Benefit$ of College Style HomeschoolingAre your kids ready for a little college style homeschooling? If your students want to accelerate their education and at the same time reduce future college expenses, taking college courses while in high school is a perfect solution... especially for teens who are self-motivated and diligent.
As she completes the requirements for her high school diploma, some of the courses she will take will also count towards her future college degree. These same college-level classes will also count towards her high school diploma; also known as dual-credit. College Style Homeschooling and $avingsThere are many reasons why students and adults choose to earn their college degree from home.With college style homeschooling, you study from home on your own time, around other commitments, and eliminate the hassle of commuting to class multiple times during the week; you save money on gas and maximize your time. For our family, we will also eliminate the need for an extra car (to my girls' disappointment) and the headache of co-ordinating schedules to drop off or pick up the girls from class. (My little ones will also appreciate not having to be disrupted during the day... from school time, play or naps to go pick up their older sisters.) College Style Homeschooling ResourcesYour high school student can take college classes at a local community college, both online or on campus, through a distance learning school, or by purchasing course materials specifically designed for independent study.However, always make sure the course credits will transfer to your final degree-issuing institution. (In my daughter's case, we discovered that fifteen courses will transfer successfully to the more expensive, four-year college where she eventually wants to earn her college degree = big savings.) Study Smart. Enjoy $avings.Taking college-level exams provides even more savings for you or your family. College exams cost around $70-$80 to take and shave off classroom time and fees.Test-prep SuccessIf you want to ensure college test success, iStudySmart, a leading publisher of test-prep materials offers over 60 college courses, perfect for college-style homeschooling. Their affordable college courses can be taken by students of any age and also prepare you for the CLEP, DSST, or ECE college exams.Why iStudySmart is so appealing to our family is because my children can continue to earn their high school diploma at home, earn college credit quicker than traditional methods and the courses are extremely affordable; often cheaper than a community college. Teens motivated to do college style homeschooling can go through the courses as fast as they want, or take as much time as they need, to master the material. iStudySmart also guarantees that your student will pass the exam! (I don't really like the idea of paying $70-$80 for a test that I am not 100% sure my kids will successfully pass. If they fail an exam, you have to pay the fee again.) Spending a little more on courses that guarantee success, and provide both high school and college credit is worth the investment! Scam-Free, Real LearningWith a myriad of deceptive, unapproved programs and online scams organized by individuals trying to make a quick buck, finding an online company that is proven, accredited and reputable for college style homeschooling, is a breath of fresh air.iStudySmart is the only test preparation company recognized by two of the three major testing organizations... and offers a full money-back guarantee. All courses are written by qualified educators, to prepare your student for the exam. Your students will go through a real textbook and do real assignments. Everything is laid out for you so you know what to do next. At the end of the course you are prepared to take the test. iStudySmart also has a 94% pass rate. (The students who don't pass simply just didn't do the work.) Compare Apples to ApplesToday, the average cost per college credit hour is anywhere from $70 and up, plus registration fees.Colleges like the University of Michigan cost $423 per credit hour (instate). Our local community college costs around $70 (plus registration fees) per credit hour for residents; more for non-residents. Therefore, a three credit course at a state university would cost approximately $1269 or $250, at a community college. A six credit course would cost $2538 and at a community college, approximately $420 (plus reg. fees). Books, additional fees, gas, room and board, etc. are extra, of course. :) A three credit course through iStudySmart costs $169. Six credit courses cost $189 (great deal!). They offer homeschooling families a couple of ways to save money... including their homeschool family plan – for families who have multiple students in high school, or they offer a "Smart Club" = access to twelve courses for one year for around $630... yes, that equals to 36 or more college credits! If you would like to join me in shaving off a large portion of your child's college learning time and drastically reducing that awful college bill now - while your kids are working on their high school diploma at home, here's what you can do: $ix $imple $teps to College $avings...
When preparing to begin college style homeschooling and earning credit by examination, you will first need to find out if the college your student wants to go to even accepts credit earned by examination, or offers the credit by examination option. Most colleges do... like I said before, over 3800 do, so... 1. Go to the college website where you want to get your degree. 2. In their search box, type CLEP, credit by exam or credit by examination. (This is the easiest way, as I am finding most colleges don't make this information easily accessible... perhaps they would rather you pay full price, who knows?!) 3. Look for a document or webpage that lists all the courses that you can test out of... if you do not see your college listed, always call! (Here is a sample list of colleges and universities that accept credit by examination in Michigan.) 4. You will also want to make a note of how many credit hours they accept by examination – it varies by college. 5. Take the applicable college exams, or if you want guaranteed success find the equivalent course through iStudySmart.com. (Click here for more info on college style homeschooling through iStudySmart) 6. Take the rest of your general education transferable courses at your community college before enrolling in a four-year university.
Special Savings for Homeschool Families...Maximize your time and reduce college expenses while working on your high school diploma at home!Download your free Home School Distance Learning Guide! Learn more about earning college credit through examination and how your students can save 50-80% on college tuition costs while earning their high school homeschool diplomas. Save even more with an exclusive program for homeschooling families! Homeschooling and College Planning HelpHomeschool transcripts, college entrance exams and application forms; it's the end of homeschooling and college planning time. Find help and tips to make this special time hassle-free and enjoyable.Return from College Style Homeschooling to Home School College New! CommentsWould you like to add something about what you just read? Leave me a comment in the box below. |
