RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) -- Robert Wilkinson of Chino
Hills was homeschooled all his life, and will be among the freshmen
who start at UC Riverside this month.
Robert, 17, submitted a portfolio of his work that earned
him a spot on campus and a scholarship offer. He was one of 16
people who applied through a year-old admissions program that
uses a faculty committee to review the work of homeschooled and
other nontraditionally educated students. His homeschooled sister,
Stephanie, earned a place on campus the year before in the traditional
way, with a combination of high test scores and grades.
"Different paths are geared to different students,"
said 19-year-old Stephanie.
"The new homeschool admissions program seems to have
attracted outstanding students, as we'd hoped," said Frank
Vahid, a professor in the Department of Computer Science who
helped establish the program. "Some applicants showed exceptional
accomplishment in certain areas of study or very novel life experiences,
while many also had high grades in community college courses
and strong SAT scores. It looks like we've tapped into a pipeline
of great students."
All together, 16 students submitted portfolios and 12
of those earned admission to UCR. Six of the 12 were judged worthy
of Regents or Chancellor's scholarships, a higher percentage
than in the regular admission population. Six students have accepted
the admission offer and now enrolled. Four of them have accepted
scholarships which will cover at least 75 percent of their fees.
"We are excited about the positive response from homeschooled
and nontraditionally educated students and their parents,"
said Interim Director of Admissions Merlyn Campos. "As we
begin our recruitment for next year, we look forward to seeing
an even bigger response." The application season for the
University of California begins Nov. 1.
The U.S. Department of Education reports that 1.1 million,
or 2.2 percent of all students, are homeschooled in the nation.
While some private colleges have recruited homeschooling families,
UCR is among the first public research universities to do so.
More are expected to follow.
UC Riverside is known for providing opportunities for
undergraduate research, personal contact with professors, public
service internships and international study. In fact, UC Riverside
ranked 22nd in the nation in the 2006 Washington Monthly rankings
of U.S. colleges and universities, a ranking based on what kind
of service universities provide for the public investment in
them. The high ranking was based on a combination of community
service, research and social mobility, or a university's ability
to help low-income students get through to graduation and employment.
More information is available on the Web, at:
http://www.my.ucr.edu
http://my.ucr.edu/admissions/Pages/Special.aspx
RIVERSIDE, CA -- October 21, 2005 - Very few
college campuses recognize the unique qualities homeschooled
or other nontraditionally educated students can bring to their
campus. UC Riverside is paving
the way for these students to apply to the campus during the
November 1-30, 2005, application period through its new
admission program for nontraditionally schooled students.
UCR is a good fit for such students. As a major research and
teaching institution located in Southern California, UCR provides
many research opportunities for undergraduates
and cutting-edge knowledge in the classroom. All this excellence
lies within a tight-knit community
of recreation and social opportunities that meet every student
interest, convenient shopping and entertainment, and nearby beaches,
mountains, and desert.
Applicants to UCR's new admission program will have taken
part in a nontraditional educational approach such as homeschooling
or attended a nonaccredited charter school that uses innovative
educational methods during the high school years. In addition
to completing an examination
requirement, applicants submit a portfolio
describing subjects
they studied and learning methods
used.
Visit Admission
as a Homeschooled or Other Nontraditionally Educated Student
for detailed information about the admission requirements and
news about a UCR event for nontraditionally educated students
on November 12. Reserve
a visit to UCR.
The University of California, Riverside is a major research
institution and a national center for the humanities. Key areas
of research include nanotechnology, genomics, environmental studies,
digital arts and sustainable growth and development. With a current
undergraduate and graduate enrollment of nearly 17,000, the campus
is projected to grow to 21,000 students by 2010. Located in the
heart of inland Southern California, the nearly 1,200-acre, park-like
campus is at the center of the region's economic development.
