Implication for Universities, Essay Example

Homeschooling is a growing trend in America, as is evident by the fact that millions of students are homeschooled in the United States each year, according to reports from the U.S. Department of Education. Additionally, homeschooling is popular at the secondary level, which means more homeschooled students will apply to enter universities, and this presents a challenge to admissions officials (Sorey and Duggan). After graduating from homeschool, these students often must deal with challenges when applying for admission to college. One of the reasons for this, according to Duggan and Sorey, is because official transcripts are required for admission, and homeschooled students do not have these. However, “The National Center for Home Education suggests that while homeschoolers should produce a transcript demonstrating completion of high school, colleges should have flexible guidelines for these records” (p. 27).

Even though students who are homeschooled may be as academically ready for college as the traditionally schooled students, they may still have more challenges with the traditional institutional approach to learning in the college environment. This includes having more difficulties navigating the process of applying to colleges (Sorey & Duggan, 2008). The reason for this is no doubt due to homeschooled students lacking in social interaction skills, after being homeschooled for many years. Homeschooled students do not have the same opportunities as non-homeschooled students to interact with other students and teachers in a structured class environment. In addition, homeschooled students often require help with the college application process and many colleges do not provide special programs to these students to help them with the process, nor are any workshops or services available for them in this regard.

Another issue that may be faced by homeschooled students is having difficulty grasping college-level subjects. This may not be because they are lacking academically, but it could occur because homeschooled students are accustomed to more personal attention from being schooled at home. They will likely not receive personalized attention in college because college classes are large and largely impersonal. For example, some college classes are so large that they can have more than a hundred students in each one, and this means that students may find it difficult to receive one-on-one attention. As well, homeschooled students may need additional tutoring. However, tutors at the college level are expensive, which may be difficult for most students to afford. This is why many homeschooled students may need to put forth more effort than other students to keep up in college classes. In addition, it may be questionable if they have acquired the social skills necessary to effectively function in the broader society. Instructional knowledge is important for students to get them ready to attend public colleges and universities, and homeschooled students get this but they do not get as much practical knowledge to make it in college or university settings efficiently. This means they are less accustomed to the ideologies of colleges and universities and what they can expect from their instructors. (Kunzman and Gaither).

If homeschooled students entering college have poor social skills, it may cause other students not to associate with them as easily, which may lead to isolation for the homeschooled students, which could then lead to depression. This type of scenario may lead homeschooled students to feel secluded at college because they may feel out of place. Another problem that could form for these students is the issue of low self-esteem, which makes it questionable whether they will be able to develop healthy relationships and work with other students effectively (Kunzman and Gaither).

Although homeschooling students has it challenges, it is steadily increasing in popularity, which has resulted in homeschool families advocating for political and legal action to ease the burden of homeschooling their children. The “homeschooling movement”, as it is called, is definitely a significant reality in today’s education system in America.

References

Kunzman, R. and M. Gaither. “Homeschooling: A Comprehensive Survey of the Research.” The Journal of Educational Alternatives 2.1 (2013): 4-59. Print.

Sorey, K. and M. H. Duggan. “Homeschoolers Entering Community Colleges: Perceptions of Admission Officers.” Journal of College Admission (2008): 22-28. Print.