Advanced Placement® Courses
Advanced Placement courses are valuable additions to your student’s transcript, BUT in order to list them on the transcript, the course content must be pre-approved by the College Board®. When choosing local or online AP courses, check to make sure that they are approved courses. You as a homeschooling parent may also submit a syllabus to AP Central for approval. Hint: you may select one of the sample syllabi for a particular course, say, AP World History, have it approved by the course audit process, and then conduct the course at home according to that syllabus.
Note: Any student may self-study and take an AP Exam regardless of whether he or she has taken an approved AP course; it’s just that you can’t include AP in the course title on the transcript. Consider calling the course “Advanced World History,” for example, and reporting the score from the AP Exam on the college application.
See Chapter 12 in Homeschooled & Headed for College for a full description of the Advanced Placement program.
SAT® vs ACT® Exams
Some students do better on the SAT; others find the ACT more to their liking. Have your student take informal practice tests in both and then decide which one to take “for real.” Or opt to sit for both exams at least once. The SAT exam includes two main sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math. The ACT Test includes English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional 40-minute timed Writing section. See Chapter 19 in Homeschooled & Headed for College for descriptions of SAT and ACT exams as well as tips on preparing, scheduling, and utilizing these tests in the admissions process. Note: This chapter was written before the discontinuation of the SAT Subject Tests, the essay portion of the SAT exam, and the acceleration of test-optional and test-blind policies at many universities.
Summer Strategies
Parents and students can both make good use of the flexible summer schedule while still finding time for vacations, rest, and fun. Parents: take the time to thoroughly plan the year’s courses, strategize for college preparation, and network with other homeschooling parents for ideas and encouragement. Students: seek out a job or internship, venture on a missions trip or cross-cultural experience, read quality literature, pursue your passions, or focus on volunteer work.
Middle School
The middle school years are an ideal time to evaluate where your student is in terms of academics, extracurricular interests, and current or potential passions. After discerning whether your student (1) needs extra instruction in one or more subjects ,(2) is exactly at grade level, or (3) is excelling and ready for high school work, you’ll have a clearer idea of how to prepare for the high school years. These years are also perfect for exploring talents and interests in preparation for pursuing them to an even further degree in high school.
While You’re Waiting…
Use all those little “pockets of time” spent waiting for your students at their various activities, to accomplish some of your grading, planning, and recording tasks. Stock your car or a sturdy bag with papers to grade, pens, school year schedule, answer keys, and any other essential supplies so that you can chip away at these ever-present tasks. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish! Homeschooled & Headed for College is packed with numerous survival tips for homeschooling parents. And in fact, it was written, to some extent, in said pockets of time!
College Board®, SAT®, AP®, and Advanced Placement Program® are registered trademarks of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product. SAT Subject Tests™ is a trademark owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc.
Denise has developed a comprehensive guide to help homeschooling families design and implement a rigorous college prep program. Homeschooled & Headed for College discusses academics, electives, testing, and documentation, and she walks families through all aspects of the college selection and application process. Denise’s research and recommendations will save families precious time.
