Homeschooling College-Bound Teens with Kat Patrick

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Homeschooling College-Bound Teens with Kat Patrick.

Feeling a little nervous starting the high school years with homeschoolers bound for college? That’s okay. We have all felt that way. However, our friend, Kat Patrick, has some encouragement and tips to help!

Kat’s story

This fall has been momentous for Kat. Her youngest graduated from homeschooling and just left for college. All of her children homeschooled through graduation. Today, some are college graduates already, as well.

Although Kat was born in Texas, all her kids were born in England. In England, children start secondary school in sixth grade. (BTW- we interviewed Kat about homeschooling in England.)

While she was thinking about what would be best for her oldest as she prepared for secondary school, Kat wrestled with whether they were going to follow the English journey of secondary school or go back to her roots of liberal arts studies and Charlotte Mason.

Kat knew that the British approach gradually narrows a student’s focus down more and more over the next years. Then, at age 16, they take a series of ten subject exams. From there, they narrow down their studies to three subjects. After that, if they go to university, they study one subject for three years.

Kat had gone to the University of Texas in her youth. As an undergraduate, she started off with pre-med and realized in her junior year that she actually liked history and English better. She was able switch majors and graduate on time because of the rich liberal arts background in her studies.

If she followed the British track with her homeschoolers, they would not have the easy flexibility to change interests after a point. Having homeschooled for a long time, she knew that even if they went to college and changed majors, there is never wasted time in education because all of learning is useful.

Kat’s oldest daughter’s college experience

Several years ago, Vicki interviewed Kat’s oldest daughter, Lauren, about how she prepared for a competitive college. Lauren originally planned to double major in English and Entrepreneurship. She graduated with a double major in English and astrophysics. This change of major happened when she was approached in her very first semester by the Astronomy department. One of her professors asked if she would be interested in doing a major in Astrophysics after her general education Astronomy class. They could could tell that Lauren had a real passion for that science.

Lauren was concerned that she did not have enough math background for Astrophysics. Her department was so encouraging that they gave her additional math support to get her started. It turned out to be the right-fit career for Lauren.

Podcast Episode Details

Homeschooling College-Bound Teens with Kat Patrick