For many years, homeschooling has been a popular option for children seeking alternate education. Parents and guardians alike may turn to homeschooling because of their faith or a desire to be more involved in their child’s education.
Some of these homeschooled children turn their attention to college, but the question remains: do homeschoolers fare in college?
1: Reasons Parents Choose Homeschooling
There are multiple reasons why parents may opt to homeschool their children instead of sending them to traditional school. Religion, convenience, and control are all considerations that parents have to take into account when determining what type of education their child will have.
Religious or moral considerations are some of the oldest reasons parents give for homeschooling. Parents may wish their children to learn and be raised in accordance with their religious beliefs. In countries with a strong public education system, such as the United States, homeschooling allows for parents to have more control over their child’s education and see to it that their teaching falls in line with their faith.
Convenience and control are two huge factors in parents deciding to homeschool. A family may be unable to afford private school tuition or find a local private school that fits their beliefs. The flexibility that homeschooling offers can be incredibly helpful to families who may have demanding work hours or challenging schedule shifts, as the family can tailor make their school hours and curriculum to the schedule they need.
In addition, parents can use homeschooling to better control the education their child receives, including the books they use, the activities they do, and the topics they can learn.
2: How Homeschooled Students Perform on Standardized Tests
Standardized tests are also critical for homeschooled students that are looking to make it into college. Most colleges will ask for standardized test scores such as the ACT or SAT when taking applications from prospective students, and some states require them as a matter of law.
Therefore, it is important to understand how well homeschooled students do on standardized tests such as these. Generally, homeschooled students perform very well on standardized tests. They outscore national averages in all tests, with scores up to fifteen points higher than public school students in the SAT.
The amount of individualized attention the student can potentially get from their teacher when homeschooled likely plays a role in this increased performance. Homeschooled students also have a slight advantage when it comes to scores in the writing sections of tests.
Considering the strong emphasis on language arts and writing many homeschool curricula have, it is not surprising that homeschoolers would have an edge here.
3: College Enrollment for Homeschoolers
Homeschoolers, when compared to public school students, are more likely to enroll in college soon after completing secondary education. In a survey of over 15,000 homeschoolers, nearly half enrolled in college the following year. In comparison, only 28 percent of their public school peers went on to college right away.
This statistic is likely indicative of the advantages of homeschooling. As mentioned before, the individualized attention that a teacher can provide can be incredibly beneficial and may partly explain the increase in college enrollment.
Furthermore, more motivated students may choose to pursue college right away as opposed to waiting a year or two, and homeschoolers are more likely to be driven to pursue a higher education than their public school peers.
4: Homeschoolers and College Performance
Though homeschooled students may be more likely to enroll in college and have higher standardized test scores, the question of how well they do in college compared to the public-schooled students still remains. The joy of individualized instruction could certainly be a factor; students who choose to participate in homeschooling likely are choosing to do so because of the additional attention and teaching they can receive.
A standard curriculum, teachers for guidance project assistance, and a dedicated curriculum all contribute to homeschoolers’ greater college success. Additionally, homeschooled students are more likely to be self-motivated and independent due to the lack of a traditional academic environment. With less opportunities to be distracted by peers and video games and more freedom to focus on their education, homeschoolers more often than not perform better in college classes.
5: Do Homeschoolers Thrive in College?
General statistics suggest that the answer to this question is yes. In the US, homeschoolers have higher college GPAs and graduation rates than their public-schooled peers. Homeschoolers also have higher retention rates, a metric that looks at how many students remain enrolled in college after two or four years of study.
It is also worth noting that homeschooled students are more likely to finish their college education at a younger age than their public-schooled peers. Percentages suggest that more than 81 percent of homeschoolers complete a bachelor’s degree by age 26 versus the 68 percent of their public-educated peers who do the same.
6: What Do Studies Say About Homeschoolers?
The results of studies are mixed regarding the potential effects of home education on academic success. Most studies report positive outcomes for homeschoolers, including higher GPAs, better time management skills, and a more positive attitude towards college. On the other hand, some studies report less positive results.
These studies suggest that homeschooled students are less likely to pursue higher education and take longer to graduate from college than their public-schooled peers. They may also have difficulty adjusting to college life and its related social pressures, as well as a reduced ability to work well on teams.
7: Is Homeschooling the Right Choice?
It is difficult to definitively say if homeschooling is the right choice for each family. The decision is ultimately a personal one and must ultimately take into account the individual family’s beliefs, schedules, and educational preferences. For some families, homeschooling could be the right choice.
As demonstrated, in terms of college outcomes, homeschoolers seem to be better off than those with only a public-school education. Plus, homeschoolers may have the added benefit of one-on-one instructor interaction, a better learning environment free of peer pressure, and more control over their own curriculum.
8: Are There Drawbacks to Homeschooling?
Homeschooling does have several potential drawbacks that must be taken into account when considering it for your child. One of the most commonly cited issues with homeschooling is the lack of a true peer network or skills that are learned through collaboration. In the unlikely chance that a child is unhappy with the choice of homeschooling, they may have difficulty adjusting to their new life.
For example, in a study by Stanford University, homeschoolers reported feeling like an outsider compared to their public-educated peers and reported less successful social interactions in college. In addition, homeschooling is more expensive than a traditional public school education.
The costs of learning materials, books, supplies, and other materials may become a burden for some families. Another issue is that a parent may not be qualified to teach courses beyond the elementary-school level.
For more complicated courses, a parent may have to hire a tutor or take the course online.
9: Should Homeschooling be Encouraged?
Ultimately, whether or not you should homeschool is a question best answered by the individual family. However, the evidence that we have discussed so far does provide some insight into the potential benefits of homeschooling. Homeschooled students have higher academic outcomes, are more likely to enroll in college, and have higher college retention rates.
They also have an edge when it comes to language and writing courses, do better on standardized tests, and are more likely to complete their college degrees at a younger age. At the same time, the drawbacks of homeschooling exist too.
Homeschooling may not be suited for those without the financial or emotional resources for the task and could potentially damage a student’s ability to collaborate, work on teams, and engage in social interactions.
10: Strategic Considerations When Homeschooling
Doing research and taking your time to pick the right homeschool curriculum is key in making sure that homeschooling goes well. First, you will want to consider your budget and how much resources you can commit to homeschooling. Depending on the curriculum, certain classes may require additional materials or tutoring.
Second, you will want to assess your skills and background in the various subjects. If you are qualified to teach some courses, great!
If not, you may need to hire a tutor or utilize online courses. Finally, it is important to pick a curriculum that fits your child’s learning style.
Different students may excel with different styles of instruction and if you manage to find one that helps your child learn best, they will benefit enormously.
11: How to Prepare a Homeschool Student for College
As a parent, there are some steps you can take to ensure that your homeschooler is ready for college. First, you will want to make sure that your student meets the entrance requirements for the college of their choice.
You can do this by making sure their curriculum covers the necessary material and by having them take any standardized tests that may be required. Second, it is important to equip your homeschooler with the social and communication skills they will need to work well in a college setting. Enrolling them in sports may help with this, as can having them mentor younger students.
Finally, it is essential to make sure that your student is well-prepared for the academic rigor of college. There is a big adjustment for many students going from a homeschool curriculum to college courses and it is important to make sure they are ready for it. Taking advanced courses, taking an online course, or going to a summer academy may all help prepare them.
12: Is Homeschooling Good for Student’s Mental Health?
The evidence on this issue is mixed. Students who were homeschooled reported feeling more self-confident and having less anxiety than their public-schooled peers.
At the same time, they reported being more homesick and having more difficulty adjusting to college life in comparison. It is possible that the individualized instruction that comes with homeschooling may be beneficial for some students, allowing them to feel more confident in themselves and unpressured by their peers. On the other hand, the lack of a traditional peer network may have negative mental health effects for some students.
13: Conclusion
In conclusion, there is strong evidence that homeschoolers do well in college. They have higher college GPAs and higher rates of college enrollment and completion than public school students. They are more likely to finish their college education at a younger age and have an edge when it comes to the writing sections of standardized tests.
At the same time, it is important to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of homeschooling. The decision of whether or not to homeschool a child is a personal one and must take into account the family’s background, beliefs, schedule, and financial situation.
Strategic steps can be taken to make sure a homeschooler is ready for college and an appropriate curriculum must be chosen. Finally, the impact of homeschooling on student’s mental health is still being debated, as studies have yet to settle the issue.
It is essential for parents to assess the mental health of their child when deciding if homeschooling is the right choice for them.