Here is the simple answer - Your
Own Diploma! You can get a GED if you like, or you
can use a cover school that offers diplomas, or - Create your
own! The important thing is not the diploma, it is the
TRANSCRIPTS. Colleges are not so concerned with diplomas as
they are with transcripts, SAT's,and ACT's. Below
is information you will find useful to create your own transcripts.
TRANSCRIPTS
What to include in a transcript (You may use a form or type
your own info. If using a form, fill in N/A in spaces you will
not be using. Consider using your school letterhead if typing
your own.)
Student's full legal name and identification info: Social
Security Number (necessary for financial aid) Birthdate Permanent
Address & Phone Any alternate names - adoption info, stepchildren,
legal name
changes
Name of school (this gives identity to your school): If using
a correspondence school or accredited program, you may want
to use that name.
Academic History: List of subjects (Specify during
which grade the course was taken, whether it was a semester
or year-long course, grade or marks received, credits received.
Letter grades are better than "pass!' or "fail"
type grades. I especially like the explanations used in Education
PLUS+'program "Creating Transcripts and Issuing Diplomas".
This program is also included in their "Apprenticeship
Plus" material. If you use another method of evaluating
results, be sure to explain it in writing.
You may want to add course descriptions to enable evaluator/admissions
officer to understand your program. These can come from the
course description in a catalog or the beginning of a textbook
and describe content.)
Note: if using A. C.E or Alpha Omega programs, packet numbers
need to be explained in terms of regular
courses. Admissions officers may not understand PACEs
or LifePacs unless you either include an explanation or convert
to a standard connotation for the course credit.
Concerning unit studies: I know of three approaches.
One is to give credit based on time spent on
the coursework (120 hours on task or 45 minutes
x 5 weekly classes for I year= one credit or Carnegie
*unit. This works especially well with
giving credit for nontraditional studies.
Another method is to use the a textbook as
a resource book with the table of contents being marking
off until 75-80% is completed in units, then a credit
is given.
The third is described in Judy Gelnees book College
Admissions: A Guide for Homeschoolers, available from
The Elijah Company. In the book she explains how she wrote an
explanation of their unschooling (unstructured, independent
study) program and her son was accepted into several universities,
choosing to attend Rice University. Judy is from Denver.
Other activities: Extra curricular
activities, athletics, music, pottery, carpentry, etc. (Count
EVERYTHING!) Non-academic subjects usually get 1/2 credit. You may add
a related research project in order to give a full credit. (i.e. Your
child teaches Sunday School regularly. Obtain a letter of recommendation
from the superintendent and have the child write a research paper on an
area of child development. This information thanks to Inge Cannon of
Education PLUS+).
In athletics, type out activities,
length of time participated, records set, trophies or awards obtained,
events participated in.
Letters of recommendation - coaches, employers, pastors, etc,
Community service projects
Volunteer work
Hobbies 1
Cottage Industries
Apprenticeships served
Note: The Moores recommend a
formula of equal amounts of time spent in academic as in service and
industry for younger children and for high schoolers.
Awards (photocopy if you can), award -
winning essays,
Outside classes or seminars attended
Report of achievement test scores, college entrance exam scores.
Grade Point Average, Class
Rank, Class President - sometimes these mean extra "points" in a
system that scores points for various things, then a computer spits out
the top candidates. Explain how these were arrived at: "Jon is the
oldest student in our school of five children. He serves as a leader to
the other students and is Class President."
List any previous schools attended, including dates, locations. Include
transcripts from those schools if including any transferred credits from
them.
School officials: Parents' names and titles, signatures. Include any
degree designations parents may have. Also list name of person to contact
for further info, probably mom.
State a graduation date.
SEND ONLY COPIES OF THIS NECESSARY OFFICIALS. RETAIN YOUR ORIGINAL!
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