Home-Schooled Students

Home-educated students must be associated with a homeschool-accredited curriculum, or they must provide formal documentation upon completion of a homeschool program approved by the state or local board of education, or be on track to earn a GED. Admissions essays are also important, and personal qualities, special talents, and extracurricular and employment activities are also considered in the admissions process.

A complete home-schooled student application includes: 

• Common Application form and Goucher Supplement
• $55 application fee or NACAC/College Board fee waiver
• Home-Educated Transcript, including a description of the educational program, a listing of courses taken, as well as grades and/or progress reports from ninth grade onward. Applicants without a formal transcript are encouraged to use the Home School Supplement on the Common Application to demonstrate academic readiness for Goucher College.
• Two letters of recommendation, acceptable from teachers, employers, coaches, or community service leaders who are not immediate family members.
• An essay (500-word maximum) chosen from topics listed on the application form.

An on-campus admissions interview is also required.

In addition to confirming a student's continued success throughout the last year of secondary school, a final transcript is required for students who want to be considered for federal financial aid. For home-educated students without a final transcript from an accredited curriculum, we expect formal documentation indicating completion of a homeschool curriculum approved by the state or local board of education, or a GED.

Deadlines for Home-Schooled Applications

• Binding Early Decision I

  If you have identified Goucher College as your top choice, you should consider Early Decision. This is a binding admissions option, meaning that students who are admitted under this plan are required to withdraw all other college applications and are expected to enroll at Goucher.

  • Application + supporting materials due November 15
  • Notification by December 15
  • Candidate deposit due January 15
• Non-Binding Early Action

  If Goucher is one of your top choices, you should consider Early Action, a non-binding entrance plan. Goucher mails out admissions notifications on February 1 to Early Action applicants. If you're accepted under Early Action, you'll have until May 1 to return the Declaration of Intent and nonrefundable enrollment deposit.

  • Application + supporting materials due December 1
  • Notification by February 1
  • Candidate reply due by May 1
• Binding Early Decision II

  If you missed the November 15 deadline but still have identified Goucher College as your top choice, you should consider applying under our second Early Decision program. This is a binding admissions option, meaning that students who are admitted under this plan are required to withdraw all other college applications and are expected to enroll at Goucher.

  • Application + supporting materials due January 15
  • Notification by February 15
  • Candidate deposit due March 15
• Non-Binding Regular Decision

  Goucher sends out Regular Decision notifications on or before April 1. Under this plan, you'll have until May 1 to return the Declaration of Intent and nonrefundable enrollment deposit.

  • Application + supporting materials due February 1
  • Notification by April 1
  • Candidate reply due May 1