The growth trends for the homeschooling population are undeniable. A July 2004 study released by the National Center for Education Statistics estimates that nearly 1.1 million US students were homeschooled as of the spring of 2003, an increase of 29% from the estimated 850,000 homeschoolers in the spring of 1999. Homeschoolers are now estimated to represent 2.2% of the total school-age population. As their numbers grow, homeschoolers are finding that colleges are paying more attention.

Another benefit is standardized test scores. Over the last few years, homeschoolers have tended to score better as a group than students from more traditional schools. In 2004, the average ACT composite score for homeschoolers was 22.6, compared to 20.9 for all other students. Although the College Board, the maker of the SAT test, does not currently release homeschool-specific data, the Home School Legal Defense Association indicates that the average SAT score for homeschoolers has topped that of students from traditional schools each year from 1999 to 2002.

"Test scores are usually very high," says John Carroll, Director of Admission at Kalamazoo College in Michigan. Since standardized test scores affect the perception of a college's selectivity, both among peers and in ranking publications such as U.S. News & World Report, high scoring students are in demand. Carroll says the trend of higher scores among homeschoolers in Kalamazoo's applicant pool is one reason that their acceptance rate is above average.

Diverse Experience

Carroll also points to other, less quantifiable reasons why homeschoolers make attractive candidates. "Homeschoolers typically are supplementing their home instruction with college courses, private tutoring--especially helpful for languages and sciences--international enrichment experiences, and community service projects." In addition, he feels they bring "varied experience and often a more purposeful approach to their education. There seems to be more thought given to the direction and depth of their education, rather than the typical public school students who accept a series of requirements and plod toward their completion."

O'Cain says Furman has also experienced the less tangible benefits of homeschool students, pointing to the practical aspects of a less traditional structure. "Their schedule also allows for more freedom and flexibility as far as their extracurricular experiences. One example a few years ago was a student who was very interested in marine biology. This student was able to secure an internship for a month in Hawaii during the regular 'school year.' This would not have likely been possible for a student who was enrolled in a common high school."

Bruce Chamberlin, Associate Director of Admission at the University of Pennsylvania, agrees that homeschooled students can use the flexibility of their education to their benefit. "We especially like to see a homeschool student take advantage of the opportunities afforded by circumstances. I recall one student studying history, literature, and geology and then taking a cross-country trip with her grandmother to visit various cities she had read about, following portions of different pioneers' trails, and touring land formations she had studied. She made the country her laboratory, literally."