College Credit Options for Homeschool High Schoolers

Have you ever read the Choose Your Own Adventure style books? At a certain juncture in the story, you make a choice. For one option, turn to page 5. For another path, turn to page 7. Over and over again, you make choices that dictate the outcome of the story. Sound familiar?

Homeschooling is the ultimate extreme interactive adventure. So many options clamor for our attention. Sorting through the plethora of information taxes our energy and our mental capacity. Take a deep breath! 

I’ve done the work for you to compile an easy comparison of a few academic options that will launch your student into college better prepared while being cost-effective. Sit back and glean from this simple guide to AP, CLEP and Dual Credit options for the college-minded high school student.

Overview

• Save money on college tuition rates and earn college credit while in high school.
• Record credit earned for AP, CLEP, or Dual Credit on the homeschool high school transcript to work towards high school graduation and college admittance.
• Credits earned are recorded on the high school transcript (typically) as 1 credit.
• Simultaneously, credits earned are recorded on the college’s transcript usually as 3 credits.
• Be sure credits will transfer into your college of choice by contacting their admissions office or use the search links below.
• Earning college credit in high school is a great way to work toward general education requirements. Consider working toward an Associate’s degree that will transfer into a junior college level.  (This method does not work with linear degrees that begin in the freshman year, such as those in the STEM fields.)

AP (Advanced Placement through the College Board)

• AP is a college-level exam given to high school students in order to provide college credit and/or allow a student better placement in college courses.  Search your intended college for more information.
• AP exams operate on a 5-point scale with most institutions awarding credit/placement for a score of 3 or above and are given at authorized high schools.
• A student can self-study at home to prepare for an AP exam with a strategy and the right resources. Learn about the requirements, scope, and even access free practice tests online at AP Courses and Exams. 
• Some homeschool students opt to enroll in the desired AP class in their local high school for the school year.
• Those who choose to self study at home may benefit from the AP Educator Resources.
• Contact your local school for information on registration deadlines and testing options. Registration deadlines are usually in October with testing the following May.  Find an authorized testing school here: AP Course Ledger
• Plan to spend 2-3 hours in the exam.
• Check out AP Students to learn more and access current fees!

CLEP (College Level Examinations Program through the College Board)

• CLEP provides a means to test out of introductory college courses.
• Exams are given at testing centers or with a remote proctoring at home option.
• Testing centers facilitate exams year-round.  Individual testing centers differ on their exam schedule availability. Contact the testing center to learn more.
• Scores range from 20 to 80 with many colleges granting credit with a score of 50 or above. Find information for your college.
• Access official study guides and practice tools to sharpen skills and prepare.
• Plan to spend 2 hours in the exam.
• Bonus – military personnel take CLEP exams free.
• Read more and discover current testing specifics at CLEP. 

Dual Credit Courses

• Dual Credit offers high school students the opportunity to take actual college courses, receiving both high school and college credit, or a high school course approved for college credit. 
• Courses are offered through local high schools, community colleges, as well as public and private universities.
• Discounted tuition rates give high school students an economic headstart.
• Classes last one semester while providing a whole year of high school credit.
• Courses are offered in-person, online, or hybrid (both in-person and online). 
• Multiple sections of a class give flexibility of schedule when registering early before classes fill up.
• Students will be in classes with various ages and need to be prepared for a more mature environment in content and lifestyle.

The choices we make throughout the journey affect our student’s future. The benefit of the fictional books is that you can go back to the original page and see what a different outcome might be. The stories offer countless do-overs. In real life, we feel stuck with the choices we make, which can cause a lot of pressure when all those decisions for our students rest on us.

The beauty of the choose-your-own-adventure style books is that there is no wrong way to direct the story. In the same way, the paths along our homeschool journey create a different narrative, with each one being unique, adventurous and wonderful in their own right. The choices that we have as homeschoolers overwhelm us with information.

Rest in the fact that each decision we make provides an opportunity to make a new choice that, throughout the challenges and successes, continually creates a beautiful journey. There is no wrong path when we are doing our best to guide our students along the way. Enjoy the adventure!

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