Getting out of the house
Homeschooled students adjust to learning with 40K classmates
Elementary education junior David Holcomb has a laugh with his mother Kathy and father Gary, of Southfield, on Sunday afternoon during a reception at the Evans Scholars house, 831 E. Grand River Ave. Holcomb was homeschooled from kindergarten to 12th grade by his mother Kathy, who has homeschooled all five of his siblings.
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When applying to MSU as a prospective freshman, David Holcomb boasted strong test scores, plenty of extracurricular activities and passing grades from a few community college courses. Yet Holcomb had one major difference from his peers — he was homeschooled until coming to MSU.
Holcomb was one of 27 applicants for admission to MSU’s fall 2006 class who were homeschooled and only one of nine who enrolled.
In each of the past five years, fewer than 30 homeschooled students have applied to MSU. Each of those years, no more than 10 have enrolled, a surprisingly low number considering an average of about 1,500 students are homeschooled in Michigan each year, according to the state’s Department of Education.
The reasons for MSU’s low homeschool population are numerous, ranging from the school’s size to its public perception.
Evaluating enrollment
Photo: Elementary education ...
For those homeschooled students applying to MSU, the chance of admission typically is high.
Since fall 2005, 135 homeschooled students have started the admission process at MSU. Of those students, nearly 80 percent have been admitted, an admission rate slightly higher than the 70 to 75 percent of all students who are accepted.
In the same time frame, about 35 percent of admitted homeschooled students enrolled at MSU, a small drop from the 40 to 50 percent of all admitted students who enroll each year.
MSU Director of Admissions Jim Cotter said homeschooled students typically are reviewed using the same criteria as students from public and private high schools, often with extra emphasis on standardized test scores.
“We realize the homeschool experience is different from the average high school,” Cotter said.
“The requirements across the board are consistent. The information is then reviewed, but different emphasis can be placed on issues depending on the different environments from homeschool students.”
MSU’s admissions procedures mirror those of most schools, said Ian Slatter, director of media relations for the Home School Legal Defense Association, a Virginia-based homeschool advocacy group.
“Most schools now have homeschool admissions policies or homeschool admissions officers,” Slatter said.
“You still need to have somebody look at the application with some knowledge of the background of homeschool students to make a determination of who is ready for the challenge of a four-year degree program.”
Low applications
When Holcomb returns home during breaks in the academic year, many of his homeschooled friends tell stories of small-college life.
“It kind of makes sense with the families I know back home,” said Holcomb, an elementary education junior who would have attended Southfield High School in suburban Detroit.
“A lot of the reason why some of those kids are going to community college is because perhaps some of those families are reluctant to send their kids off to a more secular institution.”
It’s a common theme that likely prevents more homeschooled students from applying to MSU. The vast campus, 40,000-plus students, active dorm life and secular background are a stark contrast from the individualized, tranquil educational experience of homeschooled students.
As a result, many homeschooled students study at a community college before advancing to small four-year institutions, said Michele Czupinski, founder of Adventurers, a homeschool organization based in Ypsilanti that serves about 50 families.
“For homeschoolers, the reasons may be varied,” Czupinski said. “One, it’s so much cheaper than four-year university tuition. Two, for some homeschoolers, having that school experience in a smaller setting than a four-year university is appealing.”
Adjusting to MSU
The transition to MSU has been relatively smooth for East Asian languages sophomore Grace Fisher, who was homeschooled in Berrien Center, located in Southwest Michigan.
“There are a lot of students, but you don’t see 40,000 people in one day, so it didn’t seem like a really big deal for me,” Fisher said.
Because of the stereotypes about homeschoolers that Fisher has encountered — that they are smart, not socially oriented and are even bad dressers, Fisher said — she typically is mum on her educational background.
“A lot of times when people find out that I was homeschooled, they’re surprised because they don’t see me as a ‘typical homeschooler,’” she said.
Although Fisher’s adjustment has been smooth, Czupinski said one of her sons struggled with loud and lewd students in his MSU freshman dorm. He subsequently transferred to a community college back home after one semester.
“For him, there was a culture shock of living in a dorm and he was not prepared for the social elements,” Czupinski said. “(My children) are well-socialized, but not well socialized for the hellhole that some dorms have become.”
Holcomb has, at times, been surprised by loud music and the uncleanliness of college living in his Evans Scholars house, which differs from his tranquil home life.
But Holcomb also uses his homeschool experience to his advantage.
In his personal statement for admission, Holcomb wrote about how his homeschooling would add diversity to the university. He also has brought up homeschooling for discussion in his education classes at MSU.
“I feel like it’s something I’ve had all my life,” Holcomb said of his homeschooling background. “Yeah, I’m a little weird, but I’m over it. It gives me perspective and it gives me a new look on things.”
Commentary
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Nelson Muntz
(04/20/09 9:00am)Report
Oh, the memories….. I remember fondly the days I used to pick on little Bobby down the street. He was such an easy target outside the shelter of his house—no Mommy to come to his rescue.
What’s that? “Do I regret this?” you say. No. I have no regrets, except that he didn’t go to normal school with me, where I could have picked on him all day long.
marshasmom
(04/20/09 9:35am)Report
Homeschooled kids have some of the highest college drop out rates because getting along with others is something you learn in school too. I wish him luck.
Hermit
(04/20/09 9:51am)Report
Wait ‘til these kids get jobs and have to deal with loud and lewd people everyday. Sorry Czupinski, the world ain’t all butterflies and rainbows. Your kids can always be full time Avon representatives.
Nelson Muntz you are grosse
(04/20/09 10:26am)Report
Bully huh? Get a life! You sound like a real jerk growing up and a real jerk now! Why don’t you learn how to be a real human being, unless it’s to far out of your league.
Congradulations David!
(04/20/09 10:28am)Report
And best of luck! Welcome to MSU!
Going Grey
(04/20/09 10:36am)Report
Marshasmom, you are absurdly misinformed. Check out www.NHERI.com for proof… and read John Taylor Gatto’s “Dumbing Us Down.” Then come back and make some intellegent remarks.
Nelson Muntz, you are exactly why government-run schools must use metal detectors, these days. I pray your children (heaven forbid you should actually have any) will turn out to be surprisingly un-entertained by petty violence.
Thank you
(04/20/09 10:58am)Report
Well said, thank you Going Grey.
Amelia
(04/20/09 11:19am)Report
Public school does not teach you how to get along with others or to make it in the real world. Anyone who thinks public school mirrors the real world is sorely deluded. Do all your co-workers share your birth year? Studies have shown time and again that homeschooled kids show better socialization skills, less behavioral issues and less peer dependency. Not to mention they generally far exceed their public school peers in all areas of academics. I think this article is written from a very narrow view. Most homeschooled kids are comfortable around people of all ages and in a variety of social situations and have no issues at all transitioning to a college setting. I’m not surprised they are uncomfortable hanging in the dorms with a bunch of mindless idiots who are at college for the social (party til ya puke) experience. Funny how parents of public schooled kids only care about their kids “socializing”. God forbid little Johnny doesn’t learn how to party with his peers. Who cares if he actually gets an education.
Public school is an institution. It was designed to keep the masses under control and to literally dumb us down. It squashes creativity and independent thinking. You are told what to learn, how to learn and when to learn it. These days school is nothing more than prepping for standarized tests. Does anyone ask who’s standards these are? No, they just mindlessly send their kids off to school where they sit in tidy little rows and are force fed BS for 8 hours a day. And they pat themselves on the back and say “well, at least they’re socialized.”
I am a former elementary school teacher.
Beautiful Blog Amelia
(04/20/09 11:44am)Report
You go girl! Perfectly stated blog!
MBC
(04/20/09 11:50am)Report
I know who you are, aren’t I smart! Grosse blog, there you go ruffling those feathers again!
David Holcomb
(04/20/09 12:06pm)Report
Well . . .
To America the Beautiful I would like to say a few brief words.
I suppose that you may be right, some parents do choose homeschooling to allow them to indoctrinate their kids without outside influence, to shield them from the world.
However, you must argue that every parent does that to some degree. You cannot really intend to decide what is and is not normal or okay for all children to be exposed to in their growing up, and neither can I.
I have heard stories similar to yours before, but it seems evident to me that anyone from any upbringing can make bad choices. As for being closed minded, if you mean that they hold to their beliefs without much change, then yes I suppose that is true of almost everyone.
So I fail to see what your comment has to do with anything since one could certainly find similar stories amongst public school students. Plus it seems to me to be rather strange to judge people by their opinions alone, since you don’t actually seem to know this person . . . .
As for benefits, I have noticed by and large that most homeschool students have a love of learning or at least a much greater interest in learning than other more traditionally schooled people. There are exceptions to the rule of course, but a love of learning is a valuable thing. Someone who sees knowledge as having intrinsic value, will go further in pursuing it than many others might.
Also many students find that homeschooling allows them to work at their own pace to learn material instead of being shortchanged by having to keep up, or being held back, by the rest of the class. In many of my education classes my teachers have challenged me to remember that special needs students are just those with disabilities, but also those who are gifted.
Those are two benefits of homeschooling that I can think of off-hand. So hopefully that answers your question.
Steve
(04/20/09 12:10pm)Report
I’m a homeschooled student who now has a PhD. Getting adjusted to college wasn’t a problem for me, but I wasn’t homeschooled by close-minded parents, and got to spend a lot of time traveling and getting to know what the real world has to offer — both good and bad. What’s more, the two other homeschooled kids in my undergraduate class (not at MSU) are also PhDs, one of which went to Oxford. All three of us partied when we could, but we got our work done and had great networks of friends, too. None of us had any trouble getting to know people or with substance abuse; I think arguments saying homeschoolers are more likely to have those problems are ridiculous.
I believe success in college, homeschooled or not, has a lot to do with hard work, pragmatism, and an open mind. Good schooling, at home, in public schools, or in private schools, should provide the tools to work hard, encourage an open mind, and teach students to get things done.
David Holcomb
(04/20/09 12:12pm)Report
PS
Thanks so much! I might need all the good luck I can get! Finals are coming!
Also thanks so much to Amelia, the research you point to was the topic of many discussions around my family’s dinner table.
re: Steve
(04/20/09 12:58pm)Report
Steve,
So your mom gave you a PHD? During Homeschooling. or
You WERE a homeschooled student.
See
Bart and Lisa
(04/20/09 1:03pm)Report
Nelson Muntz…We want to thank you for picking on the home schooled weirdo’s instead of us now.
Haaa-Haaa
Signed,
The Simpson’s (you know where Nelson Muntz is a fictional character)
Nelson Muntz
(04/20/09 2:02pm)Report
Amelia:
“… and to literally dumb us down.”
Yeah, I’m sure this is how public education was designed. Here’s your homework Teach:
grab the closest Websters (m-w.com) and look up “literally”—you WILL feel dumb.
“These days school is nothing more than prepping for standarized tests. Does anyone ask who’s standards these are? No, they just mindlessly send their kids off to school where they sit in tidy little rows and are force fed BS for 8 hours a day.”
Awwww, sounds like somebody didn’t do too well on their CATs, MEAPs, ACTs, SATs, etc. How did you ever become a teacher? Oh that’s right—“I am a former elementary school teacher.” Gotcha.
“And they pat themselves on the back and say ‘well, at least they’re socialized.‘”
Yeah, I can remember the days when my parents said to their friends and relatives—
as their four future “B.S.s” (don’t worry Steve, your turn is coming) were excelling at public school, grades, standardized tests, music, sports, art… (getting the point?)—
“Well, you know we chose public school, because we know they are able to socialize.”
Sounds like there’s no creativity here! (in reference to “It squashes creativity and independent thinking.”) I sure am glad I went to public school where I learned to think like the other 1,199 other students—I would hate the idea of having my own thoughts! Bring on the future described in “1984”!
Steve:
Where do I start with YOU?! I mean, c’mon…. do you have to be homeschooled to walk around calling yourself a PhD, or just an asshole?
“All three of us partied when we could, but we got our work done and had great networks of friends, too.”
“Partied” does not mean playing Dungeons and Dragons.
“Networks of friends” does not mean your Buddy List for instant messaging of people you “met” in chat rooms.
“I believe success in college, homeschooled or not, has a lot to do with hard work, pragmatism, and an open mind.”
I’m guessing your PhD mind doesn’t allow you to be too open-minded.
And to everyone else who be hatin’ on me:
I was a very good student, but an even better person. You all just fell victim to my master plan of drawing all of the weenies out of the wood work! I don’t care about this issue, which is why I didn’t even really read the article! It’s just fun to get people yelling at each other on here.
The only person on here that makes any sense (besides me of course) is the subject matter, David Holcomb. (re: Steve seems to know a thing or two as well.) So, good work David, you made your homeschool brethren proud, unlike these other half-wits.
Wow
(04/20/09 2:02pm)Report
Amelia – who’s to say you just weren’t a really crappy elementary school teacher?
First, you say,“Public school does not teach you how to get along with others or to make it in the real world. Anyone who thinks public school mirrors the real world is sorely deluded.”
Just like in public school, the real world has: smart people, dumb people, a-holes, nice people, black people, white people, yellow people, smelly people, creative people, janitors, etc. How does it not mirror the real world?
Then you say, “Studies have shown time and again that homeschooled kids show better socialization skills, less behavioral issues and less peer dependency”
What studies? Are you talking out of your ass?
Then you say, “Not to mention they generally far exceed their public school peers in all areas of academics.”
Based on what comparison? Those standardized tests about which you were talking?
Then you say, “Funny how parents of public schooled kids only care about their kids “socializing”.”
Who said that?
Then you say, “Public school is an institution. It was designed to keep the masses under control and to literally dumb us down.”
What’s your reference here?
Then you say, “No, they just mindlessly send their kids off to school where they sit in tidy little rows and are force fed BS for 8 hours a day. And they pat themselves on the back and say “well, at least they’re socialized.”
Who said that?
David praises your research, but I fail to see any actual research, just a bunch of negative drivel.
Now that I think of it, it sounds like you got fired from a public school for not being a very good teacher. Or, you were never really a teacher.
School’s what you make of it, public or home.
miss krabapple
(04/20/09 2:12pm)Report
Homeschooling: Good or bad?
Like most things, its more about content than form.
Yes, if you’re homeschooled by right-wing parents who teach you to fear and the loath the world, you will probably grow up to be close-minded and socially stunted. I suspect most kids like that don’t go to any college, except maybe an non-accredited bible college.
On the other hand, you have people like “Steve”, whose homeschooling experience sounds very enriching, and good preparation for college and grad school (congrats on earning the PhD).
I suspect, though, that the majority of homeschooled kids fall into the first category, not the second, which really sucks for the kids. Or maybe I’m just being pessimistic.
Hi JIm
(04/20/09 2:54pm)Report
Wow ruffling a few feathers are we, brillant, you are absolutely brillant! Once again you have “Stolen” the stage. I knew you were a genuis, and this goes to show that I am correct. Most likely a writer too. Well done…well done. I never know when I can find the time or computer to speak my mind, glad I could today. Bye for now.
Oops Hi Jim
(04/20/09 2:55pm)Report
Oops, and sorry!
Todd
(04/20/09 2:55pm)Report
One point, if I may. The story says information from the Michigan Department of Education indicates about 1,500 students in Michigan are homeschooled each year. The actual number is well over 100,000, but there are only 1,500 who are “registered” with the state, and that is voluntarily. Michigan has one of the most open, progressive and family-friendly homeschool laws in the country, so those families that choose such an educational setting for their children are under no obligation to tell the state about it.
Nelson behave yourself
(04/20/09 3:26pm)Report
You bad boy you….
Todd
(04/20/09 3:26pm)Report
Nelson,
My pleasure. The story’s glaring error was in need of a correction.
Todd and Nelson
(04/20/09 3:31pm)Report
Two in one like the others? Never to be followed by a Stalker? Hummm…
Nelson Muntz
(04/21/09 9:19am)Report
Todd:
Nice comeback. I like it.
Todd and Nelson:
I would gladly dole out an “Ah-ha!” at your expense. You need to either make sense, or shut up.