Advice for transitioning from homeschool to college?

ccprofandmomof2
Thu, 08 Mar 2018 18:44:06 +0000

Good for you for seeking out advice. As a professor, I would say a couple of things. It may sound harsh, and I am merely speaking from one person’s experience, so take it with a grain of salt. I’m pretty sure the homeschooling parents on here will jump all over me too! First, don’t announce to every teacher and classmate that you were homeschooled. Sure, it’s a huge part of your high school identity because it sets you off from the norm, but you need to move past it. Frankly, I have a number of home school students who often use it as an excuse or explanation (“I’m not good at tests/not used to collaborative work/etc. because I was homeschooled.”) I tend to get really annoyed by such blanket generalizations, because there are plenty of opportunities to do those things at homeschool, so if you didn’t do them, then that’s on you. In general, making excuses doesn’t go over well, and droning on about homeschooling can really annoy your classmates, who will often feel (rightly or wrongly) that you are subtly putting them down by your decision to homeschool. Second, if you value the social aspects of college and the potential for making life-long collaborative relationships (which I think you should), pay attention to the social norms of class discussion. Don’t always be the first to talk, but do participate. Check yourself if you are over-participating or under-participating.

Unfortunately, I think that there are a few vocal and self-absorbed homeschoolers who match the stereotypes, and they probably make things really hard for the vast majority who don’t. But I will be honest, most faculty do a little eye roll still when they are talking about homeschooled students, so there is definitely still some belief in those stereotypes. Let me repeat, I am not endorsing those stereotypes, just saying that they are out there. Repeat: not endorsing, just describing.