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 Start early
Begin college consideration about four years before your child expects to enter
college.
Set up a file and log system
- Have a least one file per college and scholarship
- Have a log form so your can track due dates and follow-up on
requested information If you are part of a school program, review your child's records at
least
once a year
- Keep copies of all school records
Take SAT Test early...
- ...as early as the spring of the "junior" year.
This will allow time to re-take the test if you want to. Be sure to check the college's
policy on re-taking SATs. Some will accept whatever scores you want to send, others
average scores, others take only the first test or last test scores.
If your child is planning to attend a popular
school, ask about early application.
- These are accepted in the fall one year before college
attendance.
(Another good reason to take early test.)
- Begin practicing and preparing college entrance essays a
couple years before application. Try to seek an objective person to review it like a
retired teacher or your clergyman.
- Have skeleton essays already written that can be adapted to
the particular college request.
Common essay topics:
 Describe in detail
some special interest, experience, or achievement, or anything else you would like us to
know about you- Write an essay on a personal, local, or national topic that
is of particular concern to you
- Write an essay that will help us to understand you better as
a person and a prospective student.
- Choose one or two non-academic activities in which you have
the greatest involvement and describe in detail the depth of your involvement.
- What has been your greatest challenge, and how did you
succeed in meeting the challenge?
- Keep a portfolio of extra-curricular activities and sports
activities, including any special recognition that has been received.
Time Table
Four Years Prior to College
Two Years Prior to College
- Revise course of study
- Look into Advanced Placement Courses
- Take PSAT/NMSQT test
- Prepare for application essays
- Begin scholarship applications, if necessary
- Take SAT I and/or ACT in spring or register for first fall
testing
- Prepare a personal profile
- One Year Prior to College
- Begin application process
- Begin to write essays
- Get letters of recommendation
- Take SAT/ACT Test
- Begin Scholarship application in fall
- Take Advanced Placement Test
Join our support groups here on the Zone
Faces of Home
Education Profile
"We Made It!"
Homeschool Graduates
 This fun gallery celebrates some of our proud
homeschoolers who have completed high school and are on the road to college and other
careers. Homeschooling has allowed these fine students and others to focus on careers that
they might not have otherwise been able to follow. If you have a proud graduate, this is a
great place to "show off" and also to provide encouragement for people who are
beginning the journey of homeschooling. Already featured are Jennie, who turned her love
of sewing into a successful business, Dannielle, who cares for her car and loves history,
Chuck, who is a firefighter, and so much more.
"Internships & Apprenticeships"
from "The
Teenage Liberation Handbook"
by Grace Llewellyn
 Whenever a discussion ensues about homeschooling,
and especially unschooling, in our many discussion groups, Grace's name always comes up
along with her landmark book. Grace Llewellyn is a former middle school English teacher,
the director of Not Back to School Camp, the founder of the Genius Tribe resource center
and mail order catalog, and the editor of two other books on unschooling. She has
graciously permitted us to reprint part of Chapter 33 which deals with Internships and
Apprenticeships.Don't forget to join our unschoolng support group where you can ask your
questions or make a comment.
Meet the Authors
Mariaemma Willis,
M.S.
& Victoria Kindle Hodson, M.A.
"Discover Your
Child's Learning Style"
hosted by Joe Spataro
 Interview & FREE Excerpt
  Mariaemma Willis, M.S., and
Victoria Kindle Hodson, M.A., have written a sensitive, thought-provoking book that honors
and celebrates the unique learning styles of all children.
In this interview hosted by Joe Spataro, the authors
discuss their ideas on ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, homeschooling, afterschooling as well as an
easy to follow way to assess your child.  This
book challenges the assumption at the heart of the traditional school system: that all
children learn (and therefore should be taught) in the same way. The book contains a
step-by-step program of self awareness test that guide you to a better understanding of
your child’s unique strengths and weaknesses. Normally, these tests would cost
hundreds of dollars, but now you can do it yourself and help your child achieve a better
inner peace while helping them achieve their goals and fulfill their interests.
Comments:
Just loved your
book
From: Lindsay
 Hi my name is Lindsay Abell and I have recently become interested in
"unschooling". I have always been extremely skeptical of homeschooling, but that
all changed the other day when I found your book, The
Teenage Liberation Handbook, while working on a research paper in a
bookstore. For about 6 months now, I have found myself becoming extremely passionate about
trying to change our school system. I have always been a very passionate, driven,
determined, intelligent person, but if you were to look at my grades from the past two
years since I have gotten into high school. It is frustrating for me because I know if we
were graded on how much we actually knew I would have an awesome grade. Because of this,
my parents have been extremely worried and, though they won't admit it, disappointed in
me. My research paper is on out school system and the learning environment we are pushed
into so when I found your book on the shelf the title caught my eye. I was hoping to get a
few bits of information from it with no intention to read it cover to cover. Well that's
what I did. I sat down at my table and opened it up and read thew entire thing as I sat
there. Everything you were saying made so much sense to me. So I bought the book and when
I got home I casually mentioned your book and my said "So I guess you want to be
homeschooled now" though it was obvious she was kidding.
And I replied "Yeah I think so." She was very
understanding and agreed to read your book before passing judgement. She fell in love with
the book. She agreed with everything you said, though she was still hesitant of letting me
do this. ....But I realized learning is more important than any of that. I thrive on
learning. I love reading, writing, even doing research papers and to think that I am being
given the chance to learn in a way that suits me is incredible. Thank you so much for
everything. You truly have changed my outlook and my life. I appreciate that more than you
could ever know.
Lindsay
Odessa, Florida
Featured Homeschooling authors
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Did
you know that we have support groups for homeschooling, crafts, recipes, health and more?
Find out more
 
 
 
College For Free
Homeschool Your
Child for FREE
 Zone College Page
The Question Is
College:
On Finding and Doing Work You Love
by Herbert Kohl
Recommened by Grace
Llewellyn,
author of the "Teenage Liberation Handbook, who says: A very helpful book is
The Question is College, by Herbert Kohl. It discusses apprenticeships as an
alternative to college, but is relevant for people of any age.
The Question Is College is about discovering one's true vocation or lifework....and about
not always assuming that college must be the next step after high school. Through many
vivid accounts (including some from his own family), Kohl looks at what happens in
families when teenagers have doubts about attending college. He is as sensitive to the
concerns of parents as he is aware of what it is like to be growing up today--making his
book, in a way, a handbook for navigating generational differences. But The Question Is
College is, above all, a guide to one's self-discovery. It presents real, viable
alternatives to college and shows how to find work you love and move toward it as directly
as possible. |
