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Read on to discover the top colleges that welcome and value homeschoolers.
You might think it would be difficult for homeschoolers to get into college, but as it turns out, this is not the case. Homeschoolers often get into top colleges around the country.
Not only do some institutions explicitly lay out expectations for homeschoolers during the application process, but they also offer a supportive learning environment that makes for a smooth transition into college. These schools are often referred to as “home-school friendly” due to the various accommodations they provide.
Below we’ll outline the best colleges for homeschoolers and break down the types of accommodations you can expect from each. Let’s get started!
In no particular order, here’s our list of the top ten colleges for homeschoolers.
MIT has made the application process easy and straightforward for homeschoolers. Their application process is the same for all students, no matter their educational backgrounds. However, the admissions committee does recommend that homeschoolers should demonstrate the following qualities in their application:
By showing these criteria in your application, you will be able to apply to MIT as a homeschooler.
Harvard is dedicated to making sure homeschoolers have the same opportunities as their other applicants. To make it easier for homeschoolers to apply, transcripts can be created by the family member that was in charge of their schooling.
Harvard also does not require students to submit their SAT or ACT scores as a part of the admissions process. These exams can often be difficult for homeschoolers due to their unconventional curriculum. Not having to sit these exams means you do not have to take extra time out of your schedule to learn what is tested and how to study for them.
By making these special considerations, Harvard has become one of the best colleges for homeschoolers.
Stanford welcomes homeschoolers and provides them with the opportunity to enroll in an online high school program designed for students in grades 7-10. This program allows homeschoolers to take courses that can showcase their academic abilities and enhance their college applications.
Stanford also provides clear guidelines to homeschoolers on what they need to do to increase their chances of being considered a strong candidate for admission. They recommend students submit a detailed description of their curriculum to answer the following questions:
By addressing these questions, homeschoolers can help Stanford assess their application on an equal footing with other applicants.
Students who demonstrate dedication to their community are highly valued at Duke, and homeschoolers often excel in this area by participating in valuable extracurricular activities that involve community service. This provides homeschoolers with an opportunity to showcase their community involvement.
Duke also takes a proactive approach to building a supportive community for first-year students. By living on East Campus and taking some courses together, first-year students can easily get to know each other and make a smoother transition to college life. This is particularly advantageous for homeschoolers who might come from small or rural communities.
Georgetown University has become an attractive option for homeschoolers as they offer summer courses that are available to all students. These courses give homeschoolers the opportunity to visit the campus and get a feel for the school before applying.
Attending these courses also allows homeschoolers to connect with other prospective Georgetown students and make friends prior to the semester starting. This makes the transition from homeschool to college much smoother, as they get a glimpse of what it would be like to be a student at Georgetown and can reduce anxiety about attending.
Similar to other universities, Georgetown has clear guidelines for what they are looking for in their students. This is especially helpful for homeschoolers who may be unfamiliar with the application process.
Georgetown demonstrates their commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all students, including homeschoolers.
Notre Dame is a Catholic university that places a significant emphasis on building a strong sense of community among its students. This focus on community extends to homeschoolers, making it easier for them to transition from home-based learning to a traditional college setting.
Many homeschoolers come from small communities with religious ties, which makes Notre Dame's environment a good fit for them. By emphasizing the importance of community, it's easier for students from rural areas to feel connected when attending Notre Dame.
Notre Dame also advises homeschoolers on how to gain acceptance into their school. They strongly recommend having someone outside of the family write a letter of recommendation. This allows applicants to demonstrate their connection to their community, which is something Notre Dame values highly.
The University of California is another homeschool friendly college. One way you can get into UC is through admission by exception, a program that helps admit students who may not have all the admissions requirements due to being homeschooled.
To do this, UC asks students to answer the personal insight questions and use the application’s comment section to tell their unique story, illustrating why they chose to be homeschooled.
This makes it easy for those applying from a home school to know exactly how to illustrate to the school why they are a good candidate for admission.
To make homeschoolers feel like they belong at UCLA, the university offers events specifically for freshmen homeschoolers to connect with other students. UCLA also has a variety of clubs that cater to different interests, providing opportunities for homeschoolers to find their niche.
For those from small communities, UCLA's emphasis on building a strong sense of community can make the transition to college much smoother. This is why UCLA can be a great choice for homeschoolers looking for a welcoming and inclusive environment.
The University of Virginia takes a unique approach to evaluating homeschooled students for admission.
Instead of relying on traditional transcripts, they assess the student's academic performance within their home school curriculum. They also take into account any college-level courses taken and community involvement as part of the student's overall academic standing.
To further showcase their abilities, UVA encourages homeschoolers to submit samples of their academic projects that demonstrate their capability to tackle challenging coursework at the college level.
To create a welcoming environment for students who were homeschooled, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers a “small town feel” with big city resources. This is especially beneficial for students who may feel more comfortable in a familiar setting.
In fact, almost half of UNC's students come from rural counties, providing a sense of community and connection for homeschooled students. Additionally, UNC values a student's academic and community involvement and encourages homeschooled students to explain their curriculum on their application.
UNC does not require an official transcript, but rather, seeks to understand the types of academic activities the student participated in and how they engaged with their community. This approach shows why UNC is considered one of the best colleges for homeschoolers.
Now that we’ve explored a list of the best colleges for homeschoolers, take a look at these common questions about homeschool friendly colleges.
Homeschoolers can get into good colleges but might need to provide the school with additional information about their curriculum.
Homeschoolers are often given the chance to show their academic prowess in different ways than traditionally taught students and should spend time looking into exactly what is needed by each school they apply to. They have the same chance of getting into a good college as any other student.
Yes, homeschoolers can get into Harvard. Harvard gives homeschoolers the ability to provide an unofficial transcript, meaning their grades will be looked at just like any other applicant. They do their best to treat homeschoolers in the exact same way as any other student.
Ivy League colleges do accept homeschoolers. Make sure you look at what they require for application as some schools might have different requirements for homeschoolers.
Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan are considered to be among the most homeschool-friendly states.
While the college application process can seem daunting for homeschoolers, there are many excellent colleges that welcome and value homeschooled students.
When researching colleges, it's important for homeschoolers to look for schools that prioritize community and offer support for non-traditional students. Keep in mind that each school has unique accommodations for homeschool applicants, so make sure to pay close attention to their specific requirements when applying.
Ultimately, we hope this guide will be a helpful resource on your journey to college.
Read on to discover the top colleges that welcome and value homeschoolers.
You might think it would be difficult for homeschoolers to get into college, but as it turns out, this is not the case. Homeschoolers often get into top colleges around the country.
Not only do some institutions explicitly lay out expectations for homeschoolers during the application process, but they also offer a supportive learning environment that makes for a smooth transition into college. These schools are often referred to as “home-school friendly” due to the various accommodations they provide.
Below we’ll outline the best colleges for homeschoolers and break down the types of accommodations you can expect from each. Let’s get started!
In no particular order, here’s our list of the top ten colleges for homeschoolers.
MIT has made the application process easy and straightforward for homeschoolers. Their application process is the same for all students, no matter their educational backgrounds. However, the admissions committee does recommend that homeschoolers should demonstrate the following qualities in their application:
By showing these criteria in your application, you will be able to apply to MIT as a homeschooler.
Harvard is dedicated to making sure homeschoolers have the same opportunities as their other applicants. To make it easier for homeschoolers to apply, transcripts can be created by the family member that was in charge of their schooling.
Harvard also does not require students to submit their SAT or ACT scores as a part of the admissions process. These exams can often be difficult for homeschoolers due to their unconventional curriculum. Not having to sit these exams means you do not have to take extra time out of your schedule to learn what is tested and how to study for them.
By making these special considerations, Harvard has become one of the best colleges for homeschoolers.
Stanford welcomes homeschoolers and provides them with the opportunity to enroll in an online high school program designed for students in grades 7-10. This program allows homeschoolers to take courses that can showcase their academic abilities and enhance their college applications.
Stanford also provides clear guidelines to homeschoolers on what they need to do to increase their chances of being considered a strong candidate for admission. They recommend students submit a detailed description of their curriculum to answer the following questions:
By addressing these questions, homeschoolers can help Stanford assess their application on an equal footing with other applicants.
Students who demonstrate dedication to their community are highly valued at Duke, and homeschoolers often excel in this area by participating in valuable extracurricular activities that involve community service. This provides homeschoolers with an opportunity to showcase their community involvement.
Duke also takes a proactive approach to building a supportive community for first-year students. By living on East Campus and taking some courses together, first-year students can easily get to know each other and make a smoother transition to college life. This is particularly advantageous for homeschoolers who might come from small or rural communities.
Georgetown University has become an attractive option for homeschoolers as they offer summer courses that are available to all students. These courses give homeschoolers the opportunity to visit the campus and get a feel for the school before applying.
Attending these courses also allows homeschoolers to connect with other prospective Georgetown students and make friends prior to the semester starting. This makes the transition from homeschool to college much smoother, as they get a glimpse of what it would be like to be a student at Georgetown and can reduce anxiety about attending.
Similar to other universities, Georgetown has clear guidelines for what they are looking for in their students. This is especially helpful for homeschoolers who may be unfamiliar with the application process.
Georgetown demonstrates their commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all students, including homeschoolers.
Notre Dame is a Catholic university that places a significant emphasis on building a strong sense of community among its students. This focus on community extends to homeschoolers, making it easier for them to transition from home-based learning to a traditional college setting.
Many homeschoolers come from small communities with religious ties, which makes Notre Dame's environment a good fit for them. By emphasizing the importance of community, it's easier for students from rural areas to feel connected when attending Notre Dame.
Notre Dame also advises homeschoolers on how to gain acceptance into their school. They strongly recommend having someone outside of the family write a letter of recommendation. This allows applicants to demonstrate their connection to their community, which is something Notre Dame values highly.
The University of California is another homeschool friendly college. One way you can get into UC is through admission by exception, a program that helps admit students who may not have all the admissions requirements due to being homeschooled.
To do this, UC asks students to answer the personal insight questions and use the application’s comment section to tell their unique story, illustrating why they chose to be homeschooled.
This makes it easy for those applying from a home school to know exactly how to illustrate to the school why they are a good candidate for admission.
To make homeschoolers feel like they belong at UCLA, the university offers events specifically for freshmen homeschoolers to connect with other students. UCLA also has a variety of clubs that cater to different interests, providing opportunities for homeschoolers to find their niche.
For those from small communities, UCLA's emphasis on building a strong sense of community can make the transition to college much smoother. This is why UCLA can be a great choice for homeschoolers looking for a welcoming and inclusive environment.
The University of Virginia takes a unique approach to evaluating homeschooled students for admission.
Instead of relying on traditional transcripts, they assess the student's academic performance within their home school curriculum. They also take into account any college-level courses taken and community involvement as part of the student's overall academic standing.
To further showcase their abilities, UVA encourages homeschoolers to submit samples of their academic projects that demonstrate their capability to tackle challenging coursework at the college level.
To create a welcoming environment for students who were homeschooled, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers a “small town feel” with big city resources. This is especially beneficial for students who may feel more comfortable in a familiar setting.
In fact, almost half of UNC's students come from rural counties, providing a sense of community and connection for homeschooled students. Additionally, UNC values a student's academic and community involvement and encourages homeschooled students to explain their curriculum on their application.
UNC does not require an official transcript, but rather, seeks to understand the types of academic activities the student participated in and how they engaged with their community. This approach shows why UNC is considered one of the best colleges for homeschoolers.
Now that we’ve explored a list of the best colleges for homeschoolers, take a look at these common questions about homeschool friendly colleges.
Homeschoolers can get into good colleges but might need to provide the school with additional information about their curriculum.
Homeschoolers are often given the chance to show their academic prowess in different ways than traditionally taught students and should spend time looking into exactly what is needed by each school they apply to. They have the same chance of getting into a good college as any other student.
Yes, homeschoolers can get into Harvard. Harvard gives homeschoolers the ability to provide an unofficial transcript, meaning their grades will be looked at just like any other applicant. They do their best to treat homeschoolers in the exact same way as any other student.
Ivy League colleges do accept homeschoolers. Make sure you look at what they require for application as some schools might have different requirements for homeschoolers.
Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan are considered to be among the most homeschool-friendly states.
While the college application process can seem daunting for homeschoolers, there are many excellent colleges that welcome and value homeschooled students.
When researching colleges, it's important for homeschoolers to look for schools that prioritize community and offer support for non-traditional students. Keep in mind that each school has unique accommodations for homeschool applicants, so make sure to pay close attention to their specific requirements when applying.
Ultimately, we hope this guide will be a helpful resource on your journey to college.
