Hundreds of colleges welcome home-schooled students

Hundreds of colleges in the United States accept home-schooled applicants. These Home School Friendly Colleges have their own set of requirements for applicants who have been home schooled at some point in their academic lives.

According to the College Board (www.CollegeBoard.com)—a not-for-profit membership association of more than 5,700 academic institutions—'home-schooled students follow the same college admission process as students in public or private schools. However, they may have to fulfill some extra requirements.'

Home-schooled students interested in studying at Gordon College—a nondenominational Christian college based in Wenham, MA—for example, need to fulfill a number of requirements to be considered for admission.

Requirements include:
• SAT or ACT, including writing component
• References (Academic and Christian Faith)
• Transcript, including grades
• Description of curriculum used
• List of required texts or readings
• Information about experiential learning (field trips, special projects or extracurricular activities)

Gordon does not require home schooled applicants to have either a diploma or GED.

Gordon recommends that the High School Preparation Curriculum for home school students include four years of English . . . and two years each of math, natural science (including at least a year of laboratory science), social studies, and a foreign language (preferably four years).

Gordon also awards credit to home school students who receive a 4 or 5 on AP if they choose a comparable course that is required as part of the student's academic program. The college also offers transfer credit for college courses completed during high school.

In contrast, a secular institution such as Arcadia University, Glenside, PA, for example, requires home schooled students meet the following requirements:
• SAT or ACT scores
• Two letters of recommendation (evaluator, teacher, employer or an adult who can attest to applicant's academic ability)
• One or more of the following: State-approved diploma, GED, a comprehensive outline of the home school curriculum, and student's grade report and/or sample works.

Arcadia also encourages applicants to provide any of the following optional material:
• SAT II Subject Tests
• AP Test Scores
• CLEP Exam Scores
• Additional writing samples or course material
• Any other relevant material