| In 2006, my boys were two of 108 top applicants | | | | told that the winners were chosen based on |
| invited to compete for ten full-tuition scholarships | | | | things like: |
| at Seattle Pacific University. All 108 invitees had | | | | - interaction with their peers, |
| great SAT scores. All had compelling personal | | | | - engagement with the faculty, |
| stories. Between them they had thousands of | | | | - self confidence, |
| hours of community service. Indeed, there was | | | | - maturity, |
| very little - on paper - to distinguish one from the | | | | - courtesy, and |
| other. That is why, I suppose, the university used | | | | - a well developed sense of who they were. |
| a full day competition to make their decision. | | | | In a nutshell, they were chosen based on |
| When they were on campus that day, they were | | | | socialization. Now isn't that the most ironic thing |
| evaluated in all types of settings: class room | | | | you've ever heard!! |
| observation, panel discussions, faculty interviews, | | | | Remember: we did nothing special. We were just |
| dining table conversations, walking between | | | | an ordinary homeschool family struggling our way |
| classes. For eight hours, they were under a | | | | through high school. The only difference was we |
| microscope. When they got back, both boys | | | | taught our kids at home, independently. |
| agreed it was the most exciting and invigorating | | | | Eventually, the world will recognize the superior |
| day of their lives. | | | | socialization provided by homeschooling. Do not be |
| Only ten full-tuition scholarships were given that | | | | discouraged when you are asked for the |
| year and my homeschoolers got two of them! | | | | thousandth time "what about socialization?" Just |
| What made the difference? In addition the normal | | | | smile and tell them our story and think about the |
| stuff (GPA, SAT, community service), we were | | | | story you will be able to tell in a few years! |