Still on the Fence?
Sometimes taking that first step is the hardest. What roadblocks have kept you from making the decision to educate your children at home? Trust that these roadblocks will be removed. Finally, prayerfully, read on. Hopefully, by addressing some of the common homeschooling issues your roadblocks will become pebbles under your feet!
Worried that your children will have a hard time getting into college if you homeschool? Fear not! Homeschoolers are not only being accepted into the colleges of their choice, their acceptance rate by desirable colleges and universities exceeds that of the general public. Some universities have gone so far as to create guidelines expressly for home educated students, helping them plan the portfolios they will submit in lieu of typical public school transcripts.
Now that we have THAT out of the way, what does your child delight in? What does he see himself doing for a lifetime? Haven't given that much thought? Then you know where to start! Determine your child's giftings. One of the best things you can do for your child is help him discover his life purpose. He has been gifted with particular skills and talents and interests. If you give him time (from the beginning of your homeschooling career) to discover these giftings, then when the time comes to choose a path, the choice will be more clear.
One your child has investigated his interests and has chosen a life path, he'll need to determine what type of training will be required for him to succeed in his area of interest. Obviously if he plans to be a lawyer or a doctor, he will need a college degree. But sending your child off to a four-year state institution shouldn't be a forgone conclusion. Just as there are alternatives to public schools, there are also alternatives to your typical college education - apprenticing, entrepreneurship and vocational training, among others. Should your child's future aspirations include a college degree, there are many non-traditional options available including distance learning, and AP, CLEP and other types of college credit.
As we prepare our children for the purpose for which they will be called, we can be assured that homeschooling will in no way limit their options. If our children have been trained in a learning lifestyle, then their education will have only just begun!
Further Reading
- After High School
"What comes next? Further academic education? Vocational training? A year of specialized study? Time off to see the world? (Wouldn't that be nice!) Whatever your child's next step, these resources will help you plan for it." Resources compliled by HSLDA. - College at Home, for the Glory of God
"During her last year of high school, Zoie and I spent much time together in study and discussion about her future education, deliberating over these seven determinative questions. Since 'the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,' our investigation from start to finish was guided by the principles of God's Word. We knew that if God's revealed will in Scripture were compromised, His glory through her life would ultimately be diminished. No education program was worth that! Hence, we agreed that any option requiring conformity to the world rather than to Christ simply was not His will. Thus, our journey had begun on solid footing with a common commitment to God's truth." Challenging article by John Thompson. While you may not agree with each premise or arrive at the same conclusions, you will certainly have food for thought! - Colleges That Admit Home schoolers
Find out if the colleges you are interested in have admitted homeschoolers in the past. Learn in Freedom (Karl M. Bunday) - High School! Yes, It Can Be Easy, Too! (pdf)
Before you can get there, you need to know where you are going. Cindy Rushton provides a study guide that will challenge your thinking and help your child (and you) think through options! - Home Schoolers in Ivy League Universities
"In addition to Stanford University, Yale and Harvard Universities were also among the top tier of colleges with the most home school-friendly admission policies." Article by the National Center for Home Education. - Homeschool Entrepreneurism Catches Fire
"With homeschooled children in the U.S. now numbering in the millions, most of them being raised in a Christian worldview, what happens when all these students reach their teen years? Many go to college – despite the fact that higher education is increasingly steeped in leftist indoctrination and sexual obsession – toughing it out in an unfriendly environment in hopes of becoming prepared for the adult world of work and career. Some try to avoid the ravages of secular culture by attending a Christian college. But an increasing number of homeschoolers are trying a different road. They are becoming entrepreneurs and business owners." An interesting option for many!