College Bound From Homeschool
www.CelticCollegeConsultants.com
Preparing for college from Homeschool may seem like a daunting task, especially if the kids are young and many. Katherine O’Brien is a Catholic Homeschool Mom and also a college consultant at Celtic College Consultants She helps families prepare for
This is a podcast to hear if you are planning a college bound trek for your children. Particularly if you have a Middle School student that you would like to see college bound, now is the time to start planning and looking at requirements for desired universities and colleges.
Katherine of Celtic College Consultants:
Katherine got into college consulting 13 years ago when she was expecting her sixth and last child. Because of her own background in college decision making, she really listens to who the child believes he or she is to help prepare them for what degree and direction of schooling.
Kids beginning looking for college in their junior year of high school are going to be behind and have tests for which to prepare, in addition to looking at colleges and deciding on courses of study. Additionally there is the financial requirement. Remarkably, the students Katherine works with reach out for grants and scholarships. Her students graduating 2017 have on average received $243,000 each. This number does not include merit or parish scholarships, nor need-based aid. Katherine also helps streamline families’ financial aid applications to help them receive more benefits that may have been left on the table.
Her recommendations for those who are younger:
Get your math facts solid, especially in Fourth through Seventh Grades. Use flash cards if necessary. They will need to have addition and multiplication as a skill.
Start learning a second language. The earlier the better.
Homeschoolers can take advantage of on-line programs offered by Homeschool Connections and on-line courses offered by local colleges. It is easier to do dual enrollment when you have 7am to 4pm open for college courses. Many homeschoolers are graduating high school one day and then the community college the next because they are able to spend their time that way. Working this way starts in 5th or 6th grade.
Dual enrollment allows your first year college student to go in at a junior level. That can save two years right away.
Katherine works with a limited number of clients per each graduating year. She finds that homeschooling families typically learn from her and apply what they know to the rest of their kids, with occasional consults for special cases. She has packages which combines her services, and her clients range from Pell grant recipients to lawyer and doctor families.
Every Catholic’s Guide to Colleges:
Katherine’s book Every Catholic’s Guide to Colleges: the Best 315 US Colleges & Universities for Practicing Catholics is expected to come out by the end of June 2017. It is 600 pages in detail, to be updated on a yearly basis with the important aspects of Campus living as a Catholic.
She also mentioned the Newman’s guide, and the comprehensiveness between them are significant.
Keep an eye out, as I will update this page when I receive word that the book is out!
