From Dining Room to Lecture Hall: Transitioning from Homeschool to College - Geneva College
Geneva College shield
Blog search

From Dining Room to Lecture Hall: Transitioning from Homeschool to College

Picture of From Dining Room to Lecture Hall: Transitioning from Homeschool to College
Campus Life College Preparation The College

For some of us who were homeschooled, that’s all we have ever known. Since the day you could learn, you’ve done it from the kitchen or dining room table. For others, though, school has been more of a mixed bag. Maybe you went to “regular school” for a couple of grades and then switched to home education, or maybe it was the reverse. It’s not a rare thing to find a public/private schooler who once shared their surname with the teacher, principal, chairman of the board… you get the picture.

Whatever your experience with homeschooling has been, though, one thing is for sure: college life is not the same. It just so happens to be very, very different.

Of course, going to college is a venture into uncharted territory for anyone who chooses to pursue higher education. But that does not mean the journey is the same for everyone. The transition to college is different for a public schooler than for a private schooler than a homeschooler and so on. 

What does the leap to higher education look like specifically for dining room table alum? Read along to find out – whether you’ve spent twelve, ten, or only two years learning from home, there’s helpful advice waiting for you below.

For starters, you want to get familiar with the syllabus. This document may be a sort of foreign object to you, if you have been homeschooled “forever,” but don’t worry. Syllabi are your friends, and for a number of reasons. It tells you what to expect from a given class, what the professor expects from you, and – most importantly – when.

So, pay attention to the syllabus that you get for each class, and make sure that you read it well. Depending on the professor who wrote it, that little document may be your primary, (possibly your only), indicator of course requirements and assignments.

Something in the syllabus that you’ll want to pay special attention to would be the schedule, which will show you all the deadlines that – face it – you’d prefer did not exist. It’s safe to say that deadlines aren’t the darlings of the average student, but ex-homeschoolers have an especially spotty relationship with them. The cliché that homeschoolers do not even have deadlines may not be entirely true, sure. But it’s not entirely false, either.

Getting an extension on homework, tests, and projects is a much easier scheme when you have a class of one (or three, max, in the case of triplets), than it is in college. There are times, of course, when a professor may push back an assignment – either for reasons of his or her own or because exceptional circumstances prevented you from completing it on time. However, the key phrase here is “there are times.” Extensions are the exception, and you cannot plan ahead for them. Keep that in mind, and you’ll have a much better and less stressful, academic ride.

The ride is even better if you take advantage of the educational resources at Geneva. For example – from freshman year to graduation, you can visit the Writing Center at McCartney Library, where you’ll find expert help for any one of your papers. You could also go to the McCartney Media Center, only one floor down, and play a video game, movie. Plus, there’s the Integrated Media Center, if you want to use a professional grade camera, designing software, recording studio, etc.

Still, the best resource we have at Geneva – even better than the tire swing – is the faculty. These sage men and women have valuable advice, perspective, and experience, and it’s available to you, the student. So talk to your professors, ask your advisor questions, and take advantage of faculty office hours.

Office hours, for those of us whose teacher did not have an office, are set times during the week when professors are available to have a live, one-on-one conversation with you. Office hours are not open season, though. We homeschool graduates are used to having 24/7 access to our teacher, but the game changes when you get to college. Your professors are accessible, for sure – they want to help you succeed. It’d just be helpful to them if you email ahead.

And hopefully, the advice you got today will be helpful as you get ready to leave the dining room for the lecture hall.

Find out more about a Homeschool-friendly college education by contact Geneva College Admissions at 800-847-8255 or admissions@geneva.edu.

- Kailee Boylan '23

----- 

Photo by Jeremy Philemon on Unsplash
Photo by Sarah on Unsplash

Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.

Dec 4, 2020

Request Information

Learn more about Geneva College.

Have questions? Call us at 724-847-6505.

Loading...