Sometimes, Wren-- but getting a university to evaluate the scope and sequence of such a course of study (when not tied to a known curriculum) is a challenge.
By the same token, virtual school students are instructed to "keep a thorough laboratory notebook" (now, I know how to do that and how to INSTRUCT my child to do so, but most parents with the model don't)-- in the
hope that colleges will look at it favorably. From everything I've seen, Val is right here-- it's about the credentialing when you get right down to it. When a college admissions officer has thousands of applications to sift through, s/he isn't going to waste a lot of time figuring out whether a homeschooler meets (or doesn't meet) the institutional prerequisite coursework. If it is that much work, it's probably more efficient time-wise to just dismiss them as a whole if there are any questions.
Really, a known course of study that is
intended to cover the same material as a preparatory course? Definitely better than
these from an admissions standpoint.
Unfortunately, colleges and universities assume
particular coverage and mastery in incoming students. We've opted to try to match-- as closely as possible-- the
credentials that higher ed is looking to put check-marks next to, and scramble as needed to make sure that learning and mastery exist to match. Not ideal, but
strategic, let's just say.
This is how my DD wound up taking two dual enrollment math courses with no instructor, however.
