Transcript ? re: college requirements

[dkholland]

Have you made one transcript that worked for all schools appplied to, or do you make a slightly different transcript particular to a school's requirements???

I am a little concerned that ds transcript will not have the specific class listed for US History even though he had lots of it throughout hs. His classes were Omnibus III - modernity (listed as World history on his transcript and that comes from the private school where he took that class..his teacher really focused on the beginnings of our country) and American Gov/Civics.

I know one of the schools he is interested in requires one semester of US History...wwyd??

Thanks.

[coopers5]

That could get sticky and you could get "lost" in what you were doing. I think integrity would call for having your transcript be what it is and just "beef" up what you do have on there - I don't mean "fudge" or fabricate at all - but make what all is on there fully descriptive of what was done.

As far as US Hist. - is your son a senior? Why not incorporate a credit of US Hist. this fall? You could have it on the transcript that you send out to schools for apps as a "course in progress."
I do think you need a unit of that on there, if possible. Having had a good study of the beginnings of our country isn't really US History. And if an actual school has given the title to a course he took, I don't see it being feasible that you could change the title for your purposes.

Is there a community college or other school where he could take it for dual credit?
That might be a good option if you don't want to have to figure out covering it yourself. Whatever bits and pieces he's had of it in the other courses will only enhance a more focused study of it.

I have had two go on to college and have another senior this year....we'll be doing all of this application stuff, as well, this fall :tongue_smilie:- if this were me, I would be looking into a way to get this for my student this fall, as an actual course - whether I covered it at home - or signed her up for a course at a nearby college.

Does this help?

Jo

[Brenda in MA]

Karen,

I'm not clear from your question if he has been enrolled in the private school exclusively for high school, and who will be preparing his transcript(s) that are sent to the colleges.

If he's been enrolled exclusively in the private school for high school, and they are doing the transcript, then I'd ask them your question. It would seem like they would have had this issue before because US History is often a required high school course.

If he did some courses at home and some at the school, then you will need to send two transcripts, one you make for the courses he did with you and a second one directly from the private school listing the courses he did there.

If you have some "at home" courses and are making your own transcript for those, you can call the courses whatever seems most appropriate to you. I was able to make one transcript that my son used to apply to 8 schools. He used Sonlight with lots of supplements for two of his high school history credits. On his transcript, I called the courses:

U. S. History (Beginnings - 1865)
U. S. History (1866 - present)

In the course descriptions that I attached to the transcript, I wrote about 3 sentences about each course and then listed the books that were read with that course and how his work was evaluated (e.g. tests, essays, reports). No where did I mention Sonlight because I didn't think it would be meaningful to the college admissions reviewers. His transcript was accepted without any questions.

HTH,
Brenda

[Brenda in MA]

As far as US Hist. - is your son a senior? Why not incorporate a credit of US Hist. this fall? You could have it on the transcript that you send out to schools for apps as a "course in progress."
I do think you need a unit of that on there, if possible. Having had a good study of the beginnings of our country isn't really US History. And if an actual school has given the title to a course he took, I don't see it being feasible that you could change the title for your purposes.


Sorry, but I would disagree with this. I think that if the child has had US History, but in a course with a different name, then the solution is to change the name of the course. If he hasn't had US History (which doesn't seem to be the case), then he should probably take it.

Time is very precious in late high school. I don't see the need to re-do a course a student has already had. I'd rather see him spend the time on elective courses where he could explore his interests or by taking AP or CC courses to get a jump on some college credits.

JM2Cents,
Brenda

[Brenda in MA]

I know one of the schools he is interested in requires one semester of US History...wwyd??

Thanks.

One other thing you could do is to phone the college in question and ask an admissions person this question. You could tell them that he's had US History, but the course title was something else and ask them how you can clarify that on his transcripts/admissions paperwork.

Brenda

[coopers5]

I'm not advocating re-doing a course at all - sorry if that was what was communicated.
But if what he basically covered of US Hist in another course - as I mentioned there in the post - was only early US Hist, then he hasn't had a full dose of high school US Hist, plain and simple.
That doesn't merit changing the name of the course, in my mind.

And, again, if the course was taken in an institution, it does not seem right to me to change their course title. Configuring your own course titles for courses done at home is certainly what we all expect to do and a privilege of homeschooling, for sure, but configuring titles that a school has assigned is a misrepresentation by my book.

Thanks.

[dkholland]

Thank you all for helping me think this through...one more question, though...
Ds went to a private school for 9th gr. only. I was under the impression that since it was only one year, I could "grandfather" those classes onto the same transcript that I am making?? Right? There is a section of other schools attended and they can see there that he went to 9th grade elsewhere. The school called Omnibus III, World history...could I put in parenthesis "Emphasis US History 1500-1900" ? I could add another sheet with his booklists too.? That way I am not really changing the name of the course.

As i look at U.S. history courses, he seems to have the information already and has read most of the books suggested. He is willling to take a one semester course at the local cc if it is needed in the spring, but I am wanting hiim to take something meaningful to him, not an easy class that he has already gone over the material.

Omnibus users....did you focus much on US History in Omni.III??
My son is interested in small liberal arts colleges and only Patrick Henry listed the course US History as a requirement for admissions. most other schools just list 2 History courses.

thank you for the suggestion to contact the admissions office. I plan to do that with my question. PHC must get this often with a student body of mostly homeschooled students, right??

[Brenda in MA]

Thank you all for helping me think this through...one more question, though...
Ds went to a private school for 9th gr. only. I was under the impression that since it was only one year, I could "grandfather" those classes onto the same transcript that I am making?? Right? There is a section of other schools attended and they can see there that he went to 9th grade elsewhere.

When you call the school, I'd also ask them how they would like to see the transcripts. You might suggest to them that you planned to put the 9th grade courses on your transcript (with a notation that they were taken at a private school) so that the admissions folks would have all of his high school courses on one sheet for easy reference. You could also say that you'd have the private school send them an official transcript separately if they require that. Then see what they say and go from there.

Brenda