Search - Contacts
Search - Content
Search - News Feeds
Search - Easy Blog
Search - Tags

How to Write Perfect Course Descriptions #Homeschool @TheHomeScholarJanuary 2018
By Lee Binz
The HomeScholar


Why Colleges Want Course Descriptions




In my experience, your homeschool course descriptions can make the difference in scholarships. Colleges would rather not give scholarships, of course - they don't want to create any impediments to paying full price for college. For this reason, sometimes colleges say, "No, thank you." Sometimes you have to work extra hard to get scholarships. The more information you can provide about your homeschool, the more they understand the value of home education.


Ingredients of Perfect Course Descriptions

When it comes to course descriptions, the more information you can provide about each class the better - as long as you don't go over one page of information. This is why I often suggest that each description include three main ingredients.

1. A paragraph describing what you did

2. A list of what you used

3. A description of how you evaluated your child

Within these main ingredients, there are many ways to give information about your class. Some parents go into great detail for each one, and others don't. However, it's normal to have one paragraph per section, and one page per class. More than one page per class is too much. If your course description doesn't include a class title and a list of what you used, then it's too little.

3 Writing Prompts for Course Description Paragraphs



1. "In this class, the student will . . ."
This prompt gives you the verb tense and point of view of the writing style, so you don't get stuck figuring out if it should be past, present, future or past perfect tense.

2. "The student will study ____ with _____."
This prompt helps you focus on what you are writing and why. Fill in the blanks: "The student will study Algebra with Saxon Algebra 1 by John H. Saxon Jr.”

3. "Topics include . . ."







1. Overview

2. Conclusion
Final Grade for Algebra: 94% = A

3. Blend
Final Grade for Algebra 1: 94% overall for 4.0

4. Detailed Grading Criteria

When I wrote course descriptions, I tried to provide every possible individual grade I could within a grading table. I wasn't perfect, though. Some tests, quizzes, and lab reports I simply lost, and then I either left them blank or didn’t mention they were missing - as if I'd intentionally not used that test on purpose.

Provide course descriptions any way you can - short or long, whatever works. I think any way that you decide is fine, and the more information you can provide the better.

6 Tips for Tough Course Descriptions

Getting course descriptions done can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be! Follow my six steps listed below, and you'll be on your way to completing them in no time.

1. Cut and paste
Cut and paste is much easier than compose and create, so use descriptions from others when you can. This is why I provide hundreds of course descriptions in my Comprehensive Record Solution. Within the Course Description Collection, you can use "Control-F" to find the specific description you need.

2. Copy from products purchased

3. Avoid plagiarism by using the Starbucks Method

4. Describe delight directed learning

5. Imitate a school syllabus
There is nothing new under the sun, and no matter how unusual your class may be, chances are there is a high school somewhere in the United States offering a similar class. Fortunately, we have a special, scientific "Magical Look Up Machine" called Google. When you are truly stumped, search for the keyword, such as "ranching" and add the words "high school course description" or "high school syllabus" to find a similar class. Then imitate their words and review their grading criteria for ideas (if you didn’t grade the class as your child was engaging in the delight directed learning).

6. Cover letters explain unusual situations
Use a cover letter to introduce or explain tough situations you don't want to include on the transcript or in the course descriptions. My cover letter was a simple introduction. "Enclosed are the comprehensive homeschool records for my son, Kevin Binz." But a cover letter can be your best friend if you need to explain complicated situations, such as taking five years to finish high school, health troubles, failing grades, or changes in school situations.

Perfect Record Keeping Not Required

Perfect record keeping means keeping records, including creating course descriptions. It does not mean you have perfectly kept, tidy records. You don't have to be perfect, grade everything, or even continue the same curriculum for a full year. Beautiful notebooks aren’t required either, if simple lined paper or leftover graph paper will suffice. You don't have to always use the same colored pen or pencil or even include test grades in every subject.


But, can we discuss the results for a moment? Even though my records weren't perfect, I used them to create transcripts and course descriptions. My children still graduated. They still got into and succeeded in college! They managed to get marvelous scholarships, too.

Perfect record keeping isn't about keeping records perfectly. The homeschooler with the prettiest records doesn't win. Perfect record keeping is just doing it. Simply be sure you are keeping the records. When parents are finished homeschooling their children, what I hear most is not "I wish I wouldn't have done that," or "Wow, that was a huge pain!" What I hear most is shock and awe! Parents are shocked at the wonderful results and amazed at the family closeness.

Course Descriptions Earn Scholarships

Kristen started out thinking, "Could this seriously become a reality for us?" and ended up with a full tuition scholarship.

"During the first webinar of yours that I ever joined when my daughter was a freshman, I learned that your sons received full tuition scholarships to their top choice university. I asked myself "Could this seriously become a reality for us?" In the fervent hopes that it could, I devoted months of my time to capturing our daughter's amazing high school education. I closely followed your advice from webinars, the Total Transcript [Solution] and Comprehensive Record Solution, and e-books on how to how to best piece her educational picture together. It paid off! Our daughter just learned that she was awarded a full tuition scholarship to her top choice university, too! A thousand thanks to you and the help that you so graciously provide!" ~ Kristen (Minnesotan mom living overseas)




Students should take a balanced load - one that allows them to devote the necessary time to each class, because colleges look for quality, not quantity. According to Dan Saracino, former assistant provost for enrollment at the University of Notre Dame, "Nothing is more important than the quality of the course load."

So how do you convince colleges of the academic rigor of each class? And how do you show your child's performance in your rigorous class?

Course descriptions are the answer. I hope this helps you think through course descriptions and why they're important to your child's college admissions packet.


How to Write Perfect Course Descriptions
(Click image to see it full-size.)

How to Write Perfect Course Descriptions #Homeschool @TheHomeScholar

To share this infographic, grab the embed code below!

Recommended Resources

Homeschool Records that Open Doors! #Homeschool @TheHomescholar

Homeschool Records that Open Doors!
Free Class!





Parents who consider homeschooling their children through high school are often consumed by insecurity - "Are we ruining their college chances?" Well, there's no need to worry. When it comes to college admissions and scholarships, homeschoolers have what colleges are looking for! You CAN craft high school transcripts and records that gain choice college admission and win BIG scholarships.

Lee Binz, The HomeScholar, has helped thousands of parents create outstanding homeschool transcripts and records. Her proven system will teach you how to present your child to colleges in the best possible light. You'll learn how to build a winning transcript, regardless of your homeschool methods or style, how to create credible grades and credits, even if you don't give tests, and how to provide the exact records colleges are looking for.

The Comprehensive Record SolutionThe Comprehensive Record Solution



