Affording College when you are Homeschooling a Tribe

Now, I understand that college is not for everyone.  I also know that a mere certificate or associates of Arts degree can really open doors.  My husband and I both hold our Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Engineering.  The value of those degrees in our lives have been immeasurable.  Yes, even for myself being just a stay at home mom.  Trust me, the stay at home mom is not my definition it is just a description of my primary task in this season.  So we have some expectations that our children will go to college for some level of education.  Now do I expect that all of them will get Master's degrees, NO! 

So, how am I going to send all my kids to college!

Well, with my oldest being 10 and then they go ages 8, 6, 4, 2, and a soon to be newborn, I have had a plan for the last year or so and I am seeing it through.

My Plan to Prepare Them!

1. Build their skills! - This begins another reason why I love the Robinson Curriculum, RC.  At this time, the SAT test critical reading, writing, and mathematics, making  the basis of RC perfect for preparing for college.  Although my children are still elementary age, this is the time to build the foundation for the academic foundation required to succeed at a University Pace.  Right now, most first year students in college are submerged in remedial classes from lack of basic academic skills, sucking away time and money.
2. Teach them to teach themselves! - Now this is a life saver for a mom of many homeschooling future scholars.  the most dangerous habit in my opinion is spoon fed learning.  I have experienced it first hand from the transition from Community College to the University and was almost removed from college.  I have seen it first hand in the professional world with new hires unable to perform basic task within a couple of days on the job, including reading a regulation manual!  Most of all, this simple hands off training prepares them the best for the University.  The ability to receive help from teacher assistants is few and spread out among those that are spoon fed.  
3. Virtual School a Foreign Language! - A requirement for college is 2 years of accredited foreign language.  As a homeschool parent, I need to take advantage of "Certified".  So I have a few options, in Florida we can use virtual school for free, dual enroll at the community college, or take it once you are in college.  At this time,  I feel that the easiest and most convenient way to get this done is with the Virtual School.
4. Prepare them now for Vocabulary! - I can't say this enough, Read, Read, Read, but read selectively.  I love RC for the book list!  Many of these books are brand new to me thanks to my un-literature self, I love read along.  So I already have proof of the power of classic literature!  My daughter entered 3rd grade testing a vocabulary at 4th grade level and finished the year at 7.2 grade level.  All she did was read, no test, no list, no reports.
5. Have them Study for the test: SAT, ACT, & CLEP! - I am not going to send my kids to the test blind,  First, I test my children each year with CAT from 1970 through Christian Liberty Press.  So I am constantly aware of their progress, thus, I will know when we are ready to prepare for college ready test.  Next, when they are ready to proceed to take the college ready test, we will practice, study, and maybe even tutor for them.  SAT & ACT are the assessments to enter college and being placed at the appropriate level.  The CLEP is the test that you can earn college credit for what you already know - here my friends is the lets save time and money!
6. Dual Enroll them! - Thanks to the way that Florida does things, as a homeschooler, my children can take college classes and have it paid for by the state.  There are some hoops to jump through, but still easy enough to take advantage of it.  Again, here we are saving time and money.

My Plan to Pay for College!

1. Let them pay for part of it! - Now thanks to participating FPU with Dave Ramsey and reading the Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington, I have realized the value of letting the kids have ownership.  So although they are not at the age to have an income, soon they will.  As their parents, we are going to help them build self discipline by having the first portion of their income to go towards college.  So if it is $500 a year, the first $500 of the year after tithing, goes toward college.
2. Scholarship ready! - The best way to get scholarships, is to be scholarship ready.  As my kids enter the middle school age, becomes the time to know what is available for scholarships and the requirements to obtain them.  We are in practice by just being in 4H, to help us prepare portfolios of our work for the year.  The biggest thing about winning scholarships is proving and showing that you are a worthy investment.  A track record is important and having a plan to where you are going is the next.
3. SAT Scores! - Score high enough, colleges will compete for you.  Plus, as those scores go up, more scholarships are available.  
4. Testing for College Credit! - This is done with the CLEP test.  It is not entirely free, it does cost around $180 per test, but anymore that could be a single textbook. Here we are again, saving time and money.
5. Dual Enrolling! - Thanks to the education system, homeschool kids and Public School kids can qualify to take college courses as a high school course and earn college credit for it.  All for free, I love that word.  Now I do believe you still have to pay for the text books.  My stand on community college is that I want my kids there as little as possible.  So I will aim to have them test out and take as many online courses as possible, before setting foot on campus.
6. Buy a House! - I have a large crew that in many cases can be at school all at the same time.  so no dorms for my crew.  I am purchasing a house just outside of the state university that I attended.  My feelings are if I am paying for school, here you go, my money goes here and here is a house.  If you want it any other way, than you pay for it.  I have full intentions of crashing with them!  They will greatly benefit, since several of my kids are in one spot, momma can go buy some groceries each month and completely pamper them through exam week.
7. Get a job! - Again, helping them feel invested in their own education improves the quality of their education.
8. Giving a time limit! - I have 6 kids to pay for, I am not a bottomless pit.  So there are limits and I have expectations.  So first, get all the school for free that you can get. Next get the rest done in 3 years going full time. 

How I have come to this plan of affording college has a lot to do with doing things entirely wrong in college and doing a few right.  One thing I have seen and experienced is college can be a money making business with spending too much time getting out.  My own degree took me 5 years for a BS and almost 3 years for a Masters.  not only did I accrue debt from just the cost of living, but I also had a huge loss of income from not working.   So not only do I want to save myself and my children from college debt, I also want to save them time of loss income.

So I hope this gets you thinking about laying out a plan for college long before it is time to start applying.  Let me know how your planning is going.

Best Regards,

Trish