for your time commitment and the support you offer to the home school community. Lee, you are a true blessing! I see Robin's response above and I will also go to the link she gave to Emily.
In His Name,
Sandi
Dear Emily,
Not for only those classes. In the same blog post, Lee mentions another post in which shes explains in more detail: Early High School Credits Earned in Middle School
Blessings,
Robin
Assistant to The Homescholar
By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.homehighschoolhelp.com/
One of the hardest parts of teaching writing is knowing how to evaluate a paper. It seems like such risky business—a subjective effort characterized by inconsistency and wild guesses. Last
Plan ahead to avoid devastating test results .
Whether your child is a super-smart, gifted test -taker, or struggling test -o-phobe, there is one thing that could ruin their test results
When homeschoolers take classes outside the home, or use a tutor, the transcript can seem a little complicated. You can make it easily understandable by simply using acronyms for outside classes.
Homeschooling is successful because we can tailor education to the needs of our own child , giving them information in a way that makes sense to them. Homeschooling works because we
