AboutPat Goltz Expertise I can answer some questions about how to do homeschooling, and what resources are available. I can talk about my experience homeschooling, and how children who have been homeschooled enter adulthood, and how they do.
Experience We homeschooled our seven children through high school. I have also worked with other homeschooling families on an informal basis, from different perspectives. We have six grandchildren. Our family is very, very close. I am proud of the way our children help each other, even to the extent of living together to save expenses, including the married ones. I almost completed a degree in Asian studies as well, and we have also helped our children handle the issues of other cultures.
Education/Credentials I have a BA in art, and have studied the Montessori Method in formal settings. I observed in various schools, read many books, and volunteered in the Montessori classroom. I also studied piano for many years, and organ, and play two other instruments and sing. In many areas, I am self-taught. I read 15 languages, and I have spent thousands of hours reading law. I also have an interest in science and have read extensively in certain areas. I have a working knowledge of Christian apologetics. As an amateur ethnobotanist, I have done a study of the uses of Sonoran Desert plants, and have written material which covers hundreds of pages. I was the general contractor for building our house, and also raised goats and other animals. I am currently a professional artist. In other words, I have a widespread background in many subjects.
Question I'm in the 10th grade but i hate my new school an there are no others i can attend where i live an i want to go to college but my parents don't have the money so if i do homeschooling is it possible for me to still get a scholarships still?
Answer Hello, allison,
It is possible for homeschoolers to get scholarships. Thinking on this is shifting, and some colleges are learning that homeschoolers usually make very good students. However, what I suggest is that you ask the colleges you are considering what their policies and criteria are. If you study very hard, and you do well at your studies, you can reasonably expect that some colleges would be happy to get you. I can't tell you how LIKELY it is that you will find a scholarship, and some is going to depend on where the college is located, and considerations about where you will live and what that will cost enter into it. You will just have to do a little research.
Another option if you have one close, is to take a few courses in a junior college to establish a record (in fact, in some places, you can do this while you are still technically in high school, or of high school age), and then see what you can get, but then the requirements shift, so again, it's hard to tell what effect that will have. While colleges vary widely, I think it's quite likely you'd get more personal attention and a more humane situation in a junior college anyway. In the United States, you should be able to get a Pell grant. It's not much money, but every little bit helps. And there are also programs for women who become pregnant while in college; some have told me that they actually were able to get more help. That isn't to say you should seek to become pregnant. If you want an education, it is vital to concentrate on your studies, and not get that involved with anyone. A woman is better off in general if she sticks to her studies. So what you need to do is do a little research and find out what your options are. I haven't been keeping my ear to the ground on that question.
My philosophy has always been that every educated person is self-educated, whether he went to school or not. It's true of me, and I never homeschooled. I applied myself to my studies in school, but most of what I know I learned on my own. I saw many friends who just plain weren't interested, and paid the price. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink! We tried to make it clear to our kids that they were the only people who could educate themselves.
One of our sons started taking college courses when he was 10. Although he took the circuitous route to a degree, he graduated magna cum laude. And yes, he did have an all-expense scholarship for his first year of college. All the while, he was on his own, earning a living as a waiter, and he got enough experience he was able to get a job in one of the better restaurants, where he got better tips. It was a struggle, but like your parents, we couldn't help. Our older daughter started taking college courses when she was 11, and eventually, took a smattering of courses, and now has a job she likes, a wonderful husband, and a nice home. Our oldest started college when he was 16, took a smattering of courses, and taught himself computer programming. Most of the time, he makes six figures. Partly that was a result of the fact he went where the high paying jobs are. Another son had a learning disability, but he became very self-disciplined, and is now a paramedic. He wants to go back and get a degree in nursing. It's a struggle for him, too, because he made some bad decisions, but I know he'll make it. Our younger daughter absolutely refused to study at home, and had to take remedial courses in college as a result. But she graduated with three associates degrees simultaneously, two magna cum laude, and the other cum laude, and blames US for not physically holding her nose to the grindstone! Another son doesn't know what he wants to do and is still thinking about it. He likes his work, but wants something better. He has a wife and two kids. The youngest joined the Army so they'd pay for his education. Again, he's taking awhile, but he also works hard, so he'll get there. Our kids often lived together to share expenses, and this was a huge help to them. These are examples of why it is important to think outside the box. The one critical factor is diligence!
Our children were able to get an education if they were willing to work for it, and if they didn't want college, or put some other priority higher, they did. I personally didn't complete my degree immediately. I got married when I was a senior in college, and decided to wait awhile to finish, and I'm glad I did, because I got so much more out of it with a little more maturity.
These days, a college education isn't what it's cracked up to be, and if you decide to work, employers know it. Believe it or not, having a higher education can sometimes prevent you from getting a good job! People reason that they have to pay more for a person with an education, and they may look for a candidate who has the same skills and diligence without the degree. It just depends on the employer. This doesn't apply so much to a bachelor's degree, but it certainly applies to a PhD!
By all means, if you want a college education, go after it. But do some research and then decide. Your education and well being come first, so if you feel your high school is detrimental, and your parents are willing to let you homeschool, you might be better off. It takes more self discipline, probably, so part of it will depend on your own reasons for not liking your school, and your ability to apply yourself to your studies. Good luck!
