This article, though not exactly thorough, does have some interesting anecdotes. I think an important take-away here is to realize that there are many non-conve

This article, though not exactly thorough, does have some interesting anecdotes. I think an important take-away here is to realize that there are many non-conventional paths through the educational system, for better or for worse. I took a non-conventional path, and it worked out for me. From the article: "Most of those who went on to college did so without either a high school diploma or general education diploma (GED), and without taking the SAT or ACT. Several credited interviews and portfolios for their acceptance to college, but by far the most common route to a four-year college was to start at a community college (typically begun at age 16, but sometimes even younger). None of the respondents found college academically difficult, but some found the rules and conventions strange and sometimes off-putting. Young people who were used to having to find things out on their own were taken aback, and even in some cases felt insulted, “when professors assumed they had to tell them what they were supposed to learn[...]" This mirrors my experience closely (though I would say I definitely found the structure of university difficult/oppressing). Being a 14 year-old enrolling in community college was initially daunting, but it was one of the most important formative experiences of my life. Looking back at the experience, being surrounded by people from all walks of life was invaluable to me. I personally feel that community college, and numerous other 'real-life' experiences made possible through unschooling, prepared me for adulthood way better than university ever did. One of the largest failings of the conventional school system, IMO, is the lack of socialization between different age groups. YMMV; there is not a single 'magic bullet' for education, and everyone's experiences will be different. A recent post[0] here also generated a lot of discussion about unschooling/homeschooling. As a former 'unschooler', I'd like to plug my comments from that post[1]. I would love to hear from some other unschoolers on HN! I'm forever curious to hear how it worked out for others (email in profile). Side note: When I was quite young, I actually tried out the Sudbury Valley School mentioned in the article. I hated it. I know several people who went there. Some loved it, some hated it. Most are doing well, some much better than others, some not so much. Just like with unschooling, homeschooling, and conventional schooling. [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23010079 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23010079 [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23014490 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23014490