Ruben Whitaker is a songwriter/musician, life long self-directed learner, and amateur tour guide from Chicago, Illinois.

October 7th, 2024

This is Part Two of a two-part College/Higher Education for Self-Directed Learners series.

Part One is a personal story by Ruben Whitaker about deciding whether to pursue higher education after growing up as a self-directed learner. It also gives some guiding questions that might help other undecided unschoolers figure out their next step. Find Part One here.

Part Two is a Higher Education Resource Directory specifically for unschoolers and self-directed learners. It explores making the decision whether to attend college or not, how to choose one, the application process, how to keep your self-directed values in college, and more. Find Part Two here.

Index:

• General Guides on College for Self-Directed Learners
• Common Paths
• Great ways to see if a college is right for you
• Visiting
• Curriculum Exploring
• Conversations with friends and family
• Choosing a College
• Community College
• Application Process
• Recommendation Letters
• SAT/ACT
• Transcripts
• Interviews
• Paying for college
• Keeping your self-directed values in college
• Tutorials
• Don’t overdo the credits
• Try to still make time for your passions
• Ask lots of questions, even basic or silly ones
• Talk with your professors
• Create your own resource directory
• Grad School and Beyond
• Higher Education Outside of College

Note: Self-Directed Learner (SDL) will be used in this directory to encompass all the Unschoolers, Free School students, Homeschoolers, etc for simplicity.

General Guides on College for Self-Directed Learners

College Admissions for the Alternative Schooled, Homeschooled, and Unschooled Applicant By Antonio Buehler

This is a great overview of the steps and advice/resources for applying to college as a self-directed learner.

College without High School By Blake Boles

“College Without High School shows how independent teens can self-design their high school education by becoming unschooled. Students begin by defining their goals and dreams and then pursue them through a combination of meaningful and engaging adventures.”

Teenage Liberation Handbook New Edition By Grace Llewellyn Chapter 30 “College Without High School”

Grace Llewellyn’s iconic book containing an introduction to self-directed learning, deschooling, and thousands of resources on how to learn almost anything.

Common Paths

Some common paths for an unschooler going to college are, attending a community college for a few years and then transferring to a four-year college, getting a certificate or associate’s degree at a community college if your field doesn’t require a bachelor’s, or going directly to a four-year college. Transferring from a community college is sometimes a lot easier than starting at a four-year college since transfers are a common occurrence. Many unschoolers also opt for this path because at many community colleges, one can begin to take classes at 14. This doesn’t mean that a more direct route to a private institution is not possible, it just requires a bit more creativity and supplemental materials (more on that in the “Application Process” section). Also, look into your local state laws – some states (such as Washington state) offer free community college to people in their “high school” years!

Great ways to see if a college is right for you

Visiting-

Visiting colleges, even ones that may not be on the top of your list can be super helpful. If you’re not sure about what type of college you want to attend, you could look up what the closest public universities and private universities are to your home. It may also be helpful to visit both a big and small university to gain a general sense of what may be a good fit. Once you have more of an idea of colleges you’re interested in you can make an adventure out of it, maybe a road trip. Some colleges will even pay for you to visit, covering your transportation and lodging.

Tips for a well-rounded visit-

When visiting a college try to seek out experiences you would have if you were to attend. Below are a few of the things you could potentially do:

1. Attend a lecture or class- Many colleges offer this option and will ask you what department you would like to attend a class in.
2. Speak with current students- If you’re an extrovert, or otherwise feel up for doing so, try to strike up a conversation with current students; if they’re willing, ask a few questions, such as, “How’s your experience here?” and “What are your favorite and least favorite things about this school?”
3. Walk around and see what captures your curiosity–maybe it’s wandering into a beautiful building, checking out the library, seeing a concert, getting a coffee at a local cafe; the possibilities are plentiful.

Curriculum Exploring-

Another very useful thing to do in your research is to check out their curriculum online. Most colleges post their curriculum on their website. See if there are classes that catch your eye. Check out departments you’re interested in: are there robust offerings or just a few? This can give you an idea of the state of the program you’re interested in. If you’re an interdisciplinary person, as many Self-Directed Learners are, check out liberal arts colleges where one is free to take classes in many disciplines.

Conversations with friends and family-

Reach out to your friends or family about their college experience. Ask around and see if you know anyone who studied in the fields you’re interested in. If you have colleges in mind, try to find people who went to those colleges. Social media can be a quick way to make connections.

Choosing a College

There are many types of colleges out there; from small private music conservatories to giant state universities. Below is a list of resources on colleges that contain self-directed aspects or alternative curricula, pedagogy, and financial structures. Some of these schools also may be more open to SDLs and may be great fits for SDLs.

Colleges That Change Lives By Loren Pope

Colleges That Change Lives is a well-known book by Loren Pope (and revised by Hilary Masell Oswald) who “sought to change the way people thought about colleges by dispelling popularly held myths and challenging the conventional wisdom about college choice.” Now evolved into a non-profit, Colleges That Change Lives, Inc’s mission is to “support the goal of every student finding a college that develops a lifelong love of learning and provides the foundation for a successful and fulfilling life beyond college.”

Colleges That Change Lives also has a website with all the profiles of the colleges listed in the book.

List of alternative higher education institutions

List of Alternative Higher Education Institutions and Colleges with Self-Directed Aspects in their approach such as designing your own degree, unconventional calendar types, student tutorials, interdisciplinary studies, etc., compiled by the Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO).

Community College

Community College can be a great option for both while you’re high school age or after. Many community colleges have open enrollment, although many require an English and Math placement test. Depending on the results, you may be able to bypass introductory college readiness courses, but if you don’t, you can enroll in a few and get the skills needed to have access to the whole curriculum. Programs vary by community college, but you can do anything from ceramics classes to getting a technical associate’s degree in solar panel installation. Another great thing about community college is that you can often take one or a few courses at a time, in contrast with four-year institutions which often have credit minimums.

Berea College
A unique college in Kentucky that may appeal to some Self-Directed Learners, Berea is a small liberal arts college in the Appalachian Region of Kentucky. Founded by Christian abolitionists, Berea is unique in being tuition-free, meaning all academics are paid for. This works by a combination of financial aid and their Labor Program, in which students work a minimum of 10 hours a week. Note: Berea turns away students whose families make over a certain amount of income.

Other Work Colleges
“Work Colleges are an exceptional group of four-year, degree granting, liberal arts institutions that engage students in the purposeful integration of work, learning, and service. Unique to work colleges is the requirement that all resident students participate in a comprehensive-work-learning service program for all four years of enrollment. Therefore, all resident students have jobs. Most students work at on campus jobs, while some students hold off campus positions. Either way students are given responsibility, counted upon, gain valuable work experience, while reducing the cost of education. The work college model is student-centered and designed to enhance and enrich the educational experience.”

Ecoversities
“The Ecoversities Alliance is a community of learning practitioners from around the world committed to re-imagining higher education to cultivate human and ecological flourishing in response to the critical challenges of our times.”

Application Process

So, now you have some colleges in mind that you may be interested in, how is it that you apply? And what materials do self-directed learners need that conventionally schooled folks may not? The difference is not that big, so don’t be intimidated! Below are a bunch of resources to get you started. Take note that materials sometimes vary between colleges for self-directed learners so it’s best to look at their website–usually, they’ll have a page listed under Homeschooled or Alternatively Schooled applicants.

Recommendation Letters-

Recommendation letters are a common requirement of most colleges. Usually, these are written by a guidance counselor or teacher but they can be written by anyone except your family members. Reach out to a trusted adult in your life such as an SDE facilitator, a piano instructor, or maybe the director of an organization you volunteer for. It should be someone you know somewhat well and have a good relationship with.

SAT/ACT-

Standardized testing is a part of college admissions and it can be daunting. Luckily, there are many resources out there to study for both. Also, increasingly, colleges are becoming test-optional or even test-free in their admissions. Sometimes though colleges will require homeschooled applicants to provide test scores. The option to take or not to take standardized tests is a personal choice that depends on many factors. If you feel that you have enough materials such as multiple letters of recommendation, community college or unschooling transcripts, a good essay, and an interview, these things may be more than enough for a great application. One can always also take the SAT/ACT, then choose not to submit the scores. There is also no limit to how many times one can take the SAT/ACT, except there are pesky fees ranging from $50-90.

Fairtest is a list of over 2000 colleges that are test-optional or test-free.

Free official SAT prep on Khan Academy.

Transcripts-

Most colleges will require a transcript. Transcripts in conventional schools usually list the courses one took and their corresponding grades. Luckily, many colleges will accept an independently made transcript for unschoolers. For my transcript, my mom and I worked together making a document that listed the different classes, volunteering experiences, and even books I had read and translated it into a conventional transcript format.

This blog post by Jennifer of Harmonic Mama outlines an in depth process of creating an unschooling transcript like I did, and offers a multitude of creative solutions that one can use to translate many learning experiences into the succinct and sometimes tedious language transcripts consist of.

A great resource to start compiling your learning experiences is the The Living Learning Log (Be sure to click “Make a Copy”).

This resource comes from Spencer Babcock at Rock, Tree, Sky. It is a robust google doc called the Living Learning Log. RTS uses it with teens as a sort of transcript and portfolio of all their life-wide learning experiences. The Living Learning Log supports learners of any age to record their learning for work samples, future internship, job opportunities or college. Imagine the rich storytelling it could provide to each of us when engaged with on a consistent basis.

Spencer beautifully describes it thusly:

“Imagine this as your personal life log, a place to record experiences, adventures, cellarbrations, successes, life lessons, failures, and discoveries. It is like a tapestry of your life’s story. It can showcase formal work or education, but it is far more than that. It is a dynamic portfolio that can capture your diverse passions, hobbies, and personal endeavors, the things that set your soul on fire. This document is a kind of journal for recording your footprints in the sands of your life, the things you have bumped into, loved, pursued, your fumblings, findings, and growth.

“The beauty of it is that this is for you, it is your document, there are no rigid rules. It’s a playground for your creativity and individuality. Don’t let any part of this format or design limit you; this is your life, your story, you’re the author. Whether you’re just starting your journey, or well on your way, this log is something you can start today and adapt to your needs and aspirations. You may be happy with it being a google doc, but it could be a blog, notebook, webpage, series of videos, podcast, collection of artwork, poems, or a collection of it all with links to everything. This is your record, your journey, your life.

“Dive in and make it your own. Don’t hesitate to try it in different mediums or formats. After all, the most remarkable stories are the ones no one expected. If you ever need inspiration for things to record, the Appendix at the bottom of this doc has many ideas. Love, living, and learning.”

Interviews-

Many colleges will require or encourage an interview for SDLs. However, admissions counselors travel all over the country and can usually set up a time to meet you in your city or a nearby one. Phone and Zoom interviews are also an option. Interviews can be a great way for colleges to see who you are and a chance to express your full self in person. They also offer a chance for you to ask questions to a real person right in front of you.

Paying for college-

How people pay for college varies greatly, while the cost of college also varies greatly depending on the type of institution. In most states though, going to an in-state university is cheaper and sometimes even free. Although, just because there is an expensive sticker price at certain colleges, don’t get immediately discouraged, as many pricey schools sometimes give the most aid. Free-tuition work colleges, like Berea mentioned above, are also an option. Below are a few resources on paying for college as well as state programs that offer free college.

Federal Aid- Explanation of the different types of aid one can qualify for.

Information on understanding aid packages, repaying student loans, and loan forgiveness from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

States with free college programs -mostly community, but some four-year. Note that some of the states mentioned may have programs only for eligible candidates. For example, a state may not have a free community college-for-all program, but will have programs for families making under a certain income.

Keeping your self-directed values in college

Something that I, personally, have struggled with as an Unschooler in my final year at college, is being able to practice Self-Directed Education. The reality is that although people have more autonomy over their learning in colleges than, say, grade or high school, colleges are still schools, and with that comes all the bureaucracy, toxic amounts of work, inadequate resources–whether they be health, academic or housing–and the dehumanization of students, professors, and essential workers. Obviously, there are some colleges that are better than others when it comes to the well-being of their students, but at the end of the day, most colleges run much like businesses, even public ones. It’s not all bad; college, for me, has been a great way to meet people, whether friends, collaborators, or professors who can help facilitate learning. Here are a few things that have helped me or helped others I know to keep a sense of autonomy over one’s learning even when one is in a world of deadlines, binaries, grades, tests, etc.

Tutorials-

At some colleges, one can propose a tutorial. Tutorials are basically small classes or independent studies that can be a collaborative effort between students and faculty. If you’re interested in something that is not on the curriculum or want to get super deep into a subject, see if your school offers tutorials and talk with the faculty you want to work with.

Don’t overdo the credits-

One common mistake I have made, as well as many people I know, is taking too many credits in a semester. Although it can be tempting to take many classes due either to your interests or in trying to graduate early, it is extremely stressful and leaves very little time for one’s daily responsibilities, taking care of oneself, spending time with friends, or free time in general.

Try to still make time for your passions-

One thing that has been challenging for me at school is finding time to pursue my interests that are outside my schoolwork.

Ask lots of questions, even basic or silly ones-

Something I have witnessed in the Unschooling community that I cherish is the value that everyone has different knowledge, rejecting the hierarchy of knowledge that school, as well as society, imposes. This hierarchy of knowledge can present itself in questions; for example, people may be afraid to ask a question in class due to their lack of knowledge. Yet, we are all coming to college to learn and no one should feel ashamed for not knowing something. I have even struggled with this, but I try to live my values and ask questions even if they are basic or silly. Often, some of my presumably basic questions are actually quite complex; I have even had professors tell me they have never received my question and they had to get back to me later.

Talk with your professors-

In my brief stint in public high school, I attended my junior orientation and was told lies that there are no extensions in college and that professors aren’t understanding and have no compassion. Likely, one is probably going to encounter a few bad professors in their time at college, but most of my professors have been reasonable people who are understanding, and as long as you care about the work you’re doing and try your best you’ll probably do well. The best thing you can do, I think, is communicate with your professors, such as if you need an extension, are confused about something, or need advice on a paper or a project. Professors usually have something called office hours, as well, where you can meet them one-on-one and discuss your concerns. Professors can also help connect you to resources and other opportunities.

Create your own resource directory-

Something I have found super helpful in my own academic career is creating a resource directory where you can put links to articles, books, music, etc, that have made an impact on you or resources that could help aid your own work in the future–almost like this document, but for your own interests and studies! This way you can keep track of media that’s inspired you or you found interesting, which can be helpful when doing papers or projects as you can look back at a collection of sources you have already gathered.

Grad School and Beyond

Here are some really cool resources on how one can pursue a self-directed path beyond a four year degree.

• Alex Bretas’ article on how he designed his own Phd, and how many people out there are forming collectives and communities for folks who are designing their own masters or phd work.
• Sifaan Zavahir’s article on his predictions of future higher education and how the pandemic upended many systems within academia.
• Open Master’s is a place where people can design their own graduate degree.

Higher Education Outside of College

Once again there are many paths one can take in pursuing higher education, with college being just one. Maybe you want to be a chef and go to culinary school, maybe you want to be a forest firefighter or a subway operator. Maybe you want to work a service job part-time and focus on your art, or learn bike mechanics by attending an open shop. The possibilities are plentiful. This is a very short list of resources/places where you can find other modes of higher education.

• Better Than College By Blake Boles
• Apprenticeships/Internships
• Trade schools
• Certificates
• Community arts and music schools
• Jobs
• The Library- In addition to physical media, some libraries also offer access to other academic digital libraries, as well as offer workshops and classes on a variety of topics
• Classes – such as non-credit Community Ed classes
• Events
• Volunteering
• Really look at the Teenage Liberation Handbook – it’s applicable till you pass away
• Makerspaces, Open Shops, Tool Libraries, Skillsharing!
• Online courses like Coursera, edx
• Create a research archive for yourself
• Grown Unschoolers website

If you have a resource that could be added to this list, please email your proposed suggestion to tp.editors@self-directed.org for consideration.

Ruben Whitaker is a songwriter/musician, life long self-directed learner, and amateur tour guide from Chicago, Illinois.