As the home-schooling movement edges toward the mainstream, its students are applying in greater numbers to colleges across the nation, with some colleges considering them an attractive niche market.

Vanderbilt does not actively target home-schooled students but views them as a crucial component of its institutional commitment to diversity.

"We want to understand each student, and in the broadest sense, home-schooled students bring a different experience," said Dean of Admissions Doug Christiansen. "That’s what diversity is all about, whether it’s ethnic, gender, geographic or some other type of diversity."

Sophomore Jonathan DeGracia, who was home-schooled from second grade through high school, agreed.

"College is about individuality," DeGracia said. "Everyone is coming here on a new foot and can reinvent themselves."

Though the numbers are hard to come by, the U.S. Department of Education estimates the home-schooled population numbers greater than 1 million, or about 2 percent of the school-age population.

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