Homeschoolers Weigh In On College Readiness

Maddie Newman | Writer

While many public schoolers may find the transition from high school to college pretty seamless, for homeschoolers, it can be an entirely new playing field.

Homeschoolers can oftentimes be viewed to be at a disadvantage when entering the college scene. Though in college they have been linked to having both higher achievement levels and out-of-the-box thinking, some report struggling with perfectionism and social issues. 

“[Homeschooling] makes it hard to ask for help because I'm used to figuring it out on my own,” said Grace Franchetti, LCCC student and dual-enrollment homeschooler.

A positive aspect of homeschooling is that it can instill a sense of freedom in learning that is unique from its public schooling counterparts. 

“The big difference for me [between homeschooling and public schooling], is that [in homeschooling] you don't have to sit at a desk all day and you can actually go more in-depth on things that you're struggling with,” said Shianne Zimmerman, 15, homeschooler of 3 years and dual enrollment student at LCCC.

Many current college students who were previously homeschooled think the customized pace of homeschooling helps breed college success, especially when it comes to time management.

“No one was like ‘You have to do school,’” said Grace Franchetti. “You have to work on your own time and make your own schedule.”

However, Franchetti went on to criticize some aspects of her homeschooled background.

“I just feel like it's harder to approach people, even classmates and professors. It's hard to go up and talk to them and I think it's because I'm used to working on my own,” she said.

Hannah Hoy, 19, an LCCC student and former homeschooler, agrees with Franchetti. 

“I think [homeschooling] has helped me and it hasn't at the same time,” she said. “I feel like I know the things that they're teaching me, but I also feel like it didn't prepare me for the social aspect of it because I didn’t have the setting of being in a public school.”

Many, however, think homeschooling aids in college success, often listing self-motivation as one of the reasons why.

“I believe [homeschooling] will help in college because you have to be very self-motivated,” said Bryleigh Barnhart, 16, a homeschooler of 11 years. “You have to motivate yourself and control yourself, and in college, I think that it is important to be able to get everything you need to get done.”

 While many homeschoolers' experiences have been marked by freedom and self-direction, which ultimately prepares them well for college success, public schoolers' traditional classroom experience has also helped ease their transition into college.