post high school

With the increasing challenge for students to afford a college degree, families are searching for options.  There are several ways students can earn college credit while in high school, reducing their college costs.  Most of these programs are free to the student.

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) allows Minnesota high school juniors and seniors to take courses at a college, on campus or online, at no cost (includes textbooks).  The Advanced Placement® exams (AP) and International Baccalaureate® (IB) are two well-known Credit-by-Exam programs (CBE) that also allow juniors and seniors to earn college credit.  But perhaps you’ve never heard of CLEP® and DSST®, two other credit-by-exam programs.  These exams were developed to enable colleges to award students credit for demonstrating knowledge equivalent to that...

Homeschool AFTER High School?

Why do we send our children to college?  It’s an interesting question from a number of different angles.  Why, for example, have we spent the last 12 “academic” years teaching them at home to ensure a biblical foundation and a fulfillment of Deuteronomy 6, only to send them off to a secular university to have all that subtly attacked by serpents far wiser than our doves?  Why have we spent those last 12 years using non-classroom methods of education which statistically have produced more well-rounded, more biblically socialized, and more academically astute learners, only to put them into an institutional classroom construct that forces teaching to the “weakest link” at worst or “C-level” at best?  Why, after mentoring them by living with them as they learn do we believe that at age 17, 18, or 19 they are supposed to leave home and independently learn from teachers whom we don’t know?

These and other questions led Jim Bartlett to start the Biblical Concourse of Home Universities™, a concept that brings together home, church, and community in a unique way. ...

Homeschoolers are often “non-traditional,” aren’t they? Homeschoolers are known for avoiding the government schools’ “factory mentality” and carving their own way, based on what’s best for their lives.

So you probably won’t be surprised to know that I did college the non-traditional way. I have completed a BA in History – and that with never having set foot in a real college classroom. It turned out to be far less expensive than the traditional route, as well as a lot quicker. Non-traditional college options are becoming more and more easily available to college students. If you’re interested in customizing your college experience, here are some thoughts to consider.

College off-site is less expensive. Some degrees can be earned for as little as $5,000-$10,000. This is a far cry from the $50,000-$100,000 (or more) of many traditional college routes.

College off-site allows your still-young 18-19 year-olds to spend another year or two at home. College life is not necessarily known for its maturing effects on young people’s minds and hearts, to say the least. Home is generally a safer...

Dear Friends,

The school year is winding down and summer is fast approaching. It's not too early to consider what you and your teens will be doing to occupy your time after the school books are tucked away. If you feel in need of a refresher course before the next school year begins, why not plan to join us for one or both of the HSLDA High School Teacher Training sessions in June and July. You can register for these dates on our website.
 

Your teens, on the other hand, may be planning to earn some income through summer jobs. Since jobs may not be abundant this year, it's important to begin the search now.

In preparation for job interviews, your teen should work on updating his resume and gathering some references to include on it. Be sure your teen knows that it's important to receive permission from his references before listing their names on his resume. On the...

Dear Friends,

As we march into spring, you may find that your older children are itching to put their studies aside and experience "life!" And if your juniors and seniors are having second thoughts about whether college is really for them at this stage of life, we suggest that you assure them that options other than college are legitimate and worth investigating. This newsletter will help to guide them on their way.

Students interested in entering the marketplace and earning a salary right after they graduate can gain experience in a business establishment, an office environment, or an apprenticeship which will prove educational, challenging, and may ultimately lead to a lifelong career. Some companies are actively seeking motivated high school graduates who are willing to forego college for on-the-job training.

Some high school graduates will want further skills training without attending college. For these students, vocational and technical/trade schools offer certification programs for numerous careers. As...

Dear Friends,

For many families, August is the time to put those finishing touches on plans for a new school year. If your teens are entering the junior or senior years, be sure to schedule time to research the myriad of schools and training options available after high school graduation.

It can be a daunting task to narrow down the possible institutions to which your teen will apply. So to help you select a school that will fit your teen, we would like to offer some suggestions.

General Parameters

The selection process becomes less intimidating if you take time to list some major factors in priority order that are important to your family. Your list of factors may differ, but as a possible starting point, here are some items to think about.

Location

• How far from home do you want your teen to be?
• What type of transportation will be involved in getting your teen back and forth from school (car, bus, train, plane, subway)?
...