Disclosure: I received course materials for free in exchange for a candid and honest review of this high school home school curriculum. All opinions are my own.
Homeschooling through the high school years can feel like a daunting task. For the past year, I’ve been exploring the different ways for my daughter (14) to complete high school and prepare for college. When examining what colleges look for when admitting homeschooled students, one thing that stood out as a possible challenge was the need for verification. If we want a college to take our homes school student seriously, we need to be able to prove that they are capable of completing college level work.
There are multiple ways to accomplish this, but perhaps one of the most efficient is a program that allows your student to earn college credit at the same time as they are meeting their high school graduation requirements.
Dual Credit at Home is a comprehensive program that will guide your student through the process of earning college credits from home while still completing their high school requirements. If you follow the two year program as presented, your student can earn as many as 57 college credits. Aside from saving them nearly two years of their life, this approach could save you thousands of dollars in college tuition!
Obviously, colleges admissions officers will see that your teen is not only capable of excelling at college work, but disciplined enough to work independently.
Dual Credit at Home was founded by Becky Muldrow, who used this approach to homeschool her own children. Here’s how the program worked out for her family:
“This program has been very successful in our own family. Two of my kids entered law school at ages 17 and 19 (one graduated with honors, one is currently in her 2nd year at UT. One of our kids was accepted at the University of Chicago. You don’t have to be super intelligent to do this just disciplined and on a plan!”
How Does Dual Credit at Home Work?
Dual Credit at Home is a 49 week program that utilizes study guides for 13 different CLEP’s (College Level Exams). These exams are consistent wit high school and college requirements, for example: Analyzing and Interpreting Literature. Additional resources include the online test prep service Speedy Prep and the optional Extra Mile Assignments and books. Using the study guides and additional resources, students attack two subjects at a time.
At the end of the first 5 week of the program, your teen will be ready to take the US History test and earn their first college credits. In three more weeks, they’ll be ready for the (above) literature exam.
*I used the word attack because the dive into the subject fast and furious!*
Our books for the first 5 weeks of Dual Credit at Home program.
Our Experience with Dual Credit at Home:
My daughter and I both love what this program has to offer. We tried out the program for 6 weeks, and my daughter planned on taking her first test (US History I) at the end of the first 6 weeks. We both agree that it is completely feasible to complete in that amount of time. The course load at the full pace is about 5 hours of work / study per day.
Sample Daily Schedules
Life interrupted our plans (the flue hit, show rehearsals and performances were a little more time consuming than expected), so it’s taken a little longer, but she is currently scheduled for her first exam. I will keep you updated on the results!
The Benefits of Dual Credit at Home:
- This program is exceptionally organized. As a mom who struggles with organization, I found it to be clearly explained for me and my daughter, helping us both to be comfortable with the big picture of the program and the day to day tasks. Students are given a clear plan for each day. We loved this!
- The program thoroughly prepares students for the exam and doesn’t encourage your student to take a test before they are ready.
- Although she didn’t complete the (optional) Extra Mile assignments all the time, she greatly enjoyed the first book assigned Do Hard Things.
- The price is a bargain in comparison to the price of college classes. A three credit course at our local college cost about the same as this entire program!
- My daughter could potentially complete close to two full years of college by the age of 17 using this program, leaving her plenty of time for a gap year, travel or an internship before finishing college.
Overall, we love this program and highly recommend it! It isn’t easy to complete the course work, but with hard work and discipline it is definitely possible to earn college credits at home.
During convention season the price of this program is reduced to $1096 This price is good until July 26, 2014. On July 27, 2014 the price will go back to $1295. But as a special offer to my readers, enter the coupon code startcollegenow for a reduced rate of $1195 (no expiration date).
Click here to Enroll at Dual Credit at Home Please enter the code Landisman in the referred by section!
Here’s Your Chance to Win the Full Set of Study Plans!
1 Grand Prize Winner will receive the entire 49 weeks of study plans.
10 additional winners will receive the book Passionate Parenting (I read it, loved it and highly recommend it!).
Connect with DC on Social Media
Join iHN Bloggers for a Google+ Hangout!
Learn more! On Thursday, May 22, 2014 please join several homeschool moms with iHomeschool Network at 2pm (ET) for a Google+ Hangout! They will their experiences with this great program. If you miss the live event, it will be available to watch at your convenience by clicking on the link below:
