What Work Samples Should I Keep for Colleges?

September 20, 2011
While supplying universities with the information they require, going beyond a transcript may better your chances of scholarships. A transcript may be the cornerstone of admission, however colleges would like more than that if you expect them to give you scholarship money. They ordinarily like to see more comprehensive homeschool records.
teens 300x199 What Work Samples Should I Keep for Colleges?
Examples of student work are the icing on the cake, the yummy dessert of comprehensive homeschool records.

In our homeschool records, I provided three writing samples with out comprehensive records. I made an effort to choose a range of writing styles; research, fiction, and poetry. I tried to use writing samples that I knew were very good. We had submitted a few writings to essay competitions to win scholarship money. When my children won scholarship money, I assumed the essay must have been good, so I tried to incorporate that piece of work.

Additionally, I saved a sample of work for each class on the transcript. I didn’t send those to colleges (I figured maybe they didn’t actually prefer documentation of four years of PE, you know? That could get lengthy! ) Instead, I made a note on each course description about how “written work is available upon request. ”  I actually did keep something from each class. In the event that they asked me for something, I ended up being able to give it to them.

I did end up being asked for some additional work samples. I was asked for a “graded” English paper (presumably along with a few red marks on it) and math work in the student’s handwriting. A different college needed to see a lab report from science. My suggestion is to be well prepared. It’s not possible to estimate exactly what information they may ask for. Instead of being concerned about it, simply try to maintain a couple of representative samples from each course. Then you’ll be all set for anything!
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What is Perfect for Your Family?

September 19, 2011

thanksgiving 199x300 What is Perfect for Your Family?

When you are making your comprehensive homeschool records, it’s a great deal like cooking Thanksgiving Dinner. There is usually a whole lot of work involved, that’s true, however there are a great number of  choices! You can find a huge number of “correct ways” to create great homeschool records! You can  choose to create your information appear the way that is JUST RIGHT for your family. I offer  options as well as templates you are able to change and customize. I also present a selection of successful  homeschool records. I truly want parents to see a large selection of perfectly good ways to  demonstrate homeschool records. We homeschoolers usually are a unique group, and one approach won’t fit all of us. Loosen up a bit! Select the way that’s perfect for your family!

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What documentation does my homeschooler need?

September 17, 2011
Typically the transcript is extremely important. It’s the one page synopsis of your student so the college or university can give them a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” quickly. It’s a excellent strategy to have some outside documentation besides your transcript.
Commonly that’s the SAT or ACT test. Sometimes it can be online classes, dual enrollment, or letters of recommendation. It depends on the college the amount of emphasis they put on tests, because each and every college is unique that way.

family 300x199 What documentation does my homeschooler need?
It’s NOT always good to have both the SAT and ACT test, actually. First, check  to see if the college your child desires to go to prefers one test above the other. Normally colleges don’t care which test they take. Then give a sample SAT and sample ACT at home. Kids commonly do better on one test than the other. Then take them to be tested with the one that causes them to seem smarter. This article will explain everything. Your children don’t have to have a perfect score, you only want them to score their best.
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Transcript templates are easy to make your own

September 16, 2011
My transcript templates as well as course description templates are like tasty recipes. They supply FLEXIBLE advice that you can adjust to fit your wants. Feel free to edit them! That’s the reason we chose to avoid creating software for our templates, actually. By giving our templates in Word and Excel, you are able to change them and change them in a million ways. Like they say on American Idol, you can “make it your own” easily with these!
baking 201x300 Transcript templates are easy to make your own

A while back I was working with a mom who had altered the colors, modified the phrasing, and removed a few columns. That is absolutely fine! Whenever you are cooking a recipe for the first time, do you add the  peanut butter if your children are allergic to peanut butter? No! You feel at ease cooking, so you feel free to make substitutions. That’s how a transcript template should be! I want you to be comfortable with them so you can substitute and modify them as desired.

Take it. Change it. Make it your own.
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The Comprehensive Record is the Key to Success!

September 15, 2011
We have written extensively the reason documenting your homeschool student’s comprehensive record is an intelligent suggestion for every college bound homeschool family.  Below are five final reasons you really should give it some consideration:

college graduate 300x200 The Comprehensive Record is the Key to Success!
*College admissions is a high stakes, extremely competitive game and you need to put your best foot forward because it helps to set your student apart.

*Homeschooling provides students with a few  specific as well as quantifiable advantages that don’t always shine through in the college application process. A comprehensive record assures those positive aspects are featured.

*College Admissions officials are usually called on to make quite a few very important decisions (admission and scholarships) utilizing very limited details (transcript and application. )  The majority will greatly appreciate more information shown to them in a logical, easy-to-use format. The comprehensive record is a confirmed method to offer them just what they would like.

*Documenting your student’s records is actually surprisingly encouraging to students. We have discovered over and over how empowering and inspiring it is to share the process of record building with homeschool students. It causes their homeschool education feel important and real to them.

*Putting together homeschool records for your student’s college application is a big job. It is usually easier to copy a successful model rather than producing one yourself.

Our comprehensive records were seen by the colleges as a “best-practice. ” Seattle Pacific University stated they were “the best documents and records” they had ever seen. We were awarded $184, 000 worth of full-tuition scholarships for both of my boys from that university and substantial scholarships from the other universities where we applied. Comprehensive homeschool records opened doors for our family and they can for your family as well. You owe it to yourself and your family to invest in a proven system and let me help you create your own beautiful, inspiring, door-opening records.

I fully guarantee you will be very pleased with the product and the results.
signature9 The Comprehensive Record is the Key to Success!

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Social Security Requests

September 13, 2011
You are not by law required to supply your social security number when applying for a college. Schools are not required to ask for it. It is going to be necessary for a college loan, but it should not be necessary for a college application. That’s exactly why I advise that you do NOT put a social security number on your transcript.
social security mom 199x300 Social Security Requests
“Giving your SSN is voluntary, even when you are asked for the number directly. If requested, you should ask why your SSN is needed, how your number will be used, what law requires you to give your number and what the consequences are if you refuse. The answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to give your Social Security number. The decision is yours. ”

Any time a college requested a social security number, I wrote “Not applicable” on the application form. None of the colleges asked me the question again. Once admitted to a college you’re going to be asked to complete even more paperwork pertaining to financial aid. You can supply a social security number at that time, to that one college. That can keep those treasured numbers from scattering through numerous colleges and a number of states with numerous degrees of safety. In the event that a college asks you for the number, you can refuse and then produce it after,  if needed.
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Homeschooling High School: Course Descriptions for Visual Learners

September 8, 2011

I’m a visual learner. Show me an example, and I can usually imitate it (unless technology stands in my way.)  Are you a visual thinker?  What would you like to see?

“I’m a visual thinker and I guess I need to SEE a piece of paper as to how the course descriptions are laid out and formatted. Do you have a format?” ~ Maria

mom visual learner 300x199 Homeschooling High School: Course Descriptions for Visual Learners

Here are some links for visual learners who want to see a course description:

*I have free online samples:The HomeScholar Record Keeping Samples
*I have a sample each month on the Gold Care Club in the Tools and Template section. Look for the “course description of the month.”
*My book, Setting the Records Straight, has many samples on pages 127-174.
*If you would like templates, those are available on the Comprehensive Record Solution.

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Save Your Work Samples

September 6, 2011
While supplying universities with the information they require, going further than a transcript will be able to  better your likelihood of scholarships. A transcript may be the building block of admission, however colleges require more than that if you expect them to offer you scholarship money. They ordinarily want to see further comprehensive homeschool records.

Examples of student work can be the icing on the cake, the mouth watering dessert of comprehensive homeschool records.

cake with icing 300x192 Save Your Work Samples
In our homeschool records, I offered three writing samples.  I made an effort to pick a wide range of writing styles; research, fiction, and poetry. I tried to use writing samples that I knew were very good. We had submitted a few writings to essay competitions to win scholarship money. When my children earned scholarship money, I assumed the essay must have been good, for that reason I tried to incorporate that piece of work.

What’s more, I saved a sample of work for each class on the transcript. I didn’t send those to colleges (I suspected it’s possible that they didn’t actually prefer documentation of four years of PE, you know? That could get lengthy! ) In its place, I produced a note on each course description about how “written work is available upon request. ”  I actually did keep something from each class. In the event that they asked me for something, I ended up being able to offer it to them.

I ended up being asked for various additional work samples. I was asked for a “graded” English paper (presumably along with a few red marks on it) and math work in the student’s handwriting. A different college needed to see a lab report from science. My suggestion is to be well prepared. It’s not possible to estimate specifically what information they could ask for. Instead of being concerned about it, simply make an effort to maintain a couple of representative samples from each course. Then you’ll be all set
for anything!
signature2 Save Your Work Samples

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Homeschool High School: Pemberly Ball

September 3, 2011

I’ve written in the past about our son’s experience with a “Pemberly Ball.” If you’re wondering what that might be, check out these blog posts!

Can’t Get Enough Jane Austen?
The Down-Side of Literature-Based Education
I Hate Literary Analysis – Part 4

Now is a great time of year to start planning events for the winter and spring. If you are considering a “Pemberly Ball” for your own homeschool literary studies, you might be interested in how to find the costumes!  Here is the email from my son’s Pemberly Society Vice-President, describing the process.

Have fun!

jane austin 229x300 Homeschool High School: Pemberly Ball

Hello everyone,

Although costumes for the Pemberley ball are not required, I’m sure some of you would like to come in one anyway and are wondering how to put one together on a student’s budget. As someone who has bought, constructed, and altered several Regency costumes before (five ladies’ gowns, and two gentlemen’s including our illustrious president, to be precise), I’d like to give you some tips for putting together a fabulous look without using up your life savings.

For the ladies, really all you need is the gown. That’s all anyone will see. A basic starting point for that can be found courtesy of the Jane Austen Centre here.  If you want to buy your own, my best suggestion to you is to look on E-bay. One particularly reasonable vendor is Wendy’s Doll closet: most dresses run between $40-80. They ship very quickly, usually within a week, and are of excellent quality even though the pictures online are not particularly impressive. The only drawback is that are completely unadorned, but all they really need is a sash, which you don’t even have to sew on, and that only costs a few dollars for ribbon. If you’re more ambitious you can also add beading and trim to suit your fancy. Really, all you have to do is put your hair up in a bun. If you want to leave out your bangs, be sure to part them down the center if you really want to be period-correct.

For you gentlemen, there is a really good guides for MacGuyver-ing a look together from secondhand items. It can be found here.   There are also good instructions for tying a cravat here.  Do this so that you will not face the scorn of Sir Percy Blakney, the Scarlet Pimpernel, “Odd’s Fish, m’dear! The man can’t even tie his own cravat!” Remember that most tasteful cravats in Jane Austen’s time were white.For those of you looking for a tailcoat and a waistcoat, I got tailcoats for two of my gentlemen friends from an E-bay vendor called Monkeysuits. In both cases I was able to get them used tailcoats in their exact sizes and in excellent condition for only $20, and waistcoats run about $10, and recieved both items within three days of ordering them. For the waistcoats, the higher they button, the more period-correct they will look. One last word about tailcoats: darker colors were more fashionable for that time period, so given the choice between black or gray, the two most common colors you can find, go with the black. For pants, long pants will work in a pinch, but if you want to go for knee breeches, a good trick is to get a pair of women’s capris or petal-pushers as long as they’re relatively plain and not denim. Then you just stick a pair of white knee socks with them, and you’re done.
Well, that’s about it. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to drop me a line.

Take care and God bless,

Sandra
Vice-President
The Pemberley Society

If you have any suggestions or experiences with Pemberly Balls I’ve love to hear about it!
signature Homeschool High School: Pemberly Ball
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Playing the Name Game!

September 2, 2011
Several people tend to be intimidated by grading. A number of parents tend to be fearful of high school credits. Then you will find some unschool or delight-directed homeschools that definitely stress out regarding  naming courses. It can be very easy if you use textbooks (look at the title of the  textbook! ) however in other conditions it’s not as simple.

question mom 199x300 Playing the Name Game!
I just got off the telephone with a mom attempting to name an unconventional class. If you are stuck, try to Google a few key words from the course you are making an attempt to name, with the words “course description. ” You’ll come up with a bunch of high school and college class course descriptions that will be similar. Look for the title that best represents your class, and Voila! In this mother’s situation, we determined that “Occupational Education: Restaurant Occupations” was the perfect title for her class.

Are you aware that every week on Facebook I provide you with a video tip of the week for homeschooling high school? Not too long ago I put on Facebook a video tip about Naming High School Classes. If you are on Facebook, make sure you check out my fan page! You can “LIKE” my page, grab my free mini-course known as “The 10 Essentials – What Every Homeschooler Needs to Study Before Graduation”
signature1 Playing the Name Game!

The HomeScholar’s Total Transcript Solution will take the fear out of homeschool transcripts!

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