Posted in HS4CC

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Welcome

Welcome!! Earning college credit in high school helps thousands of parents make college a reality for their family. Before high school graduation, college credits are generally very affordable- some are even free, so you can save significant money when you start early!

Teens of every ability level can earn college credit, your teen doesn’t have to be an “A” student or genius! As you’ll learn, there are 30 ways to earn college credit in high school, and the unique characteristics of each way means that there is a college credit option for everyone.

You can learn the basics in a binge-worthy weekend, but we want you to stick around! There is a big community of parents here, and a strong team of volunteer experts. The longer you’re here, the more you’ll learn and the more expert you’ll become.

Sure, there are lots of ways to earn college credit, but before you pull the trigger, we want you to be the best guidance counselor for your teen. A little knowledge goes a long way in this pursuit, and we’re here to help you become an expert for your family.

Let’s get started!

Step 1

Watch the introductory video Homeschooling for College Credit 101. This 1-hour video gives you the best orientation and all the big pieces of the puzzle. You’ll leave the session fired up and ready to go!

Step 2

Get the Book – learn about college credit types. If you don’t already own Homeschooling for College Credit, you can pick that up from your local library or on Amazon. Be sure you get the 2nd edition – education moves at warp speed and the first edition is obsolete. The 2nd edition is available in paperback or Kindle (the audio book is only available for the 1st edition and not recommended!) Chapter 2 is targeted to teach you about credit types. Knowing the types will be one of the most important things you learn along your journey.

If you don’t have the book, you can Bookmark the 30 Ways to Earn College Credit in High School. (aka Chapter 2 in the book). Click on any of the credit types on the list to learn more about them. Not all college credits are created equally, and this page will serve as a resource you can refer back to time and time again.

Step 3

Join our community- find your state’s HS4CC group on Facebook. You’ll need to know if your state has a free or reduced tuition dual enrollment program. If it does, you’ll immediately want to connect with the parents in your state’s Homeschooling for College Credit Facebook group so you can learn about eligibility and costs. If your state doesn’t offer programs, you can still connect with others from your state to share support and resources for using out of state programs. Look up my state

Step 4

Understand Credit Laundering. Colleges are highly predictable in how they handle incoming credit, but people are exceptionally creative, and it doesn’t take long before bright parents to think they’ve found a loophole. Let’s look at that loophole I call Credit Laundering. Understanding how your teen’s college credit will be evaluated by a future college is ESSENTIAL.

Step 5

Read, read, read, watch, watch, watch, and ask, ask, ask! Go back into the various credit types and dive deeper into the pros and cons, how they fit into your educational program, and what they cost.

  • READ- We have over 1,000 pages of free content on this website- each dedicated to helping you learn how to do this! Between the website and the book, Homeschooling for College Credit, you’ll get the confidence you need to navigate the process.
  • WATCH- We have dozens of (free) recorded workshops covering the topics that matter to you the most. We also offer opportunities to attend live workshops on Zoom or occasionally in person.
  • ASK- Your Facebook group is full of parents a little further down the path than you, but our moderating team are standing by ready to help. If you still have questions, you can reach out to me directly, and I’ll make sure you get pointed in the right direction.

Author:

Executive Director of Homeschooling for College Credit