Here are some answers to questions I frequently hear...

Can I earn a real college degree entirely from home?
Yes! In fact, you can earn both bachelor's and master's degrees with little to no residency required. It may not be as much fun as focusing on college for four consecutive years when you're young, but for many people it's the only way they'll ever have time to earn a degree. And colleges are increasingly eager to attract non-traditional students because of their high level of scholarship and motivation for learning. There are several books available to help you select a degree program suitable for your needs. My favorite guide is Bear's Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning by John Bear. He's been writing about distance learning for years, and his guides are delightfully opinionated. The Peterson's Guide to Independent Study is also a good resource.

Is there an age limit to distance education? One of the best things about distance learning is that artificial barriers such as age limits are usually removed. Some schools do have preferences, of course, but as long as a student can demonstrate the ability to work at college level, there is usually no barrier. For very young students, this is something to verify before a final enrollment decision is made.

Is there an age limit to distance education?
One of the best things about distance learning is that artificial barriers such as age limits are usually removed. Some schools do have preferences, of course, but as long as a student can demonstrate the ability to work at college level, there is usually no barrier. For very young students, this is something to verify before a final enrollment decision is made.

Is financial aid available for distance education?
Just as in traditional education, it depends upon several factors: your financial need, how many classes you will take per semester or quarter, and whether or not the school is accredited. It always pays to apply for aid, even if you don't think you'll be eligible. Let the experts decide! For more information or to apply online for aid, go to the Financial Aid Information Page.

How can I prepare for college-level exams?
There's not room here to cover this in detail, but here is the basic process: One of the first things to do is request information for the exams you'd like to take. If you want to take a CLEP exam, for example, request information from the College Board site. You will receive a booklet listing all the test sites and brief descriptions of the available tests. Next, look through one of the test prep books at your local book store, and take one of the sample tests to see whether you know enough to pass without studying (many people who read a lot or have work experience in a particular area can pass an exam without extra study- if so, go for it!). If you need to study further, find a used college text (I have a few for sale at a fraction of the bookstore price- just e-mail me with the subjects you're interested in and I'll let you know if I have anything) on half.com or other used textbook sites, and study through it until you can pass the sample test with a comfortable margin for error.

Can homeschooling work for everyone?
I don't really like blanket generalizations, but I believe that homeschooling can work for any family where the parent (or grandparent or other responsible adult) is willing to learn and grow along with the child. Just as traditional classroom teachers rely on textbooks, a homeschool parent can utilize all sorts of books, resources, and experiences to supplement her own knowledge. There are people from virtually all socio-economic levels and life situations who are homeschooling and succeeding beyond their wildest dreams.

Why would I want to homeschool my child?
People homeschool for many different reasons, but for me, a dozen years of homeschooling has produced three compelling reasons that homeschooling was the right choice for my family:
1) Relationships- spending time together is still the best relationship-builder around, and family relationships are top priority- we love spending time together;
2) Academic excellence- A loving home, rich in books and words, is the best and least stressful learning environment for children, and homeschooling provides teens the peer-pressure-free environment they need to pursue and excel in their own interests; and
3) Adaptability- life becomes school, and families are free to respond together to life-situations, such as personal illness, care of aging parents, or even the opportunity to travel, while learning continues to happen each and every day.

Do I need a college degree to teach my children?
The short answer is "no." A college degree is a good thing to have, and if you don't have one, there's no reason why you can't learn enough as you teach your children to pass CLEP exams and earn a degree if you want one. However, the process of teaching is not at all dependent on what you know; it's more dependent on the books and information you share with your children and what you are willing to read and find out. In the process of raising literate kids, a literate lifestyle is more important than a parent's college degree.

What are the most important academic areas to teach a student? Although there are basic things that every literate person should know, each child's interests will lead him to focus on certain areas more than others. It's important to feed special interests, while providing a solid information infrastructure. Every child must know how to communicate- read, write, and speak- well and accurately perform arithmetic functions. He should know how to find and use information from a variety of sources including books, the library, the internet, and personal interviews. A good grasp of the history and literature of Western Civilization, basic scientific principles, mathematics, and technology will give him a solid foundation for exploring personal interests and deciding on his life course. And practical skills such as financial management, construction, home maintenance, and other life-skills will enable him to make the most of what he has as an adult.

How old should my child be before he starts studying for college-level exams or attends community college?
Let me answer this one with another question- when was your child ready to start eating solid food? When he had enough teeth and an appetite to encourage him to try new things, right? Your student can start college-level work whenever he has the appetite and the skills to absorb the material. The amount of knowledge customarily taught in grades 1-12 is so limited that most students can get through it all in considerably less time. The early-mid teen years are ideal for studying subjects at the college level, and it's extremely efficient to get a head start on earning college credits. There's no point in wasting time and opportunity when it's so simple to move ahead.

How can a student get into community college before he graduates from high school?
It's surprisingly easy to do this- community colleges usually offer "dual-credit" options, meaning that a high school student is granted both college and high school credit for classes taken at the college. So many homeschoolers use the community college option that some schools even have special admittance categories just for home educated students. Just call the admissions office of your nearest community college and request a catalog and application. Fill out the application for your student, indicating that he will be a part-time, non-curricular (no declared major) student. This is the easiest way to get in for the first semester. A major can be declared later. This is an excellent way for a homeschooled student to get accustomed to the routine of tests and schedules before plunging full-time into college life. It's also relatively inexpensive.

Are homeschooled teens able to get into college?

Absolutely! Colleges everywhere are accepting homeschoolers in record numbers- a few progressive colleges (such as Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia) even have Homeschool Admission Counselors to assist homeschoolers through the application process. You'll need to present your student to the college in a ways that markets him or her on an equal footing with traditionally-schooled students, so a professional-looking transcript is very important.

Generally, home-educated students are valued for their independence of mind, mature study habits, and broad knowledge base. Several of the books on the catalog page and the links on the links page have lists of colleges which have accepted homeschoolers. The list includes not only community colleges (which often accept homeschoolers as young as 13), but also the most competitive Ivy League schools. College acceptance has truly become a non-issue when making the decision to homeschool.