This article takes a closer look at homeschooling and examines the advantages and disadvantages this form of education presents. It investigates the admissions policies of various universities to find out if homeschooled kids are favored or not and if certain measures must be taken to gain admission.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling
Advantages: One of the main advantages of homeschooling is the ability to create a personalized learning environment for the child. Homeschooling also provides families flexibility and control over the curriculum and pace of learning, allowing for more focus on subjects of interest. The educational environment at home can also be tailored according to the needs and size of the family making it a more convenient option than attending traditional school.
Finally, homeschooling can have a positive impact on student’s social and emotional development, as the child is freed from the pressures of peer pressure, adherence to arbitrary schedules and the difficulties associated with fitting in. Disadvantages: Despite the potential benefits, homeschooling does have some drawbacks.
Chiefly, parents may lack the qualifications and expertise to be able to provide an adequate, complete education to the child. Furthermore, homeschooled children often lack socialization opportunities, as they are removed from the traditional school circles and may lack the opportunity to explore the typical conversations and activities of their age group.
Homeschooling also poses a considerable financial burden, as parents often have to purchase or rent expensive equipment, materials and books.
Requirements for Admission to College
Colleges vary in their admission requirements, as some regional and public universities may accept home-schooled youths in the same manner as regular high school graduates. However, private schools often require some additional information for homeschooled students to gain admission. This can include proof of completion of a standard curriculum, such as the Common Core or other accredited programs, as well test scores from exams such as the SAT, ACT and CLEP tests.
Additionally, many private schools may require homeschooled students to complete a GED exam or pass each subject at the high school level, including math, English, science, social studies and history. There is also the challenge for some homeschooled youths to access resources for higher education.
This may include funding, tutoring, career and college counseling, internships, and doing research projects, as many public universities are unable to offer such services to homeschooled students. Furthermore, some universities may not accept certain diplomas or certain credits acquired by homeschooled students, posing another challenge to those seeking admission.
Do Colleges Prefer Homeschooled Students?
The answer is that it varies. Some universities may simply be indifferent to the kind of high school a student attended, while others may accept homeschooled students with few or no additional requirements. Studies show that some private colleges consider non-traditional applicants like homeschooled students preferable, as it allows the school to diversify their student body.
This is backed up by a survey that showed that college admissions counselors prefer students that demonstrate creativity, curiosity, and resourcefulness over those who simply have a stellar grade point average and test scores. Furthermore, homeschooled students are believed to possess an advantage when it comes to college admissions.
They are often well presented, have a high degree of self-motivation and are more likely to have taken some college courses prior to seeking admission. Furthermore, homeschooled students have often had time to develop core skills, delve into special topics and explore interests. This can lead to better essays, interviews results and college admissions packages.
Conclusion
In conclusion, homeschooled students may find themselves advantaged during their college applications process, as private universities may view them as a potentially desirable asset. However, applicants should be aware of the potential obstacles to admission, such as the possibility of having to prove completion of an accepted curriculum, passing aptitude tests, or lacking access to the same resources that are afforded to traditional high school graduates.
Nonetheless, with some dedicated research and a well written application package, homeschooled students can be well-positioned to gain admission to their chosen college.