Summary of article from HUNTSVILLE TIMES 5/16/05

Four college students who were homeschooled their entire education were interviewed on how they felt it prepared them for college. They reported responsibility and study skills gave them an advantage.

Home education is rapidly expanding across the nation because it's radically different from the public school system.

Connor Knapp is a sophomore at Oakwood College on an academic scholarship and majoring in biology/pre-med.

Gloria Powell has a full scholarship to the University of Alabama in Huntsville where she is a sophomore majoring in English education.

David Bond is a sophomore at UAH on a music scholarship and double majoring in finance and music.

Bethany Butler is a senior at Athens State University on an academic scholarship and majoring in secondary education with a focus in social studies.

HT: How has home education benefited you?

Connor: It helped me to develop my studying skills. The habits and skills learned through home schooling smooth the transition to college because you are already disciplined, focused and responsible.

Gloria: Home schooling has taught how to study on my own and how to be motivated by myself and not by teachers or peer pressure. Being accountable to yourself, not to teachers.

Bethany: Being able to pursue academic electives of my own liking, and spending time in subjects I enjoyed most.

David: It gave me a peer-pressure-free environment.

HT: What was a disadvantage to home education?

Connor: While I was exposed to many diverse students and people, I was not prepared for the difference in professors and their idiosyncrasies.

Gloria: When home-schooled, I could plan my own schedule around my needs for that day. Having a rigid schedule in college was hard to adjust to.

Bethany: Because of my education major, there was a disadvantage of how little I knew about the public school system.

David: Not having access to organized sports and music bands as much.

HT: Did you suffer socially because you home education?

Connor: No, I did not suffer. A misconception is home schoolers are maladjusted and unsocial but in reality they have a very busy social agenda.

Gloria: No. I had social activities. My social life was even better because I initiated it, and when I (visited) with someone it was quality time and purposeful.

Bethany: Absolutely not. There were always activities with school, like field trips and classes, and church, with youth retreats, and I hung out all the time with my friends.

David: I had plenty of friends. I got to choose friends in my home-school group, soccer team and music functions. The home-school community is really close-knit.

HT: Did home education adequately prepare you for college?

Connor: Yes. Home schooling prepared me for college by providing a protected learning environment, a diverse social schedule and rigorous academic activities.

Gloria: It more than adequately prepared me, especially my study habits.

Bethany: For the most part it did because of the classes I took and the individual responsibility I learned. It was similar to college.

David: Yes. Probably more than prepared me. I was taught how to learn, not memorize.