On this page:
- FAQ
- Make your template: the LITTLE free mini-class
- Become an expert: the BIG Transcript course
Families in our community often have unique circumstances that requires specialized transcript advice based on their specific circumstances. Learn how to record dual enrollment, CLEP, and other types of credit properly on your homeschool transcript.
1. FAQ
- Length? 1 page
- Titles? Keep them simple.
- Fonts and colors? Resist the urge.
- + and – grades? If you don’t mind extra math.
- To weigh or not to weigh? I recommend including both.
- 1 college course taken at a college with a grade = 1 high school credit.
- CLEP exams: do not use the word “CLEP” on your transcript.
- Brand names shouldn’t appear on a high school transcript.
- Test scores (PSAT, SAT, ACT, CLEP, AP, etc.) shouldn’t appear on a transcript.
- Remember that the transcript is only one part of the college application!
- Know the difference between remedial, regular, honors, AP, or DE
- High school graduation requirements are not admissions requirements
2. Make your template: the LITTLE free mini-class
Most “homeschool” templates have too much going on, are too “creative” or don’t present your teen’s educational credentials in a way that is taken seriously. Your teen’s academic record extends beyond whether or not they go to college- their record is forever.
In this free 30-minute mini-course, I’ll teach you how to quickly build a template you can use again and again with all of your students. My tutorial takes you from a blank page to a fully customized high school transcript in about a 1/2 hour. You’ll also get free printable/downloadable blank transcripts along with printable/downloadable samples of well-written transcripts you can use as examples. The steps work with Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Open Office.
3. Become an Expert: the BIG Transcript Course
The HS4CC Transcript Course covers each important aspect of creating a professional high school transcript that you can send to any college with confidence. Unlike other courses that teach you how to “fill in the blanks” this course gives you an understanding and teaches you the rationale behind “why” each component is important. This unique approach helps you develop solid intuition you can trust in new and unfamiliar situations in the future. This class is always available as a self-paced course, and occasionally available as live online course. Check availability below.
Transcript Course Outline
- PART 1: Transcripts & Record Keeping
- What is a transcript? What is it not?
- Homeschool record keeping.
- Sending transcripts to the college.
- Where does a transcript come from?
- What to put on the transcript, and what to leave off.
- PART 2: Format & Grade Point Average
- Why unique transcripts make a poor impression.
- What goes in the header and footer.
- How to enter courses on any template.
- Weighted Honors GPA / College GPA / AP GPA
- Unweighted GPA.
- How to use a GPA calculator.
- PART 3: All the Credits
- What counts as 1 high school credit? (5 methods you can use)
- Why is dual enrollment special?
- When to use the 3:1 ratio and when not to.
- Using blending homeschool & DE courses for high school credit.
- Converting dual enrollment into high school credit.
- When and how to round high school and college credits.
- Recording dual enrollment on a homeschool transcript.
- Recording credit by exam (CLEP, DSST, AP, UExcel, TECEP, ACTFL)
- Recording ACE credit (Sophia, Studycom, Straighterline, Saylor, etc.)
- Recording continuing education / adult education/MOOC courses.
- Recording remedial courses.
- PART 4: Course Titles, Descriptions, and Examples
- Writing course titles.
- Writing course descriptions.
- Case Studies.
- PART 5: Question & Answer Period (live version only)
- PART 6: Take home & Homework
- Template Building Mini-Course
- Blank Template
- Well-written Samples & Examples
- HS4CC Transcript Support Group
- Email support & follow-up