Homeschool college admissions guide

From the college’s admissions site, checked October 15, 2026. Confirm the current cycle before applying.

Testing

SAT or ACT required for all first-year applicants, including homeschoolers. Homeschoolers may also submit supplementary results such as AP or IB scores.

Transcript and course descriptions

Instead of a traditional transcript, provide a detailed account of the full four-year curriculum, listing all subjects and the books or other learning resources used. Official transcripts are required for any college, high school or distance courses.

Counselor or school report

The Secondary School Report should be completed by the person or people most responsible for guiding the student's overall learning.

Recommendations

Brown prefers letters from instructors who taught the student in a traditional classroom, not from parents, immediate relatives or paid tutors, unless all of the student's instructors fall into those groups. One extra letter is accepted if it comes from someone outside those groups.

Other homeschool guidance

The evaluation process is the same as for all first-year applicants. Brown wants to know why the family chose homeschooling, what resources shaped the curriculum and how much the student directed their own education.

Testing

SAT or ACT required for all first-year applicants.

Transcript and course descriptions

Official grades for every outside class and any official school transcripts. The homeschool supervisor, often a parent, can create a transcript for the classes they taught.

Counselor or school report

The person who most closely fills the counselor or principal role, which may be a parent, completes the Secondary School Report. Caltech offers a Homeschool SSR Template to guide it.

Recommendations

Two teacher letters, one STEM and one humanities or social sciences. If every instructor has been a parent, Caltech requires an additional letter from someone who can describe the student's ability to do demanding college-level work.

Other homeschool guidance

The review process is the same for all applicants. Caltech counts hybrid, online, shared-instruction, and early college arrangements as homeschooling and wants to know why the family chose it and how the curriculum was chosen.

Testing

Homeschoolers follow the general testing policy: test optional for the 2026-27 cycle, with SAT or ACT required for first-year applicants from the 2027-28 cycle (waivers available). AP and other subject exams are optional and accepted.

Transcript and course descriptions

Send a copy of the curriculum for the past four years with as much detail as possible, or the published curriculum of an accredited homeschool program. Official transcripts are required for courses at a local college or other institution.

Recommendations

An outside college instructor or tutor who taught the student should write the recommendation letter. Otherwise the homeschooling instructor may write it, even if that is a parent.

Other homeschool guidance

Homeschooled applications go through the same process and committee review as every other applicant.

Testing

SAT or ACT required for all first-year applicants, including homeschoolers, whose requirements are the same as other applicants.

Transcript and course descriptions

The transcript should list courses by grade level with performance indicators such as letter grades or GPA. Cornell encourages detailed documentation of curriculum, assessment tools and learning experiences, a curriculum description, a list of texts and materials, and official transcripts from any outside school or college.

Recommendations

Cornell recommends that someone not related to the student complete at least two of the three required recommendations.

Other homeschool guidance

The application process and requirements are the same as for other applicants.

Testing

Standardized testing is required, including for homeschooled applicants.

Transcript and course descriptions

The home school supervisor submits additional information on curriculum, grading scale and evaluation.

Recommendations

Teacher recommendations should come from instructors, tutors or academic mentors who are not family members. If the student has not worked with anyone outside the home, a brief statement from the home school supervisor is accepted.

Other homeschool guidance

Homeschoolers apply through the Common App and are reviewed in the context of their educational environment.

Testing

Testing requirements are the same for all applicants; Duke is test optional for the 2026-2027 cycle. Duke encourages homeschoolers to submit AP results as added evidence in the absence of grades.

Transcript and course descriptions

Along with courses and grades, Duke wants an explanation of the grading scale for home-taught courses and why the family chose homeschooling. Official transcripts are required from any distance learning program, high school, or college attended.

Counselor or school report

A parent may complete the School Report, and the Common App adds homeschool supplemental questions to it.

Recommendations

Duke encourages two additional letters from non-relatives, preferably people who taught the student in an in-person academic setting. If all instruction is at home, employers, religious leaders, or coaches can write them.

Other homeschool guidance

Duke has no additional application requirements for homeschoolers and does not require a GED or proof of accreditation.

Testing

Homeschooled applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores. Additional tests such as AP exams are not required but are described as helpful.

Transcript and course descriptions

Georgetown asks for detailed information about the high school program, ideally a traditional transcript with grades, or a detailed curriculum outline if no transcript exists. Official transcripts are required for any courses taken through high schools, online programs, or colleges.

Counselor or school report

A parent may often act as the school counselor and submit the Secondary School Report and counselor letter.

Recommendations

When a parent acts as counselor, Georgetown prefers teacher recommendations from traditional high school or college instructors, or other homeschool teachers who are not the applicant's parents.

Other homeschool guidance

Georgetown reviews the academic record and non-academic interests in the context of the homeschool curriculum and experience.

Testing

SAT or ACT required for all applicants, including homeschoolers. AP, IB, GCSE/A-Level or national leaving exam results can meet the requirement only in exceptional cases when the SAT or ACT is not accessible.

Transcript and course descriptions

A transcript is required, and it can be created by the family member or agency overseeing the student's schooling.

Recommendations

Recommendations are required, as for all applicants.

Other homeschool guidance

Homeschooled applicants are treated the same as all other applicants, with no special process. All relevant information about the student's educational and personal background is welcome.

Testing

SAT or ACT required for all first-year applicants.

Transcript and course descriptions

A complete transcript with course descriptions, a bibliography of textbooks, a description of evaluation methods, and the actual grades and evaluations.

Counselor or school report

The secondary school report must include a summary of the homeschooling program along with the transcript materials.

Recommendations

Include a letter from an academic professional who knows the applicant, other than the homeschooling teacher, parent, or guardian.

Other homeschool guidance

Overall requirements are the same, and homeschoolers must meet the same high school curricular standard as all applicants.

Testing

SAT or ACT required for all first-year applicants.

Transcript and course descriptions

Transcripts from advanced classes taken outside the homeschool, such as at a local college or online school, plus an evaluation of the homeschool portfolio, are very helpful.

Counselor or school report

Three recommendations are required, usually one counselor and two teachers. MIT welcomes a recommendation from a parent.

Recommendations

Additional letters from people such as coaches, mentors, job supervisors, or clergy are encouraged, up to four recommendations in total.

Interview

MIT strongly encourages every applicant to interview, where an interview is available.

Other homeschool guidance

MIT has no separate requirements for homeschoolers and does not require a high school diploma or GED. Applicants are considered in context, including schooling choice.

Testing

Test optional for all first-year applicants, including homeschoolers.

Other homeschool guidance

No separate homeschool policy; standard first-year requirements apply. Northwestern states there are generally no additional requirements or different processes for homeschooled applicants.

Testing

Test optional for applicants entering in fall 2027 (the 2026-27 cycle). SAT or ACT required for first-year applicants entering in fall 2028 and later; the homeschool page points to the general testing policy.

Transcript and course descriptions

Provide detailed information about the academic program. Without a traditional transcript of grades, include an outline of the high school curriculum; many homeschoolers also send a reading list. Official transcripts are required for any courses taken at a school, college, online or by correspondence.

Counselor or school report

A parent may complete the School Report. Questions that do not apply to a homeschooler, such as class rank, may be left blank.

Recommendations

Teacher and counselor references are most helpful from three different adults. Princeton encourages asking teachers from any outside high school or college courses, or any non-parent teacher, to write the teacher references.

Other homeschool guidance

Princeton reviews the record in the context of the student's home-school curriculum and encourages documenting activities beyond the application questions. The graded written paper can be graded by the student's teacher in the course, including a parent.

Testing

Rice recommends that first-year applicants submit SAT or ACT scores if available but does not require them.

Transcript and course descriptions

The transcript must list all courses by grade level with performance indicators such as letter grades or GPA. Official transcripts are required from any high school or college attended; a curriculum description and a list of texts and materials may be added.

Counselor or school report

Homeschoolers must submit the School Report, which serves as the counselor letter of recommendation.

Recommendations

Two teacher letters are required. At least two of the three required letters must come from someone not related to the student.

Other homeschool guidance

Homeschoolers have the same application requirements, review process, and curriculum requirements as other first-year applicants. Rice encourages clear, detailed documentation of curriculum, assessment tools, and learning experiences.

Testing

SAT or ACT required for all first-year applicants.

Transcript and course descriptions

Submit a transcript; Stanford encourages a detailed description of the curriculum. The student does not need to follow a prescribed or approved homeschool program.

Counselor or school report

One letter is required from a secondary school counselor. A parent may write that letter in place of a counselor.

Recommendations

Two teacher letters are required. Stanford prefers they come from outside instructors who taught the student in an academic setting, such as a community college professor.

Other homeschool guidance

A high school diploma or the equivalent is required before classes start, and any diploma recognized by the student's state is accepted. Stanford wants to understand why the family chose homeschooling and how the learning was organized.

Testing

The University of California does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions for any applicant. Scores can still meet minimum subject requirements or place students in courses.

Transcript and course descriptions

Students who took courses through an online provider, correspondence school, or other accredited program list that institution as their school. Others choose the home school option and enter “Home School/Home Study” as the school name.

Other homeschool guidance

Students whose curriculum comes from an accredited school (or one approved by the State Board of Education) that issues an official transcript and diploma follow the standard requirements; others may be considered through admission by exception. Homeschoolers can use the personal insight questions to describe their homeschool environment, including why the family chose homeschooling and how the day is structured.

Testing

The University of California does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions for any applicant. Scores can still meet minimum subject requirements or place students in courses.

Transcript and course descriptions

Students who took courses through an online provider, correspondence school, or other accredited program list that institution as their school. Others choose the home school option and enter “Home School/Home Study” as the school name.

Other homeschool guidance

Students whose curriculum comes from an accredited school (or one approved by the State Board of Education) that issues an official transcript and diploma follow the standard requirements; others may be considered through admission by exception. Homeschoolers can use the personal insight questions to describe their homeschool environment, including why the family chose homeschooling and how the day is structured.

Testing

SAT or ACT scores are optional for all applicants under UChicago's test-optional and No Harm policy. Successful homeschooled applicants often submit AP scores as supplemental information.

Transcript and course descriptions

If the student is enrolled in a program that grants a diploma and issues a transcript, UChicago wants those records; enrollment in a high school is not required. Successful homeschooled applicants often add reading lists.

Recommendations

Successful homeschooled applicants often add supplementary recommendations from a community college instructor, independent tutor, employer, or youth leader.

Other homeschool guidance

Homeschoolers apply through the same process as any other first-year candidate. Successful applicants often add extracurricular projects such as artwork, a research abstract, or writing, and Schoolhouse.world certification.

Testing

Test optional for all applicants in the 2027 application cycle. Michigan strongly encourages homeschoolers to submit AP exam scores in the subjects required for admission.

Transcript and course descriptions

Homeschoolers submit a homeschool transcript. U-M strongly encourages grades from an accredited secondary or post-secondary institution in the academic subjects required for admission, with specific subjects listed for each school or college.

Other homeschool guidance

The recommended outside evidence varies by unit: for example, Engineering applicants are encouraged to submit AP scores or graded college work in calculus, chemistry, and physics.

Testing

Notre Dame is test-optional for all applicants through the 2026-2027 cycle (fall 2027 entry). All first-year applicants enrolling in fall 2028 or later must submit SAT or ACT scores.

Counselor or school report

The teacher and school counselor evaluations may come from a parent.

Recommendations

When a parent provides the teacher and counselor evaluations, Notre Dame encourages one or two additional recommendations, for example from a college professor or an adult who knows the applicant through an extracurricular activity.

Other homeschool guidance

Homeschoolers meet the standard application requirements; there is no separate application.

Testing

SAT or ACT required, explicitly including homeschooled applicants. Applicants facing hardship can submit a testing waiver instead.

Transcript and course descriptions

Submit a consolidated transcript that organizes all academic work, with brief course descriptions where a course name is unclear. Course listings, grading scales, syllabi, lab work, reading lists and textbooks help explain the program.

Counselor or school report

The Secondary School Report may be completed by a counselor, homeschool program coordinator, academic advisor or family member.

Recommendations

Penn recommends asking instructors from outside the home for recommendations where possible.

Other homeschool guidance

Homeschoolers submit the same materials as other applicants. Penn asks them to explain why they chose homeschooling and to describe how the curriculum covered the core academic disciplines.

Testing

For fall 2027 entry, every applicant chooses whether to share SAT or ACT scores and is not disadvantaged either way.

Other homeschool guidance

No separate homeschool policy; standard first-year requirements apply. UVA says the application prompts applicants for the information it needs. Homeschooled students apply as first-year applicants, not transfers, even if dual-enrolled with an associate degree.

Testing

Test optional for homeschoolers entering in fall 2027 or 2028. SAT or ACT required from all applicants, including homeschoolers, for fall 2029 entry.

Transcript and course descriptions

Homeschoolers upload the required transcript through the School Report, along with any supporting academic documents. A detailed curriculum guide is not required but is described as often helpful.

Recommendations

Recommenders answer extra questions about the homeschool environment and philosophy, the grading scale or evaluation methods, and any outside courses or homeschool association membership.

Other homeschool guidance

Vanderbilt states there are no additional requirements for homeschool applicants and considers them as it would any other student. It finds it helpful to understand the reasoning behind the choice to homeschool.