Do homeschoolers get into college? The answer is yes, even though people mostly perceive homeschooled students as those who cannot make it to college. This opinion leads some homeschoolers opting out of school and preferring apprenticeships. Getting into college after homeschooling can be a challenging and tiring task as most parents wonder whether they have prepared their kids well enough to cope with college life. Raising school fees for a homeschooling parent can also be intimidating since the government channels most college funds toward public school students. But school fees should rather not discourage you from getting your child a homeschool college admission as studies done by The University of St. Thomas has shown that homeschooled students end up performing even better than regular public school students. Below are some ways homeschooling can help your child succeed in college and life after school:
Social development
The detractors of the approach may argue that homeschooled students will likely have difficulty adjusting to college life since their chosen education system neglected socialization skills. However, in most cases homeschooled students show no signs of social deficiencies. Moreover, they engage and participate in civic activities like voting and community service more often compared to public school students. In addition, about 70% of homeschooled students in college and adults described themselves as genuinely happy.
By growing up and learning surrounded by family members, homeschooled students have emulated excellent and healthy social connections that play a significant role in ensuring healthy relationships with their college fellows and working through conflicts with their peers positively. Homeschooling also fosters less peer dependence, reducing the effect of peer pressure on homeschooled students and making it easy for them to avoid drug abuse and early exposure to sexual activities. Homeschooled students are sociable and easy to approach unlike the assumptions that many people have about them.
Practical learning skills and techniques
Homeschooling and college are way more connected in how a student performs because the ability to learn is cultivated from a young age. Compared to public schooling, homeschooling offers better guidance on learning skills. In a public school, poor-performing students may lack attention due to a large number of students a teacher needs to attend. So, their performance cannot significantly improve to the point they go to college unless they work hard on their weaknesses.
While homeschooling, a tutor only focuses on a few students, like two or three, deciding on the best learning method for each kid. Brighterly math offers interactive learning that any tutor can use as a resource for contextual learning. Thus, once students get to college, they already know the learning approach that works best for them, which ensures they get the best grades.
A qualified and effective tutor will use contextual learning or an interest-led approach to ensure their student enjoys learning and stays focused
Good mental health
Have you wondered why there have been increased cases of public high school dropouts over the years? Some of the reasons are bullying, social anxiety, and depression that many high school students are going through. Majorly, the problems are caused by fellow students or the pressure from the administration. While homeschooling, students can avoid such circumstances and transition to college without difficulties. Parents can also give their children extra lessons on coping skills and therapy to improve kids’ mental health.
The main impact of homeschooling on mental health is building up a kid’s confidence and self-acceptance. No matter what people say about a student in college or outside school, it does not affect them as they are already confident the way they are. With such a positive mentality, a student will generally perform well in college and life. Homeschooling also encourages autonomy and independence, ensuring that a student can make decisions independently without being affected by other people’s choices.
Good physical health and wellness
Public school students only get to work on their physical health and wellness, mainly during the physical education lesson, primarily once a week, or during games. The time allocated for physical activities is inefficient for keeping students’ bodies in shape and ensuring good physical health, which may lead to many cases of obesity in kids and other poor physical health-related diseases. On the other hand, homeschooling allows a tutor to adjust students’ timetable and include more physical activities that fit in with the student’s needs. Thus, a child can grow up knowing the importance of taking care of their physical health.
Once homeschooled students get to college, they will not neglect their physical health as they have grown a positive habit and mindset towards physical fitness. Exercising is the most common way of ensuring good physical health and clearing the mind and it is essential in improving a student’s academic performance. Regular fitness also helps ensure that a person attains their perfect body, thus boosting their confidence and self-acceptance. Even after college, students will exercise regularly to avoid losing shape or becoming unfit.
Self-discipline and respect
Self-discipline is the ability to work hard and behave in the right way without needing someone to control a person or tell them what to do. On the other hand, respect means accepting everyone as they are, no matter how different a person is from you. In homeschooling, both the tutor and parents can teach a kid the importance of being self-disciplined and respectful. Homeschooled students will grow with these virtues as they were molded into them from an early age with very little likelihood of diverting from them in the future. Once such students enter college, they can control themselves to do the right thing at the right time.
Self-discipline is essential in college and life beyond as it is a significant determinant of a person’s decisions. For college students, self-discipline determines whether they attend classes and stay committed to their education without being affected by external influence. Respect is also crucial in determining how a person interacts with others and maintains a healthy relationship with them. Their life decisions will significantly depend on their self-discipline, and their relationships will rely on respect toward those they interact with, whether in college or work.
Conclusion
In general, homeschooled students have added advantages over public school students in some ways in both college and life. Before deciding on homeschooling your child, you should outweigh the approach’s advantages and disadvantages and consider some factors like flexibility before determining whether it’s the best choice for your child compared to public schooling.
