After 10 years of public school, I am definitely hoarding the freedom of unschooling. I find myself choosing not to do so many things (even some enjoyable things) because I finally have the choice.

Some unschoolers, instead of going to college, have broken into their field just by proving they were good enough. James Marcus Bach did that. He’s just one of many. Thousands of entrepreneurs have broken into their field through skill and interest, without getting formal education in their work.

The point of unschooling ISN’T that there’s no schedule, or structure, it’s that you CHOOSE whatever schedule or structure you do follow. For example, I’m choosing to write this blog regularly. I’m still following a schedule, even though it’s my own choice.

Unschoolers do experience schedules. Most unschoolers get part-time jobs when they’re teens (they have more possibilities to do this, too). A lot of people tend regular activities like clubs and meets. They can take part in plays, choirs, sports teams, etc – all things that have schedules and expectations. Unschoolers have conferences, too – those are certainly scheduled!

Again, it’s about choice. The unschoolers choose those activities. Schedules are a part of life, a very natural one, especially for communities. It’s the way schools use them that’s wrong, not the concept in itself.

College, compared to normal schooling, is a very free experience. Most students, coming from a very structured background in schooling, will have trouble motivating themselves to go to class (most colleges let you choose to attend classes), study, or do their best. Unschoolers actually win points by being motivated and interested in their studies from the start.

Getting into college depends on what the college wants. When an unschooler decides s/he wants to get into a college, taking the right steps is, again, about choice.

A motivated unschooler in college that has deliberately gone through the steps needed to get there will do better than an unmotivated student not used to the freedom of choice, that was forced to go through the basic steps to get into college. Those are two very different levels of appreciation.

Instead of experiencing the freedom of choice unschoolers have always had (not a big deal), students used to structure are likely to hoard things they’ve been restricted in (reason #2, above). There’s a reason why colleges are known for their wild parties. :)

I’ve had to deal with people asking me this question quite a bit. At this point, I’m not certain that a college education IS even helpful for everyone, but for some jobs, a degree may be necessary.