Homeschool Hints Podcast · Midwest Parent Educators - MPE

Central Christian College of the Bible: How to prepare homeschoolers for life after high school

·22 min·1 clip

Brian Barber says homeschoolers often arrive ready for independent study, but over-sheltering can leave them unable to use the internet.

Shansi Amaniyi opens by welcoming Brian Barber and asking him to share how he came into his current work. Barber says he came out of business and ministry, then moved into admissions after a friend noticed the opening and pointed him to it. He says the role fit because it let him bring ministry experience and business experience together. He also notes that he has seven children, most of them grown, with two still at home. That family perspective shapes how he thinks about young adults and their next steps. The conversation centers on the question every homeschool parent eventually faces. How do you prepare a student for life after high school without taking over the steering wheel? Barber says parents usually know from the start that they will be the teacher, lunch lady, janitor, and sometimes the principal. The harder part is acting like a guidance counselor without becoming controlling. He keeps returning to experiences that let a student practice responsibility while still at home. Volunteering is one of them, and internships are another. Dual enrollment also comes up, including online classes with Central Christian College of the Bible or another school, and community college options. He says even three or four college classes in high school can make college feel less intimidating. He argues that college is usually not much harder academically than high school. The bigger shift is self-management, since a student has to learn how to do the work without a parent nearby. Barber also remembers helping at church as a homeschool kid, doing newsletter work and calling other students to spread the word about church events. He says that early service helped shape the leadership and cultural instincts he sees in some strong students today. The conversation closes with a practical warning about money, since families should start learning what college actually costs before borrowing too much. He does not dismiss the need for help, but he wants parents and students to make those choices with clear eyes. He ends by encouraging parents to reach out to Christian schools with questions, even if they are not planning to enroll there.

As heard by us

Practical guidance for homeschool parents planning a student's next step.

Homeschool Hints focuses on a practical question many families face: how to prepare a student for life after high school. Brian Barber, the Director of Online and Graduate Admissions at Central Christian College of the Bible in Mobley, Missouri, spends more time on readiness…

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