Opinions on Penn Foster High School Diploma?

Has anyone completed the Penn Foster High School Diploma program? I'm considering enrolling but want to hear some genuine reviews about the experience. How do colleges view it when applying for admissions? Any advice would be appreciated.

As a current college student, I haven't completed the Penn Foster High School program myself, but I do know a couple of peers who did and it seems to be seen as a legitimate diploma by most colleges and universities.

The key thing about Penn Foster is that it's accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), a recognized accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education. This means that the education you receive is expected to meet certain academic standards. It's not uncommon for students from such programs to apply to and be accepted by various colleges.

However, receiving a diploma from an online school such as Penn Foster isn't viewed in the same way by all institutions - some may give more weight to traditional high school diplomas. The course rigor and extracurricular engagement, which are important components of many college application reviews, can be perceived differently when coming from an online school environment.

One important thing when transitioning from this program to the world of college applications is to ensure you articulate your experience well. In your application, you might need to highlight how studying at Penn Foster has prepared you for higher education and demonstrate your ability to succeed in a traditional academic environment.

As with any choice of high school, make sure the curriculum matches your academic goals, that the school offers the subjects you wish to pursue, and that their instructional style aligns with your learning style.

One key advice before enrolling would be to reach out to the admissions departments of the colleges you're interested in to ask how they view online high school diplomas and degrees from Penn Foster in particular. This can help you get a more accurate idea of how this choice will impact your future college applications.

Finally, remember, where your diploma is from is only a small part of your entire application. Your SAT/ACT scores (if the schools you're applying to consider them), essays, extracurriculars, and personal qualities also play substantial roles in college admissions.