Homeschooling has become an increasingly popular educational option, with many parents opting to provide their children with tailored education right in their own homes. Colleges, however, have historically been far less enthusiastic about this educational choice. Do colleges really have anything against homeschoolers, and does their enrollment process have special considerations for homeschoolers?
The Growing Popularity of Homeschooling
Homeschooling is becoming more and more of an accepted option for parents looking to give their children an education tailored to their unique learning needs. According to a 2019 report from the National Center for Education Statistics, there are now more than 3 million homeschoolers in the U.
S. , a nearly threefold growth from 199
This surge in popularity is largely due to the growing availability of textbooks, lesson plans, and instructional materials that make tailoring a homeschooling curriculum relatively simple. There are also a variety of other factors that are motivating parents to homeschool their children, such as teaching religious values, permitting a more flexible schedule in order to accommodate extracurricular and travel opportunities, as well as a heightened comfort in the personal and interactive aspects of homeschooling.
Is College Unfriendly to Homeschoolers?
It’s understandable that many parents who homeschool are concerned about whether or not their children will be admitted to college, particularly since the application process typically involves academic transcripts sent from the student’s high school. This can be especially worrisome for parents of high school age homeschoolers, leaving them wondering if college admissions officers will be open to considering their child’s portfolio. The good news is that the outlook may not be as grim as it initially appears – colleges are, in fact, becoming more open-minded when it comes to homeschoolers.
A survey of college admissions officers in 2013 revealed that 95 percent of respondents believed that homeschoolers could be adequately prepared for college studies. This, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that colleges are going out of their way to encourage homeschoolers to apply.
Additional Challenges Faced by Homeschoolers During College Admission Process
While most universities have opened their doors to homeschoolers, some admissions departments go above and beyond in attempting to make the enrollment process as fair and comfortable for homeschoolers as for all other applicants. Some universities have even made provisions for those without official transcripts, such as providing the option to submit portfolio-based materials in place of traditional transcripts. Nevertheless, there are still certain obstacles that can make the college admissions process more challenging for homeschoolers.
For instance, admissions officers may be less familiar with homeschooled applicants and may be unsure how to assess the validity of a homeschool curriculum. Further, homeschoolers may not have a letter of recommendation from a neutral third party and may also lack resources or guidance typically offered to traditional high school students.
Preparation is Key to a Smooth College Admission Process
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to the college application process, but there are some steps that homeschoolers should take in order to better equip themselves for college admissions. To begin with, homeschoolers should tailor their portfolio for specific colleges, highlighting any relevant courses, activities, and experiences with appropriate documentation. Homeschoolers should also reach out to admission staff to discuss their unique portfolio and ask questions about the school and the best way to present their materials.
It’s also important for homeschoolers to consider their standardized test scores, such as their SAT or ACT scores, as these can provide an additional set of quantitative information for college admissions staff to evaluate. Finally, homeschoolers should look for extracurricular activities and opportunities such as volunteer projects or internships that demonstrate the skills and experience being acquired outside of a traditional educational setting.
Conclusion
Overall, colleges may be more open to considering homeschoolers now than ever before, however, this may not always be reflected in their admissions process. Homeschoolers looking to apply to college would be wise to prepare their portfolios well in advance, present an attractive resume of their extracurricular activities, and reach out to admissions staff directly to ensure they are adequately evaluated.
With the right preparation, homeschoolers can overcome any potential concerns colleges may have when it comes to reviewing their applications.