Home-schooled to JMU
Student makes leap from home to university
By Lauren Searson, staff writer
Posted on October 12, 2006

Michael Lam is an active JMU student.

As a senior computer science major, he serves as vice president of the Unix Users group, a computer-support group, and is a member of the math honor society Pi Mu Epsilon. But, there is something different about him.

Lam is one of the few students at JMU that was home-schooled. 

A recent Washington Post article said colleges competing for the best students have been seeking out children taught at home. JMU is one school, however, not following this trend.

Director of Admissions Michael Walsh said, “[At JMU,] the key is to be consistent and fair.”

Walsh said the 60 percent acceptance rate for the general pool is the same for home-schooled applicants.

As stated in the Washington Post, the number of home-schooled students in the country ranges from 1.1 to 2 million.

“We do not have admissions people going to homes, so obviously the family has to step out in order to learn about JMU,” Walsh said.

Home-schooled students can attend fairs at home, talk to JMU representatives that come to their local high schools, contact admissions or visit the university.

The admissions process is the same for home-schooled students as those attending public or private high schools. However, parents must supply the syllabus they developed, so that admissions offices can review and make sure the curriculum was fair. “We work very closely to make sure parents provide us the appropriate information for the committee to make an informed decision,” Walsh said.