You all know that I’m using Lee Binz’s Total Transcript Solution to keep our high school years on track for creating that important document. And she held that fantastic webinar about transcripts and high school credits which you can watch online.
So I’m a Lee Binz fan. When she told me she had a new book coming out, I jumped at the chance to get my hands on it. The full title is The HomeScholar Guide to College Admission and Scholarships: Homeschool Secrets to Getting Ready, Getting In and Getting Paid (affiliate link at Amazon).
Learning from the Home Scholar
I have to say that Lee knows her stuff. There is one part of the book that I initially thought was silly. And in a matter of four days, I was struck by how right she is!
There is a chapter where she talks about specialization and delight directed learning. She advises us to make courses (or give high school credit) for our children’s passions. Everyone has the same four years of English, two years of foreign language, American history, and so on. The trick is to make your child’s transcript stand out from the rest with specialization that features your child’s unique giftings.
She says that some parents have a hard time finding those unique areas. So to help you identify your child’s passions, she gives a strange test — annoyance. She says that the area where our child specializes is the area that probably annoys us with messes or inordinate attention. I thought, “This doesn’t really apply to me; I never get annoyed by Emma’s special passions.”
Whoops! Four days after I read that section, we were in Costco. I found myself saying, “Please put that origami down and help me pick out some food!”
I realized that her crafty passion was annoying me. Lee, you are a smart cookie! (And yes, I documented the moment with my iPhone. Emma was too busy folding cranes to protest.)
Thanks to Lee’s book, I had a great discussion with Emma about how she could document some of the conversations she has with friends for her psychology class. She is the one in her social group that everyone goes to for counseling. And she really enjoys helping them. I see this as a potential passion since Emma has considered going into Biblical counseling as a career.
I’m not talking about giving credit for texting friends. But if Emma documents the disagreements her friends have and outlines the underlying motivations behind their behavior, that’s psychology work! Then if she researches principles in her books and applies them to the scenarios, that’s worth high school credit!
Parts of The HomeScholar Guide to College Admission and Scholarships (aff) meshed really well with Vicki Tillman’s session on transcripts and helped me see that earning high school credit doesn’t have to be scary or drudgery. In fact, we have a wonderful chance to portray all the unique traits of our children in ways that a public school could not.
Looking Toward the Finish Line of High School
If you are a fan of The Princess Bride, you will get a kick out of the quotes Lee put at the beginning of each chapter. I’m not a fan, but I have suffered through it at least once, so I could understand most of the connections she made to her chapters. Her style is straightforward and easy to read.
I appreciate that although she incorporates meaningful anecdotes from her sons’ experiences and from her years of consulting other parents, she doesn’t pad the book with a lot of silly stories to make her points. Lee Binz is no-nonsense and to the point with a very empowering tone. You finish each chapter feeling that you have the know-how you need or at least you know where to go find more information. At the end of each chapter, Lee succinctly outlines the key points by way of review. I read those outline boxes for the few chapters that I skimmed over to make sure I didn’t miss any critical facts or hidden gems in the chapters I either am not ready for or don’t apply to us.
I was so thankful that Lee outlined detailed advice about the PSAT. I had little understanding about that test, and I would not have known to go searching for it. Now I know why it’s so important for Emma to take it, and I know when we need to sign up and how to go about doing that. That one tip makes the book worth its price, in my opinion. But there’s plenty more of course.
Some of the chapters are a bit beyond our goals or don’t fit our situation (at this point) like getting into ivy league schools, taking a gap year, and restarting after a crisis year. But the section on college applications, essays, and interviews, although still a few years away, was top on my list to read. I am already looking forward to hunting for college fairs and making college visits with Emma thanks to Lee’s book.
I wholeheartedly recommend The HomeScholar Guide to College Admission and Scholarships (aff) to any homeschool mom. I suggest that you read it before or during your child’s freshman year for maximum impact. I’m a planner, and I love having a better vision for what grades 10, 11, and 12 should be like to optimize Emma’s college admission process. I got this book at just the right time. It will be sitting on the shelf right beside my other homeschooling teen books, but I suspect it will get pulled down more and more as we reach Emma’s junior year. This is not a book to read once and let collect dust.
Jennifer says
I’ll have three boys in college at the same time. So paying for college has always been a scary thought!
Lainie says
Has she watched Between The Folds? It’s awesome! http://youtube.com/watch?v=bJRBiIeFe7Q&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DbJRBiIeFe7Q
Christine says
I have an upcoming junior and an upcoming freshman (with two youngers waiting in the wings). I’ve been reading some of Lee’s shorter books on Kindle and perusing her website for help. I’d love to read this book and get any help it can give me! BTW, Emma doing origami while you’re trying to get her to help you do something else reminds me soooo much of my almost-freshman artsy, dreamy daughter!
Sarah says
I love Lee’s books too! I am not sure what scares me the most, I have one year until high school starts, and right now it ALL scares me!
Daniele says
What scares me most is the application process through admissions and scholarships! It can’t be that crazy, but the unknown usually feels this way…would love a copy of this book. 🙂
Becky J says
Hi Jimmie…I always enjoy “hearing from you” via your blog posts..your gal and my youngest gal are the same age…We have a college senior and a college freshman and our high school freshie 🙂 My biggest fear is that I didn’t do right by my children- that is, that I could have made a better educational choice for my dear children- BUT, I am reminded of Who is in control and Whose children they are and I breathe and trust Him with redeeming all!!
Shannon Truss says
My eldest daughter starts 8th grade in a few weeks and we are seriously considering her to school instead of homeschooling for high school. I find the responsibility of it daunting. Yet in the last 24 hours I’ve read this blog post and had an acquaintance email that she’s offering a seminar on this topic. Maybe God is pointing me a different direction. I’m trying to listen with an open and unafraid heart.
Melissa says
Sorry, I was so distracted with the fact that you “suffered” through the Princess Bride that I couldn’t finish reading your post!!! Actually, I remember thinking it a little weird the first time through. It must be watched over and over for full appreciation. And there are sooooo many good quotes! OK, I’m going back to finish reading now . . .
Heidi says
I would have to say that essays and interviews scare me the most. They did personally for me when I was that age and I fear my daughter may find them stressful as well.
Nicole says
I guess what scares me the most is just making sure I know of all the opportunities that would benefit my student. I want to be on top of that and not find later that we missed a great opportunity to add some experience to their transcripts, or for a scholarship essay contest, or other testing we need to do, etc.
Heather says
Ivy League is number one on our list! Given my husband works at one…gah! Financial benefit there!
Would you say the Kindle version reads well or is it graphic heavy?
Sandwich in Wi says
What scares me most? Scholarships. They seem like so much work and then how likely is your child to even be considered, let alone, win. On the other hand, the colleges I visited with my older daughter assured her there is lots of money for women in the sciences, especially teaching. So we’ll see.
Blessings,
Sandwich
Nicole says
The financial aspect of it, as well as the documentation are what scare me most….
Kim H. says
I haven’t yet read one of Lee’s books, but have been following her via email. We won’t be homeschooling High School until next year, but I am preparing now. I love the idea of using their passions as a credit. My dd “B” has chosen her college, and is planning her future career around her passion. She is a Champion level competitive Irish dancer.
Thanks for the opportunity to win one of Lee’s books.
Trish says
I am so happy to have found your blog!
Shannen says
The scariest thing is just how overwhelming it is to try to maximize high school so she can take less classes in college, and thus pay less in tuition. As a homeschool mom, it’s all up to us to get everything sorted out!
JenL says
Thank you for the opportunity!
What scares me the most…..getting it “all” done and documenting it all correctly.
Nicole says
That sounds like an excellent book!
Melissa says
I was only slightly familiar with Lee Binz until recently. I’ve been reading through some of her “booklets” this past week. (There have been several of the Kindle books offered as freebies lately.) Lots of common sense advice. I tend to either over think or under think things. I figure by the time my last child graduates, I’ll have all of this figured out. 🙂