Homeschool Myths: Homeschooled Students Are Unprepared for College

As the concept of homeschooling continues to ease back into the mainstream, where it began, more and more questions and myths seem to follow. There is a great deal of controversy and confusion surrounding what exactly homeschool is, where it originated, what motivates people to choose homeschooling, and what may or may not be involved in the daily activities of a home school.

In this, and other articles on the myths of homeschool, I plan to explore and help shed some light on some of these myths surrounding homeschool. My findings will come from personal experience and sometimes be combined with research studies or other evidence.

A common homeschool myth is the one that assumes children who attend a homeschool will not be prepared for college. Some will make the assumption that a student who is educated outside of a traditional school setting will be unprepared for the academic challenges of a college.

However, many college recruiters disagree with this myth, and in fact, some even prefer homeschooled students. Why? Many students who homeschool have advanced studying skills, such as the knowledge of various resources, as well as the ability to work well independently. Homeschoolers can also possess exceptional teamwork and social skills, which are very essential to many college courses.

In addition to the above qualities, many homeschooled children begin taking college level courses before they are finished with their K-12 education, due to the flexibility of their schedules and the opportunity to advance at one's own pace. According to the HSLDA, they often perform one or more grade levels above their age requirements and can often begin taking those college courses long before their peers.

Even if a homeschooled child is not above his grade level, that student can simply adjust their class schedule to fit in accredited college courses. Homeschooling actually allows students the unique opportunity of beginning (and completing) college early.

Just ask 10 year old Courtney Oliver, who, according to KOMONews, became a vet tech assistant in just 9 months while also homeschooling. Says Courtney, "Might as well get it done early as get it done late." There are other homeschooled students receiving degrees and/or taking college courses early. All one has to do is a simple google search to find them. For more on Courtney Oliver, click here.

Many people also don't realize that students who homeschool are still required to take college preparation tests, such as the SAT and ACT, which they currently exceed expectations in. They also are required to have transcripts and earn diplomas. Click Here to learn more about high school diplomas and homeschool.

Another thing to remember is that because of the wide opportunity to get ahead in studies, homeschooled students may even be more qualified to attend college than some of their peers who attend traditional public or private schools. A 2006 study published by the HSLDA shows that homeschooled students are excelling in college socially, emotionally, and academically.

The high school drop-out rate for students in a homeschool setting is far less than that of a child who attends public or private school. Students who homeschool also score well above both public and private-schooled students on state-mandated tests. Click Here for those statistics.

When comparing all of the examples and evidence above, as well as personal experience, it is difficult to assume that homeschooled students are ill-prepared for college. While a small percentage of homeschoolers may be lax in their studies, in my opinion, most homeschooled students seem to be more prepared than other students to not only attend college, but to succeed when they get there, as well as in many academic or career pursuits.

Sources:

HSLDA
"Academic Statistics on Homeschooling"
http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000010/200410250.asp

KOMO News
"Meet the 10 Year Old Who's Already a Vet Assistant"
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/14848331.html

Associated Content
"10-Year-Old Courtney Oliver Becomes a Certified Veterinary Assistant" by Steven Bryan
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/575199/10yearold_courtney_oliver_becomes_a.html?cat=4

HSLDA
"College-Bound Homeschoolers Make Headlines"
http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000002/00000229.asp?PrinterFriendly=True

Associated Content
"Homeschool Myths: Homeschooled Teens Can't Get a High School Diploma" by Momie Tullottes
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/659455/homeschool_myths_homeschooled_teens.html

HSLDA
"Homeschooled Students Excel In College"
http://nche.hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000017.asp

HSLDA
"Homeschooling Works" by Lawrence M. Rudner, PhD
http://www.hslda.org/docs/study/rudner1999/Rudner2.asp#Fig1