NBC News – Allison Tate 
A growing number of kids in the U.S. are homeschooled, and many colleges seeking to diversify their student bodies are welcoming them with open arms. While the percentage of homeschooled applicants is still tiny, admissions officers say their applications often stand out. They tend to have “thicker folders, in a good way,” Amherst College dean of admission and financial aid Katie Fretwell told NBC News. They can be “innovative thinkers with a lot to bring to the table,” she added, especially at a college like Amherst, where students have an open curriculum and independence in their studies. (more)