Homeschool graduates are excelling in every area of life—from college to career to community involvement. While their education may be unconventional, it provides many opportunities for them to discover who they are, what they want their future to look like, and how to relate to a wide variety of people.
Will my student be well prepared for life?
You can help your teen prepare for adulting by encouraging them to develop their interests and explore their passions during high school. Taking classes in a variety of subjects and participating in well-chosen extracurricular activities will round out your student’s education, making them more attractive to colleges and employers, and providing constructive opportunities to socialize with peers. Part-time employment, apprenticeships, and internships also are worthwhile experiences.
Homeschooling allows your teen to mature immersed in a rich context of family and community relationships. Whether they plan to enter the military, start a business, have a family, pursue a career, become an artist, attend grad school (or all of the above!), homeschooling can provide a solid foundation.
Will my graduate be able to attend a trade school, tech school, or apprenticeship program?
You betcha! If your teen is interested in a career in automotive services, carpentry, plumbing, health care support, web design, culinary arts, or another field, you can customize their high school plan, elective courses, and extracurricular activities to help them prepare for this career goal.
You can start by finding out the high school course requirements for the specific program your student is interested in and then jump over to our post on Creating My Teen’s High School Plan for sample plans and step-by-step forms.
(Because sometimes trade schools aren’t as familiar with homeschool diplomas as traditional four-year colleges, it’s super important to keep good records and transcripts. If you happen to run into any misunderstandings, HSLDA’s legal team is here to help.)
Do colleges accept homeschool graduates?
Homeschooled students have proven themselves in colleges and universities for over decades. Most admissions officers are familiar with homeschooling, and many institutions even post their homeschool admission policies on their websites.
You can maximize your student’s chances of acceptance by visiting college websites, understanding their high school credit requirements, and incorporating these into your student’s high school program.
Colleges want focused and motivated students who love learning. With well-kept records and competitive college entrance test scores, homeschooled applicants are generally welcome at postsecondary schools.
OK, so you can homeschool your teen—and your teen can graduate and get a job or pursue further education. But are you worried they may miss out on any traditional high school experiences? Read on!