This is the email I sent to the admission department:
To: Admissions
Subject: Homeschool Policy Discourages Homeschool Applicants
Dear William Woods University Admissions,
A homeschooler has contacted me for help regarding your university homeschool admission policy. You school is not a homeschool friendly college as it has unique requirements just for homeschoolers seeking admission. A homeschool friendly college is one that treats a homeschool applicant the same as a public or private school applicant.
Your homeschool admission policy requires an accredited home school program and successful completion of the GED®. http://www.williamwoods.edu/admissions/admissionrequirements.asp#homeschooled
Your policy is mystifying for homeschoolers, which is why I have been contacted. Most homeschoolers do not use accredited programs, as you require. Instead, most homeschoolers are independent, like a private school, and are not required by law to provide accreditation by their state. In Washington State, for example, we homeschool legally under the law and our state does not provide homeschool accreditation program. An ordinary homeschooler from my state would not be able to provide records from an accredited program.
Admission policies that require a GED® of homeschoolers are frustrating. Often a GED® is used for high school drop outs. Our students have not dropped out. Homeschoolers are willing to provide the SAT or ACT that other high school students must submit, but the GED® should not be required. Since 1998 homeschool students can receive federal financial aid without having a GED®, so it should not be required for admission. Please note that in your section about the GED® you have misspelled the word "possess."
There are public and private high schools that are not accredited. I suggest that you treat homeschoolers the way you would an unknown public or private school, which may not be accredited either.
Can you please respond to these concerns, and let me know how I can advise students that have been homeschooled independently by their parents? I am eager to hear your response.
Thank you,
Lee Binz, The HomeScholar
www.TheHomeScholar.com
References:
For more information on Homeschool Friendly Colleges, you can read this article: What is a Homeschool Friendly College? For more information on homeschool perspectives on the GED®, read Stigma-Free Homeschool Graduation For more information on homeschool accreditation, read Homeschool Accreditation - "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
I was pleased to receive this reply from the college:
Hello Lee,
There seems to be some confusion with our policy that is stated below as I thought it was updated when I began at WWU. I appreciate you bringing to my attention the language provided about a GED® and an accredited home school program. Is the below link what you were referring to? http://www.williamwoods.edu/admissions /admissionrequirements.asp#homeschooled
Home schooled students must meet the same requirements any other student would meet attending a public or private high school. 2.5 GPA, a 19 on the ACT or 900 on the SAT are our standard admission requirements. Please let me know if you have any additional concerns but we will get this updated soon.
Sarah Munns
Dean of Admissions
William Woods University
You will notice that their website did not accurately reflect their current policy. You'll also notice that the admission department is staffed with real human beings who are reasonable and willing to discuss the situation. They aren't scary or intimidating automatons. So go ahead! Contact colleges when you don't like their admission policy. You can be a positive change agent for homeschoolers in the future!
One week later, the college had a new policy for homeschoolers on their website. It now says:
Home-Schooled Applicants
William Woods has experienced a dramatic increase in enrollment from the home-schooling population, and has found that the prospective and current home-schooled students offer strong academics and a positive contribution to student life.
William Woods University seeks students qualified to benefit from a William Woods education and who will actively contribute to student life. Every aspect of an applicant’s credentials such as classes taken, grades, performance on the ACT or SAT and community involvement are taken into consideration. William Woods University operates on a rolling admissions process.
Every interaction I had with the Dean of Admissions was very friendly and helpful. Don't be shy when dealing with colleges - just be kind.
Feel free to edit my letter for your own use. I encourage you to include specific details from the college website, including a link to the section you are concerned about.