When homeschooling became a major movement in American education, college-bound homeschoolers faced a rigid application process designed to evaluate students from traditional high schools—not to mention colleges and universities skeptical of their preparation.
A generation later, homeschoolers have become highly desirable as applicants to some of the best institutions of higher learning, although they should be prepared to provide special information to admission officers.
“Homeschooled students, by and large, are a liberal arts college’s dream,” says Sabena Moretz-Van Namen, associate director of admission at the University of Richmond. “We want more students who think outside the box and color outside the lines. Homeschoolers often have developed into self-directed learners. Traditional high school students sometimes lack that trait.”
Richmond, a highly selective, top-tier liberal arts university with 3,000 undergraduates, has eight students who were homeschooled for at least their senior year of high school.
According to Moretz-Van Namen, self-direction allows many homeschoolers an easier transition into college academic work than that experienced by graduates of traditional high schools.
“In college, it’s not about following directions,” she explains. “It’s about figuring out a whole new path.”
Sherie Mungo, a Richmond freshman, was homeschooled her entire life. She became interested in attending the university for several reasons, including its significant study-abroad opportunities, generous financial aid programs and beautiful campus. Mungo says the move from homeschooling into college challenged her, but no more than most other first-year students.
“My adjustment process has been the same, I think, as all other freshman—new place, new experience, freedom from parents, heavier workload,” says Mungo. “From what I have seen and heard, I have the same issues as a freshman coming from public or private school.”
Richmond junior Kristin Greenholt says she knows other homeschoolers who had a difficult transition into college life, but it was not a challenge for her.
“Socially, I was every bit as apt as my peers, and academically, I was more individually motivated than a lot of them,” Greenholt said. “I was used to managing my own schedule, assignments and work.”
However, Moretz-Van Namen says not every homeschooled student is ready for admission to any college. “Admission officers have to look at homeschoolers with a lot of care” and homeschooled students should plan to compile the information colleges need to make an admission decision. She says a thorough record of all courses completed is fundamental, so that colleges can be sure homeschooled applicants have a well-rounded education.
The admission experience of homeschooled Richmond undergraduates provides additional tips.
After finishing her high school education two years early, Taylor Campbell attended a community college for two years before enrolling at Richmond. He and his mother found they needed to do work that traditional schools perform for their students applying to colleges.
“Since I didn’t have a high-school counselor, we had to create the transcript and letters ourselves,” Campbell said. “But my mom kept good records, so it wasn’t a problem.”
Greenholt suggests that homeschooled applicants “write good essays, apply on time, be organized, take standardized tests seriously, make sure your recommendations are from people other than your parents who know you and your abilities well, and have a well balanced high school experience.”
Younger homeschoolers who think they are college-bound should plan to demonstrate the same academic, extra-curricular and leadership skills that colleges require of all applicants, regardless of background.
Moretz-Van Namen urges homeschoolers to work with subjects in which they lack interest or talent. She said that by challenging themselves with difficult subjects, students grow academically.
“It’s like cross-training,” she said. “Even if you’re a really slow runner, you have to cross train.”
Mungo recommends community involvement, volunteering and taking courses at local community colleges.
Although homeschooled applicants face a unique set of application circumstances, they can compete successfully for college admission.
“Don’t be afraid to take the leap into college. We homeschoolers can hold our own,” Mungo says.
Every year homeschoolers are admitted to hundreds of colleges in at least five countries. Those who prepare thoroughly can be admitted with full scholarships at those selective colleges that some parents daydream about their children attending. Read on to find out which colleges have admitted homeschooled children.
USA
Adelphi U.
Agnes Scott C.
Albertson C.
Albion C.
Alfred U
Allegheny C.
Alma C.
Alverno C.
American U.
Amherst C.
Antioch C.
Arizona State U.
Asbury C.
Assumption C.
Auburn U.
Augustana C.
Austin C.
Baylor U.
Beloit C.
Bemidji State U.
Bennington C.
Berea C.
Berklee C. of Music
Berry C.
Bethany C.
Bethel C.
Biola U.
Birmingham-Southern C.
Boston C.
Boston Conservatory
Boston U.
Bowdoin C.
Bradley U.
Brandeis U.
Brigham Young U.
Brown U.
Bryn Mawr C.
Bucknell U.
Buena Vista U.
Butler U.
California Institute of Technology
California Polytechnic State U., San Luis Obispo
California State U.--Los Angeles
Calvin C.
Capital U.
Carleton C.
Carnegie Mellon U.
Carroll C.
Case Western Reserve U.
Catholic U. of America
Cedarville C.
Central C.
Christian Brothers U.
Claremont McKenna C.
Clemson U.
Coe C.
Colby C.
C. of St. Benedict
C. of St. Scholastica
C. of the Atlantic
C. of William and Mary
C. of Wooster
Colorado C.
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State U.
Concordia C.
Cornell C.
Cornell U.
Creighton U.
Dartmouth C.
David Lipscomb U.
Davidson C.
Delaware Valley C.
Denison U.
DePaul U.
DePauw U.
Dickinson C.
Drake U.
Drew U.
Drexel U.
Drury C.
Duke U.
Duquesne U.
Earlham C.
Eckerd C.
Edinboro U. of Pennsylvania
Elizabethtown C.
Emory U.
Evergreen State C.
Fashion Institute of Technology
Florida Institute of Technology
Franciscan U. of Steubenville
Franklin and Marshall C.
George Fox U.
George Mason U.
George Washington U.
Georgetown U.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Gettysburg C.
Goddard C.
Gordon C.
Goshen C.
Goucher C.
Grinnell C.
Grove City C.
Guilford C.
Gustavus Adolphus C.
Hampshire C.
Hanover C.
Harding U.
Harvard U.
Harvey Mudd C.
Hastings C.
Haverford C.
Hillsdale C.
Hiram C.
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hood C.
Hope C.
Houghton C.
Humboldt State U.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Wesleyan U.
Indiana U.
Iowa State U.
Ithaca C.
James Madison U.
John Brown U.
Johns Hopkins U.
Juniata C.
Kalamazoo C.
Kansas State U.
Kenyon C.
Kettering U.
King C.
Knox C.
Lafayette C.
Lake Forest C.
Lawrence U.
LeTourneau U.
Lewis & Clark C.
Linfield C.
Louisiana State U. and Agricultural and Mechanical C.
Loyola C.
Loyola U. Chicago
Luther C.
Macalester C.
Marietta C.
Marlboro C.
Marquette U.
Maryland Institute C. of Art
Maryville C.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Messiah C.
Miami U.
Michigan Technological U.
Middlebury C.
Mills C.
Montana State U.--Billings
Montana State U.--Bozeman
Montana Tech of the U. of Montana
Mount Holyoke C.
Muhlenberg C.
Muskingum C.
New C.
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech)
New York U.
North Carolina State U.
North Central C.
Northeastern U.
Northwestern C.
Northwestern U.
Oberlin C.
Occidental C.
Oglethorpe U.
Ohio Northern U.
Ohio State U.: Columbus Campus
Ohio U.
Ohio Wesleyan U.
Oklahoma City U.
Oklahoma State U.
Oregon State U.
Ouachita Baptist U.
Pacific Lutheran U.
Pennsylvania State U. University Park Campus
Pepperdine U.
Philadelphia C. of Pharmacy and Science
Pitzer C.
Polytechnic U.
Pomona C.
Princeton U.
Providence C.
Purdue U.
Quincy University
Radford U.
Reed C.
Regis U.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhodes C.
Rice U.
Ripon C.
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rutgers, State U. of New Jersey
St. Andrews Presbyterian C.
St. Bonaventure U.
St. John's C.
St. John's U.
St. Joseph's C.
St. Joseph's U.
Saint Mary's C.
St. Mary's C. of California
St. Mary's C. of Maryland
St. Norbert C.
St. Olaf C.
St. Vincent C.
Samford U.
Sarah Lawrence C.
Seattle U.
Seton Hall U.
Shepherd C.
Simmons C.
Simon's Rock C. of Bard
Smith C.
Southern Methodist U.
Spring Arbor C.
Stanford U.
State U. of New York at Binghamton
State U. of New York C. at Geneseo
Stephens C.
Stetson U.
Swarthmore C.
Sweet Briar C.
Syracuse U.
Taylor U.
Temple U.
Texas A & M U., College Station
Texas Christian U.
Thomas Aquinas C.
Trinity U.
Truman State U.
Tulane U.
Union U.
United States Air Force Academy
United States Coast Guard Academy
United States Military Academy
United States Naval Academy
U. of Alabama
U. of Alabama in Huntsville
U. of Arizona
U. of California: Berkeley
U. of California: Davis
U. of California: Riverside
U. of California: San Diego
U. of California: Santa Cruz
U. of Chicago
U. of Cincinnati
U. of Colorado at Boulder
U. of Connecticut
U. of Dallas
U. of Dayton
U. of Delaware
U. of Denver
U. of Evansville
U. of Florida
U. of Georgia
U. of Houston
U. of Idaho
U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
U. of Iowa
U. of Kansas
U. of Kentucky
U. of Maine, Farmington
U. of Maine, Orono
U. of Maryland, College Park
U. of Massachusetts Amherst
U. of Miami
U. of Michigan
U. of Minnesota, Morris
U. of Minnesota, Twin Cities
U. of Missouri-Columbia
U. of Missouri-Kansas City
U. of Missouri-Rolla
U. of Montana
U. of Nebraska-Lincoln
U. of New Hampshire
U. of North Carolina at Asheville
U. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
U. of North Dakota
U. of Notre Dame
U. of Oklahoma
U. of Oregon
U. of Pennsylvania
U. of Pittsburgh
U. of Portland
U. of Puget Sound
U. of Redlands
U. of Rhode Island
U. of Richmond
U. of Rochester
U. of St. Thomas
U. of San Francisco
U. of South Carolina
U. of Southern California
U. of Tennessee
U. of Texas at Austin
U. of the South
U. of Utah
U. of Vermont
U. of Virginia
U. of Washington
U. of Wisconsin--Madison
U. of Wyoming
Ursinus C.
Valparaiso U.
Vanderbilt U.
Vassar C.
Villanova U.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State U.
Wabash C.
Warren Wilson C.
Wartburg C.
Washington and Lee U.
Washington C.
Washington U.
Wellesley C.
Wells C.
Wesleyan U
West Virginia Wesleyan C.
Westminster Choir C. of Rider U.
Westminster C.
Wheaton C.
Wheaton C.
Whitman C.
Whittier C.
Willamette U.
William Jewell C.
Williams C.
Wingate U.
Winona State U.
Wittenberg U.
Wofford C.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Xavier U.
Yale U.
Australia
NSW
Albury College of T.A.F.E. (Technical and Further Education)
Australian College of Christian Education
Avondale College
Baptist Bible College
Bedford Business College
Bomaderry T.A.F.E.
Bourke Technical College
Bowral Technical College
Campbelltown Business College
Christian City Church School of
Creative Arts-Oxford Falls
Coffs Harbour T.A.F.E.
Condell Park Bible and Teachers College
Cumberland College of Health Sciences
Dapto T.A.F.E.
Emmaus Bible College
Granville Technical College
Hawkesbury Agricultural College
International Institute of Creative Ministries
Kuring-gai C.A.E. (Council of Adult Education)
Lismore College of T.A.F.E.
Liverpool Technical College
Macarthur Institution of Higher Education
Macquarie Fields Technical College
Macquarie University
Murrumbidgee College of Agriculture
N.S.W. Conservatorium of Music
Orana Community College of T.A.F.E.
Sydney Bible Baptist College
Taree College of T.A.F.E.
University of New South Wales
University of Newcastle
University of Sydney
University of Western Sidney
University of Wollongong
Werrington College of T.A.F.E.
Wollongong Technical College
Wollongong West T.A.F.E.
Word of Life Bible College
Northern Territory
Northern Territory University
Queensland
Australian Christian Institute
Bald Hills College of T.A.F.E.
Bond University
Brisbane C.A.E.
Bundaberg Institute of T.A.F.E.
Bundamba College of T.A.F.E.
Cairns Business College
Capricornia Institute
Christian Heritage College
Darling Downs Institute of
Advanced Education
FNQ Institute of T.A.F.E. (Innisfail)
Gladstone College of T.A.F.E.
Gold Coast College of T.A.F.E.
Griffith University
Gympie College of T.A.F.E.
Ipswich College of T.A.F.E.
Ithaca College of T.A.F.E.
James Cook University of Queensland
Kangaroo Point T.A.F.E.
Kingaroy State High
Mackay College of T.A.F.E.
Mareeba College of T.A.F.E.
Maryborough College of T.A.F.E.
Moreton Institute of T.A.F.E.
Mt. Gravatt Campus School of Business
Mt. Gravatt College of T.A.F.E.
Nambour Christian College
Nambour T.A.F.E.
North Point Institute of T.A.F.E.
Open Learning Institute of T.A.F.E.
Queensland University
Queensland University of Technology
Rockhampton Institute of T.A.F.E.
Townsville College of T.A.F.E.
University of Central Queensland
University of New England
University of Queensland, Gatton
University of Southern Queensland
Wide Bay Institute of T.A.F.E. (Bundaberg)
Yeronga Institute of T.A.F.E.
South Australia
Mitchell C.A.E.
Muirden Business College
Muirden Matriculation College
South Australian C.A.E.
Regency College of T.A.F.E.
Royal Adelaide School of Nursing
University of Adelaide
University of South Australia
Tasmania
Burnie Technical College
Devonport Technical College
Don College
Elizabeth College
Hobart Institute of T.A.F.E.
Hobart Technical College
Launceston College
Launceston College of T.A.F.E.
Tasmania State Institute of Technology
University of Tasmania
Victoria
Australian Catholic University
Ballarat University/College
Bendigo T.A.F.E.
Burwood Teachers College
Christian Training College
Deakin University
Dookie College of Agriculture and Horticulture
Frankston College of T.A.F.E.
Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education
La Trobe University College of North Victoria
Loddon Compaspe College of T.A.F.E.
Monash University
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Sunraysia College of T.A.F.E.
Swinburne Institute of Technology
Tabor College of Victoria
University of Melbourne
Williams Business College
Williams Business College-Epping
Yalloum College of T.A.F.E.
Western Australia
Edith Cowan University
Institute of Beauty Therapy
Midland College of T.A.F.E.
Mt. Lawley T.A.F.E.
Murdoch University
Northam College of T.A.F.E.
Perth Metropolitan College of T.A.F.E.
Thornlie College of T.A.F.E.
Western Australian School of Nursing
Canberra College of T.A.F.E.
Curtin University of Technology
Lake Gináninderra College
Canada
Alberta
Augustana University, Camrose
Briarcrest Christian College
DeVry Technical College, Calgary
Lakewood College, Vermillion
Olds Agricultural College, Olds
Peace River Bible Institute
Prairie Bible Institute
Red Deer College, Red Deer
University of Alberta
University of Calgary
British Columbia
Capernwray Bible School, Salt Spring Island
Caribou College
East Kootenay Community College, Cranbrook
Kwantlyn College
Langara College
Northern Lights College, Dawson Creek
Northwest Baptist College, Langley
Okanagan University College
Pacific Bible College
Selkirk College, Castlegar
Simon Fraser University
Trinity Western University, Langley
University College of the Caribou, Kamloops
University of British Columbia
University of Victoria
Vancouver Bible College
Victoria Conservatory of Music, Victoria
Western Pentecostal Bible College, Abbotsford
Manitoba
Brandon University
Concord College, Winnipeg
Elim Bible Institute, Altona
Providence College, Otteburne
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg
University of Winnipeg
Winnipeg Bible College
New Brunswick
Atlantic Baptist Bible College, Moncton
New Brunswick Bible Institute
Saint John Community College
Saint John School of Nursing
University of New Brunswick
Newfoundland
University of Newfoundland
Nova Scotia
Bible College in Halifax
Halifax Bible School
Truro Agricultural College
Ontario
Algonquin College, Nepean
Canadian Baptist Bible Institute
Confederation College, Thunder Bay
Faithway Baptist College of Canada
Georgian College
King's College
La Cite Collegiale, Ottawa
Lakehead University, Thunder Bay
Northlands Bible College
Ottawa University
Redeemer College
Sault Ste. Marie College
St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology
St. Thomas University
University of Windsor
York University, Toronto
Quebec
Cegep Ahuntsic Montreal
Cegep Cite Collegiale, Hull
Cegep De Drummondville
Cegep De Sherbrooke
Cegep De St. Hyacinthe, St. Hyacinthe
Cegep Du Vieux Montreal
Cegep Linol Groux Ste. Therese
Cegep Mariana Polis (Branch of McGill), Montreal
Cegep Mont. Morency, Laval
Cegep St. Jerome
Cegep Vanier College, St. Laurent
College Andre Grisset, Montreal
McGill University
Saskatchewan
Briercrest Bible College, Caronport
Canadian Bible College, Regina
Maranantha Bible School, Regina
Southeast Regional College, Estevan
University of Regina, Regina
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
China
Beijing
Chinese Medical School
Beijing University
Beijing University of Languages and Literature
Hong Kong
Youth With a Mission
Discipleship Training School
Germany
Heidelberg University
Korea
Seoul
Aju University
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Konkuk University
Korean University of Foreign Language
Sung Sil University
Kyeon Hui University
New Zealand
Ashten Warner Nanny Academy
Auckland University
Central Institute of Technology
Christchurch Polytechnic
Christchurch Teachers College
Massey University
Nelson Polytech
Otago University
Seventh Day Adventist Teacher Training College
Taradale School of Nursing
Waikato University
Wanganui Polytech
Philippines
Adamson University
AMA Computer College
Angeles University
Assumption College
Ateneo de Davao
Ateneo de Manila University
Baguio Colleges Foundation
Bob Jones Bible Institute
Cebu Doctors College
Cebu State College
Centro Escolar University
Colegio de San Agustin
De La Salle University of the Philippines
Emilio Aguinaldo College
Far Eastern University
Grace Baptist College
Holy Angel University
La Salle College, Bacolod
Luzan Colleges, Dagupan City
Makati Polytechnic University
Manuel L. Quezon Academy
Mapua Institute of Technology
Miriam College
Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila
Pangasinan State University
Perpetual College
Philippine Christian University
Philippine Normal University
Philippine Polytechnic University
Philippine School of Business Administration
Philippine Womens University
St. Joseph College
St. Louis University, Baguio
St. Scholastica College
Technological Institute of the Philippines
University of the East
University of Bacolod
University of Baguio
University of Pangasinan
University of the Philippines, Baguio
University of the Philippines, Diliman
University of the Philippines, Los Banos
University of San Jose-Recoletos, Cebu
University of the Philippines, Tacloban
Spain
Schiller International University, Madrid
Switzerland
Montreux
Swiss Hotel Management School
United Kingdom
Aberdeen College
Bath College of Higher Education
Bodmin College
Bradford University
Capernwray Bible College
Chester College
City University
Crawley College
Duchy Agricultural College
Durham University
East Surrey College
Further Education College
Independent Methodist Bible College
Lancaster University
Manchester University
Northrop Hall Agricultural College
Norwich College
Oxford University (St. Hilda’s College)
Pen Y. Groes Bible College
Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh
Salford College
Somerset College of Art & Technology
Swansea University
Swindon College
University of Aberdeen
University of Bournemouth
University of Edinburgh (Queen Margaret’s College, Scotland)
University of Hertfordshire
University of North London
University of Ulster, Northern
University of Wales
Victory Christian University
Victory College, Bath
West Ewell College