And so it begins: our adventure into the senior year. The plan is to blog about what we are learning and share it with you all as it happens. Naturally, it all starts with a plan and a goal. What is your goal for your children as they graduate high school? Please share it in a comment below. College is not for everybody.
Homeschool to College: Our Journey Series
For us, the goal is a four-year institution with a strong computer science program and a merit-based full ride scholarship. Geography plays a role, too. Our son wants to stay nearby. There are many options in Tennessee, where we live. However, we have cast a wider net in order to add certain other universities which have peaked his interest.
I would like to emphasize that we are not emotionally invested in any one university or college. Also, we will follow the money wherever it leads. If a reach school does not give him enough in the financial package, he does not mind attending a state school that offers him a full ride. We do not want loans and we do not want debt.
Planning the school year at my desk
Of course, for those who live in Tennessee, there is always the option of a community college, available to all for free (pretty much). It is a wise choice and a valid choice for many. We have not completely taken it off the table, either. It depends on what we discover along the way. We have yet to visit college campuses and have a feel for these amazing schools on our list. Nothing beats visiting a campus and taking a tour to see, hear, smell, touch, and taste the atmosphere of each campus.
June Means Research
The month of June, for me, is all about research. In case you would like to get started as well, here are some ideas:
- Refine the university list (12 names organized in three categories: reach, target, safety)
- Build the Master Calendar on paper (buy planner or print monthly pages June 2025-December 2026)
- Research scholarships
- Add deadlines to Master Calendar
- Schedule campus visits
- Continue test prep for the August SAT
- Start a list of co-op teachers, coaches, program coordinators etc who could give a letter of recommendation
- Document volunteer hours
- Get familiar with the Common App, FAFSA, and other websites
- Check with umbrella school that the high school transcript is up to date
Thank you for sharing your family’s homeschooling journey, Adriana. It’s very inspiring and insightful (even though my son is still years away from college). I’m considering homeschooling and delighted to learn from experienced parents like yourself.
Thanks for the ideas on researching the school. When it comes to school research and senior year planning, are you the one doing the job? Or it’s more of your son’s responsibility at this point?
My pleasure. When it comes to research, I do most of it. I am the guidance counselor. We, homeschool moms, teach and guide. My son gives me a lot of input and he does his own research, as well. Three out of the 12 colleges came from him. However, it is my role as the guidance counselor to gather information and ideas and submit to him. I do not impose my own will/ideas/goals, but I am the one responsible for understanding the paths available. Then he and I and my husband (his dad and the principal of the school, if you will) will make a decision together. And he will apply to different colleges and scholarships. Hope this helps.
Thank you for your answer. Great approach and great metaphor.
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