Frequently Asked Questions for Homeschooled Students

What classes should I take in high school to be ready for admission to Benedictine College?

Applicants for admission to Benedictine are best prepared if they have a grade of ‘C’ or better in each of the following college preparatory core courses:

English (4 units)
Natural Science (2-4 units)
Mathematics (3-4 units)
Social Science (2 units)
Foreign Language (2-4 units)
History (1 unit)

Other traditional college preparatory courses should complement the above list. Students planning to major in computer science, engineering, mathematics, nursing, or science should take as many units of mathematics and science as possible.

What high school courses does Benedictine College require homeschooled students to complete in order to be admitted?

We encourage students to, at a minimum, meet their state’s homeschool high school graduation requirements. To view your state’s homeschool high school graduation requirements, check your state’s Department of Education website. In addition, HSLDA provides a helpful summary of homeschool laws by state.

I have the opportunity to earn college credit (dual enrollment, AP, CLEP, DSST, etc.) while in high school. What are some factors I should take into consideration?

Keep in mind that it is not necessary to enter college with college credit. It is perfectly normal to have no college credit before arriving at college.
Some students, however, have identified reasons to earn college credit while in high school:
- To fill in gaps in their high school homeschool curriculum
- To gain classroom experience
- To shorten the length of their overall college career for financial reasons
- To relieve the pressure of an anticipated challenging college course load
There are many ways to earn college credit while in high school: AP, CLEP, DSST, dual enrollment, online courses, study abroad opportunities, early college programs, etc.
It’s important to plan ahead and choose your college courses wisely while you are in high school.
- Check in advance that the classes you plan to take are accepted at Benedictine College. Use Transferology.com to understand which classes will transfer to Benedictine and what requirements they fulfill. Contact your Admission Counselor with any questions.
- Consider that some academic departments (in particular, STEM fields) may require or recommend that a student complete a particular course at Benedictine, regardless of whether the student has already taken the course at a community college. Consult your Admission Counselor or the appropriate department chair at Benedictine to find out how they view particular transfer credits.

May I defer my admission to Benedictine while I take a gap year or work?

Yes. If you would like to defer your admission due to a gap year, notify your Admission Counselor.

How important is it to have a high GPA? How important is it to have a strong standardized exam score?

Keep in mind that Benedictine’s academic scholarships are awarded based on a student’s high school grade point average and standardized test score (optional). It’s important to maximize your GPA and your standardized exam score (optional) in order to maximize your academic merit scholarship.

To be eligible to compete in our Presidential Scholarship Competition or apply to our Programs of Distinction, you must meet our minimum GPA and standardized exam scores.

Speak with your Admission Counselor to discuss how opting out of a standardized exam may impact your academic scholarship.

Where can I find scholarships to offset college costs?

Homeschooled students may be able to secure outside scholarships from many different types of sources, including:

Parent’s employer. Some employers offer college scholarship for the dependents of employees.
Diocesan, parish and local or regional church-affiliated groups such as the Knights of Columbus.
Local service and youth organizations such as 4-H, Rotary, VFW, etc.
Student organizations such as National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, etc.
Dependents of veterans may be eligible for assistance and scholarships, such as the VA’s Yellow Ribbon Programs.

For lists of available scholarships, consult the following sources:

College financial aid offices may maintain a list of scholarships. See Benedictine’s list of scholarships.
Most high school guidance / college counselors maintain a list of scholarships that local students have applied for and received.
Your state’s Board of Education website may highlight scholarships available for students in your state.
Your local Chamber of Commerce may be aware of locally available scholarships.