We recommend drafting your homeschooler’s course descriptions starting in 9th grade or the year that you first start homeschooling high school, whichever is earlier. My young teen isn’t even thinking about college, you say? Write it anyway.
List all the subjects your student learned in high school. For many homeschoolers, these would be English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Languages, and Electives (choose your preferred order with languages and electives usually going last). Organize yearly classes under each subject title.
If your homeschooler’s high school years included a school that was not legally a homeschool, you have two choices. Your transcript only includes the homeschool years. Your transcript includes all four years.
For many homeschoolers, these would be English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Languages, and Electives (choose your preferred order with languages and electives usually going last). Organize yearly classes under each subject title.
Format it in a way that's clear and easy to read. For each course description, write the course name, instructor and/ course provider, semester/year class was taken, # of credits, and grade received. A good course description will describe three aspects of a class: the purpose, the content, the experience.
The School Profile Checklist for HomeschoolersName of School.Name of Student.Common App ID# or Application ID#Address.Counselor Name.Counselor Contact Info.History.Philosophy.More items...
Under Course 1 title, type the full name of your first course. (This may be different from what you call the course on an everyday basis—you may refer to “Algebra II and Trigonometry” as simply “Trig,” but colleges will want to see the full course title.)
At a basic level, your course descriptions should include these core elements:School and teacher name.Course type (e.g., regular, honors, AP, or dual enrollment)Credit earned.Which textbooks and tools were used.An overview of what a student learned.Methodology and grade evaluation.
A homeschool progress report should include basic, factual information about your student, regardless of whether you are required to submit it to anyone. You will likely enjoy looking back over these reports as your student gets older, so be sure to include details such as age and grade level, along with a photo.
If a student is applying via the Common App, there are a few general questions that a school official is obligated to fill out, and then there's an optional upload for a school profile document. Some high schools use a document uploading platform such as Maia Learning, SCOIR, Cialfo, or Unifrog.
Filling out the application The application only has 9th – 12th grades as options (in the United States, 12th grade is equivalent to the year of schooling before you attend university). You should list your 13th year of coursework under 12th grade and work backward through 11th, 10th and 9th grades.
Enter a TermClick Start to begin entering courses for a college or university.Add a semester, quarter, or trimester depending on the term system you selected in the Colleges Attended section.Select a term.Select a year. ... Select an academic status. ... Select a completion status. ... Click Save.More items...•
The section is either required or not received. In other words, if a college does not require courses and grades, then they will not be able to receive the information a student enters into the section. Courses and grades questions are only exportable via XML export templates.
How to Write a Course DescriptionBe student-centered, rather than teacher-centered or course-centered.Use brief, outcomes-based, descriptive phrases that begin with an imperative or active verb (e.g., design, create, plan, analyze)Be clear, concise, and easy to understand (< 80 words)More items...
A course description is. a short, pithy statement which informs a student about the subject matter, approach, breadth, and applicability of the course.
A course of study refers to a series of courses which students are required to complete prior to earning a diploma or otherwise moving on to the next stage in their education journey. Teachers must base their lesson plans on a curriculum that adheres to government requirements.
Where to Upload Course Descriptions in the Common App. Step 1. In your Common App counselor account, click on “Students” in the left sidebar. Then click on your homeschooler’s name. Step 2. Click on School Report in the left tab. Step 3.
For homeschoolers applying to college, course descriptions are a document that provides a brief overview of each high school course taken by the homeschool student. Every course listed on the homeschool transcript should have a detailed description in this document - even those courses that are scheduled but haven’t yet been taken or completed.
The homeschool instructor should detail the syllabi and time dedicated to each discipline. It is expected that the home-schooled curriculum will conform to or exceed the standards of the student’s state-mandated curriculum.”. So, while schools may not use the term “Course Descriptions,” it’s exactly what they’re seeking.
Here’s a guide to make writing them a bit easier: 1 Self designed courses: Find similar classes online and use their course descriptions as a guide when writing your own. 2 Community college courses: Copy and paste from the course catalog. 3 Former high school courses: No need to write these, but remember to request that a transcript is sent directly to each college. 4 Online Classes: Copy and paste from the online course website. Many times the syllabus is posted. 5 Textbooks: Use the summary listed on the publisher’s website. 6 Tutor: Ask if they will write one for you.
University of Southern California (USC): “Home-schooled students need to provide us with detailed syllabi of courses, names of textbooks, details of any assistance you are receiving or curriculum you are following through any public or private agency, and any additional information that may be helpful in our review of your application.”
Some homeschoolers confuse the term course descriptions with the transcript. They’re not the same thing. Whereas course descriptions are detailed and lengthy, a transcript is a one-page document that simply lists course names, grades, credits, and GPA. When I refer to the transcript, I refer to that simple, one page document.
Course descriptions are simply, exactly that: a document that lists and describes all the courses your homeschooled high schooler took (or will take) from 9th to 12th grade. They give admissions committees very helpful insight into your child’s homeschool journey and academic preparation for college.
List all the subjects your student learned in high school. For many homeschoolers, these would be English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Languages, and Electives (choose your preferred order with languages and electives usually going last).
Simply follow the same example as your homeschool transcript for easy reference. Choose a descriptive course title. English 9 is completely fine but it does not describe the absolutely amazing medieval literature study your freshman might have completed.
Homeschoolers often have to jump through additional hoops during college applications. Always check college websites for what they look for in homeschooled applicants. Many college websites now feature homeschool-specific information. If they don’t (or even if they do) we always suggest contacting the colleges for details.
How can your homeschool transcript tell your high schooler’s story? As the homeschool counselor, you have the opportunity to reflect the quality and uniqueness of your child’s education . Provide a transcript that balances the “wow” factor with the “clarity” factor! One way you do this is by understanding ...
The two middle school subjects - if taken at a high school level - acceptable to put on a high school transcript are Math and Foreign Language .
As with the fall classes, list any spring classes as “in progress” or “IP.”. The grades for those classes will be sent with the counselor’s final report. And, yes, you will send a final report with an updated and “FINAL” transcript. Be sure to include the graduation date on that final transcript.
Yes, include 12th grade fall semester classes with grades if the timing is right. If you are applying Early Action or Early Decision, include the names of the courses and note that that they are in progress. If applying at the completion of fall semester, do include those grades. It can make a difference.
Activities, awards, and course descriptions do not belong on the transcript, especially if using the Common App. There are specific sections to list those items. If not using the Common App, and there is no section to include such accomplishments, consider creating a separate document. So, there you have it!
Test scores can be included, UNLESS applying test-optional (choosing to not send scores to a test-optional school.) For obvious reasons, you would not want those scores on the transcript. Also important: Do NOT self-report those scores in the Common App.
IMPORTANT: AP courses must be officially approved by College Board. If your course has not been officially approved, you may not list it as such on the transcript.
Back when I worked in HR, I wrote lots of documents- job descriptions, policies, employee handbooks, and the like. The easiest way to begin was by finding what I liked and tailoring it to my specifications. Course descriptions are no different.
First, I recommend writing course descriptions regardless of whether or not your teen intends to go to college. It is a document that will help frame your course and will communicate expectations and grading requirements with your teen.
This has been a sticking point for some so I thought I would mention it first: The course description is not the same as a transcript. A transcript contains courses completed with grades, credits, and a grading scale. It is some of the same information but it is usually a bare bones one page document which encapsulates all four years.
When my oldest began taking high school level courses, I started putting these documents together. Originally, it was because I wanted her to know what the year was going to look like in terms of subject matter covered for each class.
A lot of this depends on what the college asks for. If you go to the college admissions section of their website, they will likely address homeschoolers separately.
With a little time and effort, you can put together some excellent course descriptions for your homeschool high schooler that will help walk them through the course they are taking and will let colleges know what their courses looked like.