How to Make a Homeschooling Portfolio

Build a portfolio that gets you into college.

Graduating from a homeschooling program and entering a traditional school can be a challenge. Homeschooled high school students applying to colleges and universities can showcase their academic success by creating a homeschooling portfolio. This portfolio shows admissions committees the quality of education that the homeschooled student received and examples of assignments that the student completed. This document can help an admissions committee assess the student's academic achievements.

Instructions

1. Draft a list of the courses you completed, along with course descriptions. Break your courses into academic years. List the name of each course as well as a brief description of what the course covered.

2. Compile a reading list that reflects the materials you read throughout your high school homeschooling career. Include both textbooks as well as fiction and nonfiction books that you read in conjunction with your studies. List the author's name and year of publication next to each book title.

3. Include a writing sample. Select an assignment that you completed during your high school career, preferably during your last year, to include in the portfolio. A research paper is a strong sample, as it shows your ability to research, analyze and write -- skills that are essential in higher education.

4. Include a few sample assignments in different subjects. You can include a lab report that you wrote for your chemistry class, a presentation you created for your psychology class or an essay that you wrote about American history. These assignments help the admissions committee assess the quality of your homeschooling program.

5. Add your resume to the portfolio. List your academic achievements, such as a high grade point average. Include information about any jobs that you worked while you were homeschooled. Include any extracurricular activities you participated in. Even if you studied at home, you might have volunteered at a local animal shelter or participated in a community sports league. Such activities show that you are well-rounded, an attribute college admissions committees want to see.

Tips & Warnings

• Many schools have specific application requirements for homeschooled students. Contact the admissions office of the schools to which you plan to apply, and ask if they have any guidelines for homeschooling portfolios.

References

• Southeastern University: Homeschool Applicants
• Seton Hall University: Homeschooled Students
• Colorado State University: Homeschool FAQ