How to Keep Homeschool Transcripts

In order for your high school student to graduate from homeschool, you need to keep accurate and specific transcripts, especially if your teen is planning to enter college in the near future. Read on for some tips for making sure that your transcripts are up to par.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer
• Word processing software (Microsoft Word)

1. Using a computer is the best way to keep a transcript because it makes everything look neat and orderly. The first you need to include on the transcript is the name of the school that your teen graduated from. Since this is for homeschooling purposes, putting something like "Smith Homeschool High School Transcript" should suffice. This will be the title of the transcript.
2. Next, you will include your teen's full name as it appears on her birth certificate. Also include your teen's date of birth, social security number. Then, you will want to include your teen's address, including city, state, and zip code. Also include your home phone number.
3. Now you are ready to list your teen's classes. List the classes by grade and what year she was in each grade. (9th grade--2001 to 2002, 10th grade--2002 to 2003, 11th grade--2003 to 2004, 12th grade--2004 to 2005). Place her letter grade received for each class, respectively.
4. Do not list the title of the text that your teen used; but the specific course name as detailed by your state guidelines. For instance, you would not put down "Video Text--Algebra I." You would put down, "Algebra I." It is a good idea, though, to make copies of the text book covers and table of contents, in case a college wants to see exactly what you used. Just keep those copies filed away.
5. At the bottom of each grade level, place the overall credits earned for that year. After 12th grade, all of the credits should equal at least or more than required number of credits for graduating high school. Also include the total Grade Point Average (GPA) for each grade, as well.
6. Colleges are very interested in what community services and extracurricular activities prospective students have participated in. Be sure to keep record and list all of the things that your teen has done throughout high school. These activities and services can include many things, including outreach projects through church, sports league participation, robotic leagues, volunteer work at hospitals or nursing homes, and many more.

Tips & Warnings

• When listing science class, it is recommended that you put "with labs" where appropriate. Otherwise college administrators may assume no labs were done.
• For unique courses, such as learning to sew, be sure to find an acceptable category for it, such as "Home Economics."
• Make sure your teen understands each term for their courses, so they can explain about their studies intelligently during a college interview.