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Chapman is proud to have many students from home-schooling backgrounds, and we are committed to assisting you and your family as you navigate the college application process.

We encourage you to reach out to the Admission Counselor who serves your area. They’re eager to answer questions and help you apply for college.

Applying to Chapman as a Home-schooled Student

Chapman evaluates home-schooled students (and all other students) through a holistic process. Here are the factors Chapman uses to determine admission:

Strength of curriculum.
Grade trends and overall academic performance.
SAT or ACT scores (test scores are strongly recommended for home-schooled applicants).
Personal Statement and responses to Chapman University questions.
Letter(s) of recommendation.
Extracurricular activities, jobs, non-academic activities and responsibilities.
Academic major and preparation for major.

Because we hope to have work that is externally graded or examined, we highly recommend submitting some combination of SAT/ACT results, AP exam results, transcripts from college courses or other accredited online schooling programs.

Below you can find information about how home-schooled students and their families can approach the college application process.

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Because Chapman applicants are evaluated holistically, extracurricular activities can be an important part of your application. Here are some opportunities home-schooled students can pursue:

Creative activities such as art, film or writing projects.
Internships.
Part-time jobs.
Volunteer work and community service.
Sports.

Home-schooled students do not need a GED or diploma to apply for college or qualify for financial aid. However, your home-school education must meet state law requirements.

For home-schooled students, Chapman places more value on your application materials, transcripts and standardized test scores than a GED or diploma. We want to get to know you, which will help us determine if Chapman is a good fit for you and your family.

Online/virtual schools issue diplomas according to their own standards. Parents have the option of creating and issuing diplomas if their transcripts meet state law requirements for high school graduation.

For home-schooled students, the supplement (also called a "report" by colleges) should be completed by an administrator—or a parent if your parent serves that role in your schooling.

Home-school supplements typically include:

The GPA scale your home-school uses.
Grading methods.
The learning approaches and philosophy of your school.
Available honors and AP courses.
Sample papers, projects and assignments.
A list of assigned texts.

Chapman prefers recommendation letters from outside teachers and mentors instead of family members. Recommendation letters can be written by:

Community college and/or online instructors.
Coaches.
Mentors.
Clergy members.
Volunteer coordinators.

Chapman strongly recommends home-schooled students submit ACT or SAT test scores. We don’t have a preference about which test you take. Note that:

We will only consider the overall scores that put students in the most competitive position in our applicant pool.
Chapman will superscore the SAT, but not the ACT. Superscoring is when the highest score from each section of the test is used for review, no matter if the individual scores are from one test sitting or multiple sittings.
For those who submit scores with their application: official scores are not required for review of your application. However, we will require official scores to be sent after a student has been offered admission.

Parents or primary teachers of home-schooled students should create your high school transcript and send it to colleges. Here are ways parents or primary teachers can do this:

Work under an umbrella school that creates official transcripts.
Use a private service that specializes in transcript and diploma creation.
Join a home-school group that creates professional transcripts.
Create your own transcripts.

Transcripts should include information about home-school classes, as well as any classes taken at community colleges, online or other outside institutions. Your transcripts should include:

Name of student.
Name of school (if applicable), address and phone number.
High school course list for grades 9-12.
- Include the institution where each class was taken (home-school, online or community college) and the amount of credits per course.
Overall GPA and the grade scale used.
Expected graduation date.
Parent signature and date.

If you have taken online or community college courses, you should contact each institution to have them send official transcripts to the colleges where you’re applying.

Sparrow Gilligan '26

Homeschooler and Film & Television Production Major

It's useful to start the college process around the beginning of 11th grade. Because you don't have a guidance counselor, you want to make sure you have enough time to check all the specific requirements that homeschoolers have, and not feel rushed while completing your application.

Getting Acquainted with University Life

We are committed to helping students make a smooth transition from home schooling to a campus environment. This includes:

Orientation events and activities for students and families.
First Year Programs such as the We CU! Mentor Program.
More than 190 clubs and organizations where you can have fun and build communities.

As you consider your college options, we hope you are able to visit Chapman, either in person or virtually. You can take campus tours, talk to current students and much more!

Ask a Student

Have questions about Chapman or college life in general? Our student ambassadors are here to help. Feel free to reach out!

» Home-schooled Students

Applying to Chapman as a Home-schooled Student

Extracurricular activities

GED and diploma

Home-school supplement/report

Letter(s) of recommendation

Standardized testing

Transcripts

Getting Acquainted with University Life

Ask a Student

Contact Admission

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