<p>Not my child, but a friend and neighbor down the street is asking for help (since apparently I am the scholarship “guru” around the neighborhood!) to locate scholarships, sources of scholarship info for her son who is a senior and applying for Fall 2009. </p>
<p>My one who graduated 2007 attended our local public school and many of the scholarships she applied for were local and/or for local public kids. My friends son is homeschooled but attends Latin in our PS as well is enrolled in the post-secondary options through our PS. So…not sure if he can apply for the scholarships meant for the PS kids…</p>
<p>My question: any resources you can offer, experiences you can share for your or friend’s children who were homeschooled?</p>
<p>My son was homeschooled and he also took a few selected classes at the local high school. He applied for local scholarships like anyone else. My daughter, also homeschooled, won a statewide public speaking contest that was held by the Rotary Club, and she entered on the first level with other kids from the high school here, and the first round was held at the high school. I don’t think it ever occured to them to ask if they were allowed to apply or compete. They just did. ;)</p>
<p>I would think if your neighbor’s son has some involvment in the high school or even just the school district (Latin or other things) then he would be able to apply for the same things other students can. I mean, it will be up to the awarding agency, club, whatever to decide how to consider his non-traditional background and his application, but I don’t see why he couldn’t apply.</p>
<p>Agreed. I figured it would be worthwhile for him to apply unless the requirements are extremely specific.</p>
<p>It can seem a bit confusing, naturally. So many programs, scholarships, travel opportunities and so forth from various clubs, agencies, or foundations are offered through the schools, because that’s where most of the students that might benefit can be effectively reached. But often, the opportunities really aren’t bound to the school in any way. The school is more a vehicle to present the opportunities. So there may certainly be scholarsips that are specfically for full-time traditional students of the school, but often they don’t mention that at all because it’s just an assumption that of course they will be. If it isn’t specifically disallowed for non-full-time-traditional students to apply, it’s probably well worth doing so, especially if they are scholarships designed for a student with a background or interests that the applicant really fits.</p>
<p>My son was not a regular student at the school, but he did compete for the school on one of its sports teams. There was a local scholarship for athletes in that sport who competed in high school for x number of years, maintained high grades, achieved success at the state level, who were going to continue to compete in college, and so forth. My son fit all the criteria better than anyone else, and he was awarded the scholarship. He discussed his homeschooling background in his application, but I don’t think it was an issue at all, in the end. But this will vary by scholarship. There may be some organizations who will look at a non-traditional academic background less favorably. Or maybe more so… I mean, you can’t really know for sure.</p>
<p>Good luck to your neighbor’s son!</p>
<p>The biggest scholarships are often the ones given by the colleges themselves. Tell your friend to search each college’s website they are applying to for information about how to apply for the “big” scholarships. At some colleges, you have to submit an additional essay, at others you must apply for the Honors College, at some you must attend an interview, and at others, they just pick you out of the applicant pool.</p>
<p>The prognosis is very good. My always-homeschooled son has a full ride at a top LAC and knows of two other homeschoolers with full merit scholarships there. We know homeschoolers with full rides at most colleges in our region! Being homeschooled won’t slow you down there :-)</p>
<p>For local scholarships, some allowed homeschoolers to apply while others only allowed students at a certain high school. Just ask 
To find those scholarships, search for “scholarship Podunk County” or check FastWeb or ask a local homeschool support group leader or ask a friendly high school guidance counselor.</p>
<p>He could check [FastWeb:</a> Scholarships, Financial Aid and Colleges](<a href=“http://www.FastWeb.com%5DFastWeb:”>http://www.FastWeb.com) and when he is at the high school for Latin, he should check the bulletin boards in the guidance office - sometimes scholarship notices will be posted there.</p>
<p>Good point - the school does have a scholarship bulletin board - I’ll remember to tell her that!</p>