Luz Shosie and Ned Vare

on 8/16/02 11:21 AM, [email protected] at
[email protected] wrote:

> Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2002 12:50:50 -0000
> From: "stfrances12" <tlandreth@...>
> Subject: grown/teen unschoolers
>
> Question on how you unschool your teens in preparation for college. I
> know, I know, college is overrated and unnecessary in some people's
> opinion (mine included) but I have a 14 yr old son who is thinking at
> this moment that he wants to go. I don't want him four years down the
> road unprepared because of my inability to help him plan.
>
> What can I be doing now, in a relaxed fashion, to help him?
>
> Thanks,
> Suzy
>
>

Ned answers:

First, he can attend college right now. Community colleges are opening up to
homeschoolers all across the country.

Next, get information from many colleges. Libraries have their catalogs;
talk to the librarians about those, and other ways they can help. They want
to help.

Ask a guidance counsellor at the high school. Sometimes they will consult
with you (maybe for a fee since it's outside work). It's something they do
all day in the school and are familiar with the process of getting into
colleges. Caution: Don't take anything they say as true. Check everything
out.

Books that help people to prepare for the SAT are very useful, both for
taking the test and for showing what colleges expect kids to know, or at
least know about. The tests do not seem to rely on specific knowledge so
much as common sense and logic in the testing areas.

One of the best preparations for college is work -- the kind that puts kids
in contact with lots of people and other employees. It's also good on a
resume. Colleges want students with the independence and initiative of a
homeschooler combined with the skills, patience, resilience, and
perseverance of a good employee. Employers can also provide letters of
recommendation for the next adventure, whatever it may be.

Ned Vare