College Choice Processes for Home-Schooled Students: Influences, Destinations, and Under/Overmatching

• In Event: Poster Session 9
  In Poster Session: Postsecondary Research 1

Abstract

Home-schooling in the U.S. has grown exponentially in the last two decades, and has shifted from marginal education option to viable alternative to public schooling. This quantitative study completed linear multiple regression using ELS 2002 data to investigate influences on the college choice process, enrollment decisions, and extent of undermatching/overmatching for home-schooled college students. The seven predictors accounted for 93% of the variance in greatest selectivity of the institutions where students were accepted, and all predictors also had statistically significant effects on greatest selectivity. Distinct patterns of overmatching and undermatching between student academic ability and institutional selectivity emerged from the descriptive results. The scholarly significance of this study is that it provides insights into growing population of alternatively-educated college students.

Authors

• Jim Vander Putten, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• Ann Ho Becks, University of MaryLand

• Amanda L. Nolen, University of Arkansas at Little Rock