Ever wonder what grown-up homeschoolers are like? Suite101.com writer Kristina Bjoran grew up all over the world. She was homeschooled off and on throughout elementary and middle school and stopped attending for good in the 9th grade.
Starting to Homeschool Without Curriculum
Kristina's initial homeschool experience was in 4th grade, following incidents with a peer who was treating her badly. Kristina's mother removed her from school and told her to read college books. Kristina says "the first time we tried homeschooling, my mom went to a local university bookstore at SIU to buy me books. I can clearly remember her telling me at that age that I should just read through these intro college algebra, biology, and literature-related books and not worry too much if I didn't understand everything. So I did, and there was plenty I didn't quite grasp. But even the material I didn't understand, I remembered. Eventually, the missing pieces settled into place."
This style of teaching and learning is in direct opposition to current educational practices that break everything down into baby-step lessons that progress through the years. Kristina states that "This type of studying worked really well for me, though I can certainly see it not being optimum in all situations." However, the practice of starting at the top, rather than at the bottom has a reputation for success among the unschooling community, where formal academics aren't even addressed until the college years, if at all.
Homeschooling in Middle School
Kristina's family has moved a lot. In her young life, she's called nine U.S. states home, plus Malaysia and Norway. Having inherited an outspoken personality from her mother, Kristina engaged in a "heated argument" with a 7th grade teacher who accused her of cheating in Algebra because she wasn't showing her math. Instead of confronting student & parent, the teacher just gave Kristina half credit. When confronted, the teacher admitted that she needed to see the steps because she didn't personally understand the answers.
Kristina enrolled in high school when the family settled in Georgia. In her words; "on my third day got into an ideological argument with a so-called science teacher. I didn't go back. As it turns out, a lot of public schools don't seem to have much respect for kids who go at all against the grain." For the next 5 years, she followed her interests
Homeschool Socialization
Kristina says; " I socialized a lot with neighborhood kids, played and taught tennis at tennis camps, became one of the top female bowlers (odd, I know) of my age group in the VirMar tri-state area, and so on. The anti-social argument against homeschooling makes me so angry. I know it's anecdotal as I say it, but I socialized just as much as the homeschooled kid as I would have in school" She says she knows several other homeschoolers who also had plenty of socialization.
Kristina's traveling experience has also helped her to develop a world view based upon personal experiences. Many unschooling families and homeschooling families utilize travel as a means to develop a healthy world view. Road Schoolers, for example, generally travel full-time.
Applying for College as a Homeschooler
In the summer of 2005, with an SAT score of 1270, Kristina began taking courses at Atlanta's Clayton State University. Initially fearful, she believes her love of learning made the experience much easier than she dreamed it would be. Torn between a Biology major and an English major, she interned took on five internships, two at her University, two with Turner Broadcasting and one with Georgia Magazine. She graduated with her Bachelor's Degree in 2009.
Many Colleges and universities have specific guidelines for the acceptance of homeschooled students. Even Ivy League Universities, like Harvard, have a reputation for examining the unique portfolios of an unschooled or homeschooled student to determine their eligibility. A high school diploma and transcripts aren't necessary for admittance into even the finest post-secondary schools.
Homeschooled and Applying for Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT has a very liberal homeschool admissions program. No transcripts or diploma are required. They have earned a reputation for being a very homeschool-friendly college. They like to see students who are self-motivated, students who enjoy learning and students who have career goals.
Kristina's GRE score was over 1300, with a 5 on the writing section. That and the internships and freelance writing helped make her application stand out. She was accepted to MIT Science Writing program, which is a perfect blend of her love of writing and science.
Applying for college without a high school diploma or transcripts might sound far-fetched, but homeschooled students do it all the time. Attending community college or, as Kristina did, a smaller, private University may help some students pave the way. Unschoolers and homeschoolers can and do get accepted into major universities. Kristina worked closely with admissions staff to get her application polished; advice that's backed up by Cafi Cohen and Janie Levine in the book Homeschooling the High School Years [Prima Publishing, 2000]
Source:
Email interview with Kristina Bjoran in March of 2010.
Lisa Russell - Lisa Russell is a freelance writer and mom of six daughters. She blogs about their life at lisarussell.org
