Though more than 25,000 students are enrolled at NIU, a small handful share a unique educational background.

Fifty-seven previously home-schooled students are enrolled at NIU this semester, said admissions director Bob Burk.

While some may argue home-schooled students are not as socially equipped as other students to handle the college transition, others feel their interaction skills are well-adjusted.

“Home-schooled students tend to be very high-achieving and have better relationships with their teachers because they spend more time interacting with adults,” said Charles Howell, chair of the leadership, educational psychology and foundations department.

Howell home-schooled both of his children, one of whom currently attends NIU.

“I don’t know how it would’ve been if my parents hadn’t taught me how to be on my own,” said Liz Howell, a sophomore liberal arts major and Charles Howell’s daughter. “Being home-schooled helps prepare you for college because you have to be able to manage your time. We have no fixed structure, so we learn to get things done on our own time.”

Social issues, however, may arise in home-schooled students in the college atmosphere, said Nina Mounts, associate professor of psychology.

“There could be a little bit more of a challenge for the home-schooled students in that they might not be used to dealing with the university as an institution,” Mounts said. “There could also be a challenge for home-schooled students in terms of adapting to a more diverse set of social relationships.”

Many home-schooled students enroll in classes at community colleges at a young age in preparation for attending a university and developing the social aspects of being in a classroom with other students.

Liz and her brother began taking classes at 14 and 15 at the college Charles Howell formerly worked at, Minnesota State University Moorhead, she said.

“If you don’t introduce yourself to people, you aren’t going to know them,” Liz Howell said.

Despite commonly held stereotypes of home-schooled students, each individual is different.

“It all depends on the individual student’s ability and willingness to adapt,” Charles said. “Liz went out and became very social while my son still remains pretty quiet.”