How to Apply to College as a Homeschooler

Tips & Tricks from a Former-Homeschooler, College Graduate, & Admission Counselor

By Natalie Williams

Natalie Williams is a former Lukeion student who was homeschooled her whole life before enrolling at the University of Dallas, a small Liberal Arts college in Irving, Texas. She graduated magna cum laude in 2022 with a double major in French and Art History. She now works as the designated homeschool Admission Counselor for the University of Dallas. You can contact her at nataliem@udallas.edu for more information on applying to UD, or to ask what her favorite Lukeion class was.

 It’s time to gear up for another year of homeschool - possibly your last! With new classes and extracurriculars, however, comes new anxiety about the future. Now you are getting asked, “Where do you want to go to college?” Maybe you have already started applying to your favorite school and are already wearing your school colors. Maybe you have absolutely no clue what you want to study, let alone where you want to spend the next four years of adulthood. And of course, the question that is just as--if not more--pressing: “How do I apply to college as a homeschooled student?”

Whether you follow an accredited or unaccredited program (as I did), you have unique opportunities to create your own “school,” and decide what kind of person you want to be. And now you get to share that person with everyone else through the college application process.

But what does that mean in regards to applying to college? It’s not impossible to apply to college as a homeschooler, and many colleges welcome homeschooled students. Here are some questions to get you started:

What college should I look for?

Think about your favorite subjects in school and your favorite things to do outside of school. Here are some questions to get you started:

• What gives you motivation and drive? Also think about why you like what you like. What fascinates you?
• If you do not have a specific academic interest, consider taking electives related to your interests until you find something you like.
• Think about what kind of college you are looking for. Size, the type of education, culture, and campus life all impact the decision process.
• Where is it located? What opportunities are there in the area for you to grow personally and professionally?
• Think about your career path, if you have one in mind. What kind of work do you enjoy?

What do I need to apply to college?

• Application - Many colleges use the Common App, or may have their own internal application. Some schools may charge an application fee, but many will let you waive that fee if you apply early.
• College essay - Some colleges require an essay showcasing something you are passionate about, or how a moment in your life impacted you. At the University of Dallas, we read every single essay for both content and grammar. We want to see students’ unique qualities shining through their work.
• Short answers – Colleges may require additional short answers that are specific to their institution. Ask yourself what you value about the college, their mindset, their values, and let those form your answers.
• Letter(s) of recommendation - Applications may request one or more letters of recommendation, particularly from your high school counselor. As a homeschooler, your counselor would be your primary educator (hello mom or dad!), but it never hurts to get more letters from outside sources. Another teacher, a coach, a mentor, even an employer can all write excellent letters. A good baseline would be two or three letters total.
• Transcript - Your one-page summary of all the courses you have completed or will complete by the time you graduate. Parents: make sure to include your student’s grades as well as a key to interpret those grades. For example, if you grade on a 4.0 scale and you give your student in A in Latin and B+ in Chemistry, providing a key helps colleges understand your student’s success.AP/IB/Dual Credit transcripts - If you took courses from an outside institution that counted for high school and college credit, you may need to request an additional transcript from that school.
• Book list and/or course descriptions - Some colleges may require this for unaccredited homeschoolers. You can start compiling this list as soon as freshman year with a short description of your classes, including: (A) What you learne, (B) How the content was administered, (C) What materials you used to learn.
• Standardized test scores - The SAT, ACT, and CLT are the most common tests to submit to colleges. However, many colleges are test-optional. For some, this means they do not take test scores into consideration when it comes to the admissions process. For others, like the University of Dallas, it means we do not use test scores to award merit-based scholarships. Ask your intended school what its test policy is.
• FAFSA and scholarship applications - Fill out the FAFSA to get the best financial aid package possible, and ask your school what financial aid it can provide you. Some scholarships may be awarded as part of your application or separately.

What expectations do colleges have from homeschoolers? What can I do now to prepare for college?

These are my two most commonly asked questions from homeschooled students. Homeschoolers are sometimes concerned about the impression universities have of them, and thus students feel it necessary to “prove” themselves to get into their dream school.

I understand that fear. I know both the uncertainty of not knowing what lies ahead in college, and the longing of just wanting to be at my new school. I remember the anxiety of waiting for an answer from my dream school only to be assured that I did get a spot. I even know the pain of rejection from my backup school (which was a last resort school, but the rejection still hurts). Rest assured, you are more prepared than you think, and I guarantee you are not alone in your worries. That’s why we are here - to answer all of your questions, and then some.

As for expectations, colleges expect that homeschooled students have a variety of interests and talents. They expect that homeschooled students are disciplined, mature, and achieve all their goals. More often than not, homeschoolers are our best students. What you can do now is keep taking classes that interest you, or otherwise just keep fueling that thirst for knowledge. Do you love researching obscure Roman emperors, or creating elaborate henna tattoos? Get a book from the library or research a YouTube video to improve your knowledge. Do you love performing for your family or performing science experiments in the kitchen? Sign up for an acting class or a science subscription. Find ways to fuel your passion and the rest will come easily.

Do's and Don’ts about College Applications

• DO make note of important dates and deadlines. Colleges may have early deadlines for applications and scholarships, and it’s important to keep track of them so you can get a spot in class or the best financial aid package.
• DO visit the college - or colleges - you are interested in. More often than not you have more freedom to arrange your schedule as a homeschooler, so plan a road trip with the family and check out some schools!
• DO make the most of your visit. Meet with your admission counselor, tour the campus, ask to sit in on classes, and have lunch with students. Picture yourself coming here in a year, or two, or four. Check out the local coffee shops or visit a museum and turn the visit into a mini vacation!
• DO get a second pair of eyes to look over your materials, especially your essays. Some colleges are very particular about application materials, and smaller schools in particular read everything. Clean up your grammar and spelling, and make sure your essays and short answers are consistent.
• DO get to know your college admission counselor. Many schools have a specific homeschool liaison or dedicated admission counselor (like me!). Scheduling an appointment or visit with them can help you stand out from the crowd even more. Ask questions about campus culture, academics, and fun things to do in the area.
• DON’T look at the sticker price. Ok, look at it a little bit. Let’s face it, college is expensive. But often universities and organizations will offer scholarships to ease the financial burden. These scholarships can range from a few hundred dollars to free tuition or (even better) free rides. Ask what scholarships are available, and research 3rd party scholarships too.
• DON’T pay money to win a scholarship. The whole point of a scholarship is that it’s free money. If you’re paying money to get money, it’s not worth it.
• DON’T wait until the last minute to apply. Chances are if you do apply late, you may still get into the college of your choice, but you may miss out on important scholarships and financial aid. Plus, it’s less stressful for you if you’re not scrambling at the last minute.
• One Last “Don’t”… Don’t worry about your major.“What do you mean don’t worry?? Isn’t that the whole purpose of college? What about all that ‘find your passion’ stuff? Why even go to college if my major doesn’t matter?”Ok, when I said that I didn't mean to disregard absolutely everything I said above. What I do mean is, if you have a great education, you will not be limited by your major. Often there are certain roles associated with certain majors, and if you want to be a teacher after studying English for four years, that’s awesome! But just because you majored in English does not mean you are bound to only English-related careers. My dad majored in history, went into computer programming, and is currently a senior manager at one of the largest web companies in the world. My childhood best friend graduated with a philosophy major and wanted to be a philosophy professor only to discover her love of nursing. My college best friend was a biology major for the first year of college before switching to psychology, and now she works with special-needs children. And the best part of all these stories? They were all homeschooled. Their education prepared them to follow their passions, even when those passions changed.

You’re graduating college as a twenty-something year old. That is still plenty of time to figure out how you want to shape your future. The journey is yours alone, but that doesn’t mean you are alone. Your high school counselors (AKA your parents) and your college counselors (AKA people like me!) are here to help you find the best fit for you, and we can’t wait to see you grow into the person you are meant to be.