Often we hear people stressing that their children must go to college if they want to get a good job, make a good income, and support a family. Just as often, colleges or universities are pre-selected for those children because that particular institution is a parent's alma mater. Then, a child is often sent to that institution without clear direction (i.e., a clear plan of a major and a goal at the end). What a sad, but all too typical, story.

I heard Mike Farris speak at our Christian Association of Parent Educators (CAPE-NM) conference in New Mexico several years ago, and he spoke of this very problem. He basically said that after the purchase of a home, there is no greater expenditure of money than sending a child to a college or university. Further, this decision is often made with little thought or planning. We send the child to school, he or she goes for a few years, and then, all of a sudden, is on the spot to pick a major. Credits in various areas are tallied, and often the decision rests on what area has the most credits. He went on to say how foolish we are when it comes to higher education. We don't plan. We don't counsel our children in this area. We don't pray. We treat this particular expenditure pretty cavalierly considering how much money and time is at risk.

Mr. Farris also went on to speak about young women attending college and how he has counseled his daughters. He has suggested to his daughters areas of study that could lead to a career that could be conducted from the home. For example, if a woman went into graphic design, in the event that income was needed due to the death of a spouse or job layoff, she could do that work from the home while still caring for the children. As I listened, I thought that that was excellent wisdom.

Much of the data out there, and much of what is reported above, focuses on the material rather than the spiritual. We must pray for guidance when it comes to any area of our lives, including higher education. We must also seek wisdom in counseling our children. As I was working on this column, I came across a website, Heart of Wisdom, at homeschoolinformation.com/FAQs/what_about_college.htm. A paragraph on that page caught my attention, and I thought it worthy of using as a closing to this column.

Before you place extreme importance on a college education, however, remember that a college degree is worthless if one does not know Christ. It is of little value for our children to master chemistry and algebra if they don't know how to get along with their spouses or cannot learn how to discipline their children. It is of little value for one to be fluent in several foreign languages if he doesn't have tongue control. It is of little value for one to diagram a sentence if one cannot communicate true feelings. Are you sure college is God's plan for your child?

A Survey of Homeschool Friendly Colleges and Universities in the United States*
Abilene Christian University (Abilene, TX)
Agnes Scott College (Decatur, GA)
Alaska Bible College (Glennellen, AK)
Albion College (Albion, MI)
Alma College (Alma, MI)
Andrews University (Berrien Springs, MI)
Anne Arundel Community College (Arnold, MD)
Appalachian Bible College (Bradley, WV)
Aquinas College, (Grand Rapids, MI)
Arcadia University (Glenside, PA)
Arlington Baptist College (Arlington, TX)
Ashland University (Ashland, OH)
Bennington College (Bennington, VT)
Berea College (Berea, KY)
Berry College (Mount Berry, GA)
Biola University (La Mirada, CA)
Bluffton College (Bluffton, OH)
Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC)
Bryan College (Dayton, TN)
Cottey College (Nevada, MO)
Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH)
David Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN)
Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA)
Duquesne University (Pittsburg, PA)
Evangel University (Springfield, MO)
Faulkner University (Montgomery, AL)
Freed-Hardeman University (Henderson, TN)
Gordon College, (Wenham, MA)
Grove City College (Grove City, PA)
Hanover College (Hanover, IN)
Hillsdale College (Hillsdale, MI)
Hiram College (Hiram, OH)
Huntington College (Huntington, IN)
John Brown University (Siloam Springs, AR)
Johnson & Wales University (Charleston, SC)
Johnson & Wales University (Denver, CO)
Johnson & Wales University (Norfolk, VA)
Johnson & Wales University (North Miami, FL)
Johnson & Wales University (Providence, RI)
Judson College (Elgin, IL)
Judson College (Marion, AL)
Kent State University (Kent, OH)
Lebanon Valley College (Annville, PA)
Lee University (Cleveland, TN)
LeTourneau University (Longview, TX)
Lousiana College (Pineville, LA)
Lubbock Christian University (Lubbock, TX)
Luzerne County Community College (Nanticoke, PA)
Maranatha Baptist Bible College (Watertown, WI)
Mary Baldwin College (Staunton, VA)
Marylhurst University (Portland, OR)
The Master's College (Santa Clarita, CA)
Northampton Community College (Bethlehem, PA)
Ohio Wesleyan University (Delaware, OH)
Patrick Henry College (Purcellville, VA)
Pensacola Christian College (Pensacola, FL)
Piedmont College (Demorest, GA)
Pillsbury Baptist Bible College (Owatonna, MN)
Providence Christian College (Ontario, CA)
Quincy University (Quincy, IL)
Saint Joseph's College (Rensselaer, IN)
Sarah Lawrence College (Bronxville, NY)
Sheldon Jackson College (Sitka, AK)
Spurgeon Baptist Bible College (Mulberry, FL)
Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
Sterling College (Sterling, KS)
St John's College (Annapolis, MD; Santa Fe, NM)
Talladega College (Talladega, AL)
Taylor University (Upland, IN)
Thomas Aquinas College (Santa Paula, CA)
Toccoa Falls College (Toccoa Falls, GA)
Towson State University (Towson, MD)
University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) (Huntsville, AL)
University of Bridgeport (Bridgeport, CT)
The University of Mobile (Mobile, AL)
University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne, IN)
Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
Waynesburg College (Waynesburg, PA)
West Point (West Point, NY)
Wilson College (Chambersburg, PA)

 * This list is not exhaustive, nor does it guarantee admission to homeschoolers; however, it is offered as a place to begin your search.

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Heather Allen is The Old Schoolhouse's Town Square chief contributing writer and Senior Analylical Consultant. She has a PhD in Experimental Psychology, served as an Aerospace Experimental Psychologist in the US Navy, and worked 11 years for Sandia National Laboratories. Shd and her husband Steve have homeschooled their three children for 8 years.

Copyright 2005. Used with permission. The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Right now, 19 free gifts when you subscribe. www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com