"Should I have my student take the GED exam?"

Some people view this as a natural course of action; after all, passing the "General Educational Development" High School Equivalency exam is supposed to certify that the student has covered the basic high school material. Some college admission policies still ask for either the GED or an accredited diploma. However, be aware that the GED can carry a "drop out" stigma in certain situations. Your student may actually be better off without it, so be sure to investigate the policies of the institutions they plan to apply to, and do some careful research. This is especially true if you have a child planning to enter the armed forces. The list of links below is a good place to start learning more about the GED.

1. Here is an article from HSLDA dealing with college admittance and financial aid as they relate to the GED. It explains that the law passed by congress in 1998 ensures that homeschoolers are eligible for federal financial aid without having to obtain a GED:

Recognizing Home School Diplomas for College Admittance and Financial Aid

2. This FAQ page from the Oklahoma homeschooling organization, HERO, lists a helpful article (near the bottom of the page) called "Should Homeschoolers take the GED?"

http://oklahomahomeschooling.org/faq.htm#GED?

3. Alison McKee, author of From Homeschool to College and Work, is the "Unschooling High School and College" advisor at the Homeschool.com web site. In this article she covers, among other things, some of the objections to the GED, as well as some basics on transcripts and college entrance requirements.

Ask Alison McKee

Information about Creating a Transcript:

See our page about transcripts

Information about Issuing a Diploma from Your Home School:

See our page about issuing a diploma

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