muddysmind.com

I'd like to know what they mean by recent? Since I've been in college for three years know of 1 other home schooled students who was accepted to my school before me, and at least 10 since. I know of several homeschooled students going to UGA, Georgia State, Emory (okay, so it's a Methodist school, but trust me, religious it is not.) Not to mention UCSD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne, UCLA, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and many others. I know of only a couple who went to a religious college while I was in high school and even since then.

10 years ago I'd say they gravitated toward religious schools. But, 5 years ago - not so much. That Gentleman's definition of recently is a lot farther back than mine.

For the record, I was accepted to and have performed as well as and sometimes better than students that went to some of the best public and private schools in the country - at one of the nations top engineering schools. I have no accredited high school diploma, not even a GED. I was almost not accepted into the Marine Corps except for my college credits! But I applied to only one school, was accepted on my first attempt. During high school I had enough time that wasn't being wasted in a classroom doing nothing in Georgia's hideous schools, to play baseball, work full-time as a computer technician, and do community service (I volunteered at the senior citizen's center and still do.) This after being homeschooled from 4th grade to graduation.

Colleges didn't just now start noticing these kids cause of their test scores - well at least not most colleges. They noticed them cause they looked at how they were doing at private colleges that were feasting on them, and went geez why aren't we getting these kids!? How do I know this? I talked to the admissions people at GaTech and Oglethorpe (small, private university here in Georgia, which you probably figured out if you know US history) when I was 12 because my mom was sitting there wondering how to get me into college. So, that should tell you how far back these kids were getting noticed.

I should also say not all of these kids go to college. I know of at least 2 who are in the minor leagues for the NY Yankees right now - I played ball with them.

Skywalker:

So you never went to a "normal" high school at all? If you have no accredited high school diploma nor a GED then what did you rely on to get you accepted into college? Is there a test you have to take to show you have achieved the "propper" high school requirements?

I have known of a few kids who have been homeschooled off and on throughout the years (they are all still in elementary and high school as of now) and I assumed that since they were learning the same subjects of their peers then I also assumed the homeschool curriculum was accredited as well....shows how nieve I am on the subject:-)

I have also talked briefly about homeschooling before to a friend of mine and 2 of my step- sisters (all of whom are - or have in the past - homeschooled their kids) because muddy and I briefly considered it for our eldest. Unfortunately, for me to be homeschooling my kid would be like the blind leading the blind :-D And no, I'm not exaggerating. LOL! Kudos to your parents!

You can get an accredited urriculem but you have to jump through hoops.

No, I never attended a public high school. I went to a private school from pre-school to 3rd grade. I got a great education there! When I left there I was light years beyond some of my friends in public school (some of which didn't even know how to multiply or divide, most of which could barely read.) However by the time I was in high school, I was light years beyond my former class mates.

In Georgia we have a few homeschooler baseball teams, I played on one. We lost 2 of our 30 or so games. The high school I otherwise would have attend had some student groups that were gracious enough to allow me to participate in their functions. I went to high school football and baseball games like anyone else. I mostly watched the cheer leaders like the other guys...other than the fact that I didn't ge tup and go to a school every morning I was as normal as any other kid. Err, well, normal as any other kid with a similar personality haha

"You can get an accredited urriculem..."

Is that how you got into college?

"...but you have to jump through hoops"

Dude! That just gave me a funky mental picture of you in a leotard jumping through a ring of fire under a circus tent. Ah, yes, my mind does have a mind of its own. So tell me - is that "jumping through hoops" thing one of the many extra curricular activities that you can sign up for or do you just do that as a hobby? You crazy homeschoolers :-) (giggle, giggle, giggle).

Actually, the more I hear about the state our educational system here in Columbus (actually, we're just outside of the Columbus public school district - which is a blessing of its own) the more I really do start thinking of other alternatives. Unfortunatly, as disorganized as *I* am....I'm pretty intimidated to try homeschooling...then again, who knows.

Personally I'd love to home school my kids. However I'm not sure 2 days a week I'm home would do much. :-(

Is that a hint?

Negative. I didn't get an accredited curriculem. I have no accredited diploma. (Course, there are kids in this state graduating public schools without an accredited diploma.) In Georgia, about 8 years ago, there began an influx of college applications to our better schools (UGA, GaTech, Emory) and the board of regents had to create a plan to deal with the situation. Their plan sucked and involved taking what amounted to AP exams and getting scores high enough to get out of classes were I any normal student, but were worthless in that respect for a home schooled student (in fact, the local school board refused to let me take AP exams to attempt to get some college credit.) IT ended up getting changed to a much improved plan - effective my freshman year of college.

Georgia has absolutely hideous schools. We have some really good public schools...but by and large they are just pathetic. My school system still is without a computer-science program - there are schools in small rural areas of Georgia that have CS programs!

The city of Atlanta (where I thank God do not live - suburbs for me - the tax burden in the city would put us into poverty.) spends over $13k per year per pupil. That's more than twice the national average, and is higher than the state average, yet they are some of the worst schools in the state. So more money is obviously not helping.

Homeschooling is tough. Socially not so much - it's very easy to meet people and do stuff, though watchout at the local homeschooler support groups (they exist, trust me.) Some of the people you'll meet will be nice perfectly normal people...and then you'll meet the people who you swore just walked down from ruby ridge. Learning is not so hard either. The kids (especially from about late middle school on) end up teaching themselves more than you ever could teach them. The discipline to get up and do the work every day is where it is challenging - for the kid's part. On your part, it's hard because you have to continually make sure your child IS learning.