In the past few weeks, Kathryn seems suddenly so grown up. She’s always been a beautiful girl, but she’s looking so much older lately; more young lady than girl. Maybe it’s the new jeans, or the new ways she’s been wearing her hair. Whatever it is, it makes my heart squeeze just a little.
Next month, Kathryn will turn 13. Although we have a couple of years before she gets to high school, I’m already thinking about it. Right now, she doesn’t have the desire to attend college — which is absolutely fine by me — but I want to keep her options open; if her senior year arrives and she decides she does want to go to college, I don’t want my poor planning or poor record-keeping to prevent that.
Lee Binz, The Homescholar, has recently published a book to help homeschool parents prepare for college. I’ve just finished reading it, and I’m glad to have this as a resource for my high school planning.
Note: I was given a copy of Lee’s book in exchange for my honest review, but was not compensated for this post in any other way. All opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure policy.
Confession: I expected a book about college planning to be boring. Useful — but boring. When I saw a quote from The Princess Bride (our family’s most oft-quoted movie!) in the intro to every chapter, I knew Lee must be a kindred spirit and I’d likely enjoy this book far more than I’d anticipated! Lee writes in a friendly way, sharing enough real-life examples to be helpful, but packing this resource with relevant, useful information, and a nifty chapter summary at the end of the chapter.
Though the subject matter in the book seems intimidating, I felt encouraged rather than overwhelmed after I’d read this book. This is something I can do! Even if your child is not college-bound, there’s so much about thorough high school planning in here! Lee includes sections on all sorts of topics, from how to determine your child’s strengths and how to put those on a transcript, to how to get really good reference letters (great for more than just college applications!), to choosing a college that fits your child. And if your child is college-bound, Lee shares a great deal of information on how to get scholarships, what tests to take (like the PSAT) and when to take them, even information about gap years and college for struggling learners.
Lee has provided a copy of this book to giveaway to one of my readers, so if you are a homeschool parent with a child in or nearing high school, enter below! If you don’t win, I recommend you purchase your own copy of The HomeScholar Guide to College Admission and Scholarships
Giveaway ends Friday, August 23rd. (See more details in widget.)
Wife, mama, homeschooler, dog-wrangler. Introvert who finds joy in good books, sunshine, and authentic conversation. Fitness enthusiast and personal trainer. Often seen with a steaming mug of tea in hand.
Oh I could really use this book. We just are moving into our new home and I’m already overwhelmed with that but my oldest is turning 14 and entering 9th grade and my only daughter, 131/2 is right behind him. My daughter is like Kathryn that she isn’t sure about college. She is gifted in art, has a small craft business and hopes to one day write/publish children’s books. So she said if she ever did decide to go to college, she would want to focus on art or writing. Anyway, even if I don’t win, I need a book… Read more »
I asked my kids to answer 3 big questions for me to prep for their High School planning (1) Name 3 things you’d like to do when you grow up (then we researched the pathways to these avenues) (2) What kind of life would you like? house? car? monthly clothes? kids? food (then we made them a monthly budget based on what they wanted) (3) Does the path you planned meet your desires for home, goals? My kids have changed their minds about goals based on the lifestyle they wanted. Your girl may find she likes hers just fine.
I’ve heard Lee speak and she knows her stuff. We’d love to win this book. Thank you!
I’m excited to entry the contest to win the book about high school planning. Our daughter has only been a part of our family and learned English for the past four years. We adopted her as a teen from Thailand. She has great ambitions that she’d like to go to college. But, public high school was not a good fit. We’ve been homeschooling for the past year and a half. Now I’m wondering what I need to go to help her try to reach her goal to going to college.
This would be a huge help as we are nearing this milestone with my daughter.
Thanks!
I currently have an 8th grader, with 4 more following behind….and I really don’t feel anywhere prepared for high school in a year.
What a great resource! I feel so overwhelmed as HS approaches and I really want to tackle it with as much knowledge as possible. Thanks for bringing this into light.
Our daughter is in middle school and we are trying to decide if homeschooling for high school will work for us. She is definitely college bound.
Looks like a good one. My oldest is starting 9th grade this year. I don’t think she wants to go to college, but I think it is good to keep her options open.
I would love to read this book so that I have a better idea of the road ahead. Well-intentioned parents and friends have been giving advice, telling us how we have deprived our kids the opportunity to excel in life.
I would love to read this book as preparation for the day to come…..
Thank you for the opportunity. Blessings.
Don’t enter me in the contest because my homeschooling years are long over, but I just wanted to say what a lovely daughter you have! 🙂
I have a senior this year.. totally need this. Thanks for the giveaway.
Oh I love the idea of reading a FUN book for high school planning. I have a daughter that I homeschooled for 1.5 years before she graduated and I felt I was lost in the great sea. My next oldest is the same age as your Kathryn and I’ve started to think I need to get a handle on what we may be doing. Thank you for this fun giveaway!
Just starting HS with my daughter! She really wants to attend college and I have so many questions! Would love this for guidance! Thank you!
We’re not there yet, but High School is on the horizon. Thanks for the giveaway!
My daughter’s only in 5th, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately!
I am soooo nervous about having my first high schooler. I need any and all help that I can find. Thanks for mentioning this book!
What a wonderful resource!
This would be great to have.
Thanks for the giveaway. I enjoy Lee’s helpful ebooks and emails.
What an amazing resource!
My oldest will be in 11th grade this year! I don’t know where the time has gone. We haven’t even started planning for college. I really could use this book to help. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
I need this book desperately. I have 3 teens wanting to go to college.
This will be a must-have resource for us in another year.
I can’t believe I’m at a place where I need a book like this! To paraphrase the grandson in The Princess Bride: I’m not nervous. Maybe I a little bit “concerned” but that’s not the same thing.
How is it that our children are growing up so quickly. We’ll be starting high school credit earning later this year {gulp!}.
LOVE this!! hoping i can win it for my 8th grader since i’m having a panic attack about his HS career!!
I have two boys one just starting high school and the other right on his heels. I could so use this book, I want to do things right so they can have all the best opportunities! I’ve been looking into Lee’s resources, money is a little tight this year so this would be a BIG HELP! Thanks for the chance to win!
Thank you for reviewing this book! Now I know that I need it!
My 14 year old son starts high school next week. I am nervous about it because record-keeping is not my strong suit. I would love all the help I can get. Thank you!
I absolutely love Lee’s resources! I’m a little partial since she’s been a homeschool mentor to me for years, but she’s still (and always will be) my #1 go to for homeschool high school info. I can’t wait to read her new book. It would be awesome to win!
This looks like a very helpful book!
High School is right around the corner ~ next year for us. I’m already planning but still feel a little nervous.
My oldest is 15 and I have three more coming behind him. I need this book! 🙂
Thanks for the review of this book. I have read some of her books and her help is so encouraging.