Summary
Homeschool parents are often stressed by many unnecessary concerns. One of the most obvious of these is the concern for college admission.
There is no need for a student to gain admission to a freshman class at a selective four-year university. In fact, it may be imprudent to do so. We choose to homeschool for many reasons, one of which is the desire to provide our children with a safe, supportive environment in which to grow physically, intellectually and spiritually. It doesn’t make much sense to throw all of that away for the sake of college studies.
No such situation is necessary.
The stress of college admission is irrational. First, to obtain a four-year degree from a selective university does not require that a student be admitted to a freshman class at that university. All that matters is that the student graduates and receives his degree from that university. Second, a student who has been homeschooled may not be ready to handle all of the responsibilities and distractions that come with independent living at age 18. It may be better to make that transition one step at a time. Third, all students who earn a high school diploma may enroll in a local community college, where they can complete the first two years of their college studies before transferring into a four-year college or university of their choice. Admission to a selective university for a successful community college students is much easier than admission for a homeschool student.
If this plan is accepted, the stress of homeschooling goes away. The goal is very simple:
- Earn a high school diploma at home.
- Enroll in a community college.
- Complete two years of study at a community college.
- Transfer into a desired four-year university.
- Earn a four-year degree from the desired university.
This is a plan that offers many benefits for homeschool families. First, the goal of homeschooling is not to lead a student to admission to a selective university, but simply to lead a student to a high school diploma. Second, the homeschool student may transition to independent adult life one step at a time. He may begin college studies locally and focus on the new challenge of college studies, while still enjoying the stability of life at home. He can learn to manage college studies well before entering into a more challenging university environment. Third, this plan is significantly more affordable than attending a four-year university for four years. Much of the complaints of student loans and college costs have to do with attending four-year universities and living on campus, not actually with he cost of college studies. Fourth, studying at a community college takes pressure off of a student’s high school work as the student will be admitted to the four year school based more on his college work than his high school studies. Fifth, enrollment is open at a community college, so there is no need for stress about “getting admitted” after high school. Students simply enroll and begin college studies.
Making use of community colleges can eliminate the stress of homeschooling. Parents can simply focus on helping their children complete the requirements for high school diplomas rather than college admission. The students have access to any colleges they desire after proving themselves at the community colleges. If the thought of preparing students for admission to selective four year colleges makes you anxious, this is a very simple plan that any family can carry out.
God bless your studies,
Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.
Headmaster
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
P.S. My older children have chosen this route, but have added a twist. After earning their high school diplomas, the joined the US Army Reserves. After 6 months of training, they return home and begin college studies. The Army pays all of their tuition and they fulfill their service obligations one weekend each month and two weeks in the summer (for which they are paid). They have then transferred into a four-year university and moved from the Army Reserves into the Army ROTC program, which covers all of their college costs and pays them as Army Cadets. They have earned degrees in their chosen fields of study and then were commissioned as officers in the Army with full-time salaries–immediately after graduating.
