<p>^Sure, I would like to see the article. But I think the reason they mark the homeschool applications is because they have one designated staff person in the admissions department assigned to read the homeschool apps. Stanford certainly welcomes homeschooled applicants, as do all other schools, but truly, it’s not a hook in and of itself. A hook gives a substantial boost to admissions chances, and just being homeschooled doesn’t; the admissions office has said on several occasions that homeschooled applicants are accepted at about the same rate as traditionally-schooled applicants. If it were a hook (like URM, recruited athlete, etc.) then they would be accepted at a higher rate than the applicant pool as a whole.</p>