Homeschool and Unschool Students
You already know that you are the best architect of your education. Hampshire College will help you continue to design your own learning experience. We take a holistic approach to our students’ applications and encourage them to provide us with a better understanding of who they are as a learner and individual. Through your Hampshire Application, we hope to gain a better understanding of your rigorous learning experiences and how you’ve challenged yourself through your homeschool curriculum or unschool learning activities.
Required Application Materials
We do a holistic read of your application, meaning we look at everything. To apply, submit the following materials through the Common Application:
- Completed Common Application
- Current transcript or portfolio detailing academic work
- Two letters of recommendation from adults that have been involved with your learning and/or growth experiences
A model portfolio or transcript includes the following information:
- A list of studies, projects, and self-directed learning—including courses
- The dates and amount of time spent on the activities
- Texts read and work produced related to the learning activities (i.e. papers, projects, etc.)
- A grade or narrative assessment of work and growth in that area
Most activities used as part of your transcript should have a grade or narrative evaluation of your work and progress. For activities not evaluated by a teacher or supervisor, we require your self-assessment of the nature of your work and how it contributed to your intellectual growth.
Optional Application Materials
Some optional application materials can be submitted through the Common Application. You will also have the opportunity, after applying, to submit additional optional materials such as photos, videos, PDFs, Word documents, and music files through your online application portal with Hampshire College.
- Video/media supplement. This could be music, dance, film, animation, monologue, etc. (provide link)
- Project sample: Submit an example of your independent or collaborative project work. This project can be creative, scientific, or otherwise showcase the type of work you've done in high school. Provide a link if necessary.
- Additional letters of recommendation, up to three.
We also highly recommend interviewing with a counselor.
High School Diploma or Equivalent
Federal regulations require students to possess a high school diploma, or its equivalent, to be eligible for federal financial aid. Hampshire College follows the same policy with regard to institutional aid eligibility. The equivalents to a high school diploma are:
- A state certificate or transcript received by the student after the student passed a state-authorized examination (GED test, HiSET, TASC, or other state-authorized examination) that the state recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma.
- If state law requires a home-schooled student to obtain a secondary school completion credential for home school (other than a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent), a copy of that credential.
- If state law does not require a home-schooled student to obtain a secondary school completion credential for home school (other than a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent), we need a copy of a transcript or the equivalent, signed by the student’s parent or guardian, that lists the secondary school courses the student completed and includes a statement that the student successfully completed a secondary school education in a home school setting.
Application Deadlines
Spring 2025 |
Deadline | Notification |
| First-Year and Transfer Students | November 1 | December 1 |
Fall 2025 |
Deadline | Notification |
| First-Year Early Decision I | November 15 | December 15 |
| First-Year Early Action | December 1 | February 15 |
| First-Year Early Decision II | January 1 | February 1 |
| First-Year Regular Decision | January 15 | April 1 |
Application Status
Once we process your application, we will send an acknowledgment email that includes a username and password for you to check the completeness of your admissions file online. To make sure that you receive your decision, we recommend not opting out of email communications.
Questions?
Contact us at admissions@hampshire.edu!