With an estimated 2 million homeschoolers in the U.S., news reports say some colleges are seeking them out because of their academic excellence.
Barmak Nassirian, deputy director with the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, said it has taken about a decade for home-schoolers and colleges to get to know each other better.
“I think admissions folks have gained a new respect for home-schooling," he said. "On the other side I think the home-schooling community has grasped the process a lot better.”
Chris Klicka, senior counsel and director of state and international relations for the Home School Legal Defense Association, said homeschoolers have proven themselves and that's what's leading schools to look for them.
“Several of the universities over the last few years have done surveys of their student body," he said, "and have found that the home-school graduates in their student body have a higher grade-point average.”
In years past, many homeschoolers had a bumpy time getting through the admissions process because, among other things, they didn’t have state-accredited diplomas or a class ranking. But Klicka said the colleges that opened their doors have been pleasantly surprised.
“Homeschoolers are very self-disciplined and they have mastered the tools of learning — reading, writing and arithmetic," he said, "so they can apply themselves virtually in any subject.”
