Lake Forest College   555 N. Sheridan Rd., Lake Forest, Illinois 60045  800-828-4751

Home-School Students

Lake Forest College is very interested in having home-schoolers apply for admission.  Often, home-schoolers are very interesting applicants who can clearly demonstrate their love of learning and potential contributions to the college community.

While home-schoolers have many strengths including strong verbal and writing skills as well as a keen desire to learn, there are some potential concerns for applicants who do not possess the traditional requirements.

Areas of concern for home-schoolers can include the lack of lab science, poor foreign language speaking skills and depending on the student, a lack of social skills when dealing with other people in the same age group. home-schoolers with a strong interest in science or foreign language might consider enrolling in a community college course during the summer or their senior year to supplement their home study.   Students who are active within their community through service, sports (community teams) or a job often have an easier time adjusting to college life.  We look for some connection to the outside world and it is the rare home scholar that isn't connected at all.

Because there is not a traditional transcript for most home-schoolers, please be certain to provide the following information:

• Course descriptions and the names of textbooks used in study.

• Description of how daily study/learning time is spent.    

• Descriptions of academic interests and any special projects or field
  trips related to this interest.   

• Standardized test scores (ACT/SAT and perhaps SAT II)

We don't require home-schoolers to have a certified diploma or a GED, but they must meet our admission course requirements.  They include 4 years of English, 3 years of math (through Alg. 2), 2 years of science (including 1 year of lab science), 3 years of social science and we recommend the study of a foreign language.  We also require a graded paper with our application, but will usually ask home-schoolers to submit a few samples of their writing, including a research paper.  Taking standardized tests more than once is important.  home-schoolers should take the ACT, SAT and even some subject tests.  The ACT or SAT should be taken more than once (i.e. at the end of the "junior" year and in the "senior year" as well.

We strongly recommend an interview for home-schoolers.  Whether it is on campus with a member of our professional staff, at an off-campus site with a professional staff member or with a local alum, meeting the student is very helpful to us.   Having the opportunity to meet students face to face and learn about their educational history and their goals can be eye-opening and reassuring for us.

Home-schoolers are eligible to compete for both academic and talent-based scholarships.   It takes a bit more work on the part of the student and there may be a bit more reliance on standardized testing, but there have been several home-schoolers who have earned scholarships.

For more information about applying as a home-schooler, please contact Brian K. Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions. smithbk@hermes.lfc.edu