Oklahoma Christian University offered a special version of Eagle for a Day Jan. 24 to reach a demographic many colleges overlook, when almost 100 homeschooled students and their families from across the country came to tour campus.
Dawn Eckhart, campus visit coordinator at Oklahoma Christian, said the event was modeled after other Eagle for a Day visits, but tailored specifically to homeschoolers’ needs.
“We wanted to offer an opportunity for homeschool families to come and ask questions,” Eckhart said. “They are often in unique situation, having different questions and needs than traditional students.”
According to the National Home Education Research Institute (NEHERI), there are almost 2.3 million home-educated students in the U.S. This number is on the rise, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Oklahoma Christian sophomore Trent McAlister, who was homeschooled, said once he stepped foot on campus, he knew he wanted to attend.
“Being homeschooled was where I learned to work on my own,” McAlister said. “Now I am in a classroom with other people, which is a first. It was a dramatic effect initially, but it’s a positive experience. Being able to connect with my professors has been great, something you don’t get at a larger university.”
As well as the traditional Eagle for a Day schedule, Homeschool Day included a campus and resident life tour, attendance in chapel, financial information, study abroad and honors programs information, meetings with admissions counselors and a transcript workshop.
“There is no template for transcripts in the state of Oklahoma for public, private or homeschooled students,” Eckhart said. “So, most homeschool parents are unsure of how to put together a transcript for college. Our workshop helps them know what they need.”
Adam Cassada, now a senior accounting major at Oklahoma Christian, said he was homeschooled most of his life. Graduating from high school at 15 years old, Cassada said his college experience was shaped by his prior education.
“Everyone thinks I am super smart with no social skills, but I am normal,” Cassada said. “People don’t treat me differently now. Homeschooling is great if you are the right person for it.”
Being homeschooled gave Cassada the opportunity to graduate and begin college at age 16, which he said allowed him to start life early. According to Cassada, he credits his success at Oklahoma Christian to being homeschooled, and is hoping to be a Certified Personal Accountant (CPA) by the time he is 20.
Since the Oklahoma Christian admissions counselors connect to traditional high school students through counselors and programs on school campuses, they interact with homeschoolers in different ways.
Many homeschool families are often part of a larger community, co-op or a church, so the admissions counselors make visits there as well as make phone calls and send emails and letters. According to Eckhart, with the success of this year’s event, the admissions program hopes to make Homeschool Day an annual event.
“In the homeschooling community, college isn’t pushed as much,” Cassada said. “It is harder for people to get into college without being in a public school, so the Homeschool Day is great.”
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