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They account for less than 1 percent of this year's freshman class, but the 11 USC freshmen who were homeschooled for all or part of their secondary education are quietly making their presence felt.
All but two had SAT scores of 1200 or higher, and five are in the Honors College. Two were selected for this year's class of McNair Scholars, USC's most prestigious scholarship for out-of-state students.
"This is the largest contingent of homeschooled students we've seen in the freshman class; in the past it was usually only two or three," said Terry Davis, USC's undergraduate admissions director.
Many homeschooled applicants to USC are presenting transcripts that include dual-credit courses from community colleges and other college-preparatory work, Davis said. Most, like Amy Simmons, seemed ready to hit the ground running when they came to USC.
"I think homeschooling prepared me for the independent aspect of college life," said Simmons, a McNair Scholar from North Carolina who posted a near-perfect SAT score. "Some of my peers have struggled a bit in organizing their time, but managing time is something I've done my whole life."
Simmons, a classics major, made something of a splash in her initial interview with Honors College associate dean Jim Stiver.
"When I read her file, I was struck by the length and breadth of her reading list and by her essay," Stiver said. "Of course, she had more time to read, not being distracted by all the hullaballo of regular high school.
"During the interview, we talked at length about some of those books, and I have to say it was the best student interview I've ever had in more than 20 years in the Honors College. She is, hands down, the best-educated freshman I've met at USC."
USC students usually have one of two reactions when they learn Simmons was homeschooled. "They either say 'Man, I wish I could have done that,' or they ask, 'What about socialization? Did you have any friends?" Simmons said. "I just tell them that I made friends of all ages all over the country. That was never an issue in being homeschooled."
Like Simmons, Zachry Ellard of Atlanta was homeschooled from kindergarten through 12th grade. The oldest of 11 children, Ellard likened parts of his high school experience to being a teaching assistant for his four brothers and six sisters. On a typical high school day, he wrote an essay, completed two hours of self-paced mathematics, followed by two hours of reading that covered history and science. "With homeschooling, the focus is not on memorization but on learning how to learn. That's the best tool I have," he said.
A competitive swimmer throughout high school who continues to train as a triathlete, Ellard took a year off after high school to work as the general manager of an aquatics center.
"I was putting in 70 or 80 hours a week working there and coaching younger swimmers on the side," he said. "This first semester has been a breeze compared to that."
Ellard's 1400-plus SAT score qualified him for two scholarships in his sports management major—a welcome benefit because Ellard is paying his way through college.
It's likely that USC will see more freshman applicants with homeschooling credentials in the future. While on a recent student recruitment trip, Davis met a homeschooled student in New Orleans who is considering applying for the McNair Scholars Program.
Kathleen Carper, president of the S.C. Association of Independent Home Schools, said there is a bumper crop of highly qualified homeschooled students in South Carolina.
"Many homeschooled students are becoming well prepared for college-level work, taking concurrent classes and earning college credits during high school," said Carper, whose younger daughter was homeschooled and now is a USC Honors College freshman. "We have six [homeschooled] students who scored 800 on the verbal portion of the SAT this year, and three had 740 or higher on the math portion.
"One student missed a perfect 1600 score only because he ran out of time on the last math problem."
11/02
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