Advice for non-Ivy son?

College Search & Selection
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<p>I've been impressed by advice offered in this forum - and would welcome advice/thoughts on schools for my son. Hope the following is not too vague and lengthy -</p>

<p>He's a senior at a great public HS in suburbs of Phila; it's one of the top schools in state. Undecided about college major, but we know it will not be math, foreign language or creative writing. We're looking for a small to mid-size school within 4 to 5 hours distance, or alternatively close to an airport or train so he could get home in 4 hours or so. Preferably close to an urban area or somewhere where he could walk to restaurants, shops, etc, although this is not an absolute necessity. Somewhere that a non-fraternity oriented, less athletically inclined white male could feel comfortable.</p>

<p>SAT scores were 1380 (720 math, 660 CR) with 620 in writing. He refused to take SAT prep classes. ACT score = 30. SAT II in Biology was 670 as a sophomore. He has taken two AP classes and gotten 5s and 6s. Gradewise, he's a late bloomer. His cumulative GPA is 3.1, weighted is 3.8, because he got 2 1/2 Cs in math and German in 9th and 10th grade. In Junior year, it increased to 4.1 weighted for the year; he also worked 10 to 20 hours a week during Jr year and is continuing with his job this year. He's taking Calculus, Physics, AP Economics, Honors Literature, Honors History classes. </p>

<p>He was diagnosed with ADD and visual/spatial glitch so he has had resource room support, but just goes once or twice a week to check in and do homework. We guided him in taking the part-time job in Jr year so that he could improve his time management skills. Because of this we're looking for an environment that will not be too big or overwhelming.</p>

<p>Financial aid is not an issue -</p>

<p>Where have we looked?
Lafayette - we liked it, but it's out of reach due to his grades.
Colgate - way, way out of reach but also not a good fit due to isolation and super intensity projected by admissions presenter
Muhlenberg - he just did not like it; didn't feel right to either of us for intangible reasons.
Loyola in Baltimore - seemed fine - we've heard about the bar culture and he would have to spend more time there to get a better feel of pros/cons
Villanova - College of Liberal Arts - Naviance for our HS suggests that he would get in, but who knows?
Denison - farther from home than we would like but relatively close to an airport. No strong feeling pro or con.
Franklin & Marshall - we visited in Jr year, it seemed fine, but there are many reports on CC and other sites of strong fraternity orientation and cliqueishness.</p>

<p>Other possibilities
Thinking of looking at Connecticut College but don't know if it will be out of reach.
Dickinson is a possibility but am concerned about strong frat orientation and isolation.</p>

<p>I'll look forward to any thoughts or advice - thank you!</p>

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<p>Look at Sarah Lawrence. It's about half an hour from NYC, and it's known for students who are intelligent but perhaps not in the traditional sense. However, self-motivation and determination are necessary for success; it's not really a "hand-holding" type of school. However, look into it.</p>

<p>Best of luck :]</p>

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<p>I think Denison is a great choice. Also, since you mentioned Villanova and Loyola, also check out Fairfield, he would fit the profile and if youa re goign to visit Connecticut College, it's right on the way and just a couple of minutes of 95.</p>

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<p>What about American University in DC?</p>

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<p>As a male, he will get a few bonus points at many LACs. I don't think Lafayette is too far out of reach. If he liked that and Villanova, he should definitely look at Union. Skidmore is another one that would be worth considering (similar to Conn College).
Others:
Wheaton outside of Boston
Quinnipiac outside of New Haven
Providence College (might be too fratty/jock culture)</p>

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<p>I'd suggest Juniata, but it is probably too rural.</p>

<p>Have you looked at the Colleges that Change Lives book/website?</p>

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<p>There are universities that have a special place for kids who are ADD or ADHD, Baylor University in Texas being one of them. A cousin was in the program and did quite well.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the feedback. It especially makes sense to take a look at Fairfield since it is close to CC. I'll look further into all the suggestions..</p>

<p>Re: Lafayette, my son had an interview there... I came in near the end and asked the counselor about my son's chances, and whether his good test scores would compensate for grades. He told us (very nicely/politely) that it would be a long shot and that Lafayette is really looking for the grades first and scores second - but are really looking for both. In looking at Naviance scattergrams for our HS, the school has gotten more selective over the past 2 years and students who were accepted had much higher GPAs. I guess ED would be an option but my S doesn't want to pursue it...</p>

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<p>I would suggest that you not write off Franklin & Marshall if your S liked it during the visit. Before my S applied, I too saw some of the negative comments on the web and in a guidebook. I am glad that we chose to look beyond them. My S is a freshman at F&M. He is not a fraternity-oriented kid. Under a new administration with a very dynamic President, the college has been making great strides in the past few years to broaden the social and living opportunities for all students. For example, there is now a college house system to foster closer links among smaller groups of students. The college has also built new apartments adjacent to the campus for juniors and seniors. Alot of attention has been focused in building a sense of community on campus apart from frats. While the college has traditionally been known as having a strong pre-med course, it is in fact strong in many areas with a brand new life sciences building (for philosophy and psychology as well as biology) and with state of the art music and theatre facilities. In fact, it is ideal for students who want to be exposed to many different areas; the school has a real commitment to liberal arts study with required freshman writing and foundations courses designed to expose all students to a wide variety of subjects. Students cannot declare majors until they are juniors. Teaching is the top priority at the school.</p>

<p>My S is very interested in music. He has already been given several opportunities to explore his interest in music. First, the college made sure to assign him to a freshmen writing course that centers aroud music. Second, he auditioned for and has joined the college chorus, the chamber singers and a student-run a capella group. The chorus and chamber singers are conducted by the professor who teaches my son's freshman writing course. I am grateful that F&M has allowed S to explore his interest as a freshman and has supported this interest on a very personal basis (this would probably not have happened at most other schools.) I believe that S's involvement in music will create social opportunities as well.</p>

<p>Before he applied to F&M, we visited several of the colleges that seem to be on your S's list, including Lafayette, Skidmore, Denison and Dickinson. While we were at Lafayette, we spoke to a professor who asked my S where he intended to apply. The professor candidly assessed several colleges on my S's list. He had the highest praise for F&M. </p>

<p>While it is too early to know if F&M will be a good fit for my S, I would caution about writing it off for your S based on a few negative comments on a a website or in a guidebook. In the case of F&M, I suspect that the more your S learns about the college and what is happening there now, the more positively he may view it.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you and your S.</p>

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<p>Might look at Holy Cross.</p>

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<p>Thanks, Markr for the additional info on F&M. I think that maybe we should take another look based on what you've said....</p>

<p>Re: Holy Cross, I think it would be a potentially good fit but would prefer a school that's easier/faster to get to... but we'll see. Thanks!</p>

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<p>If you're going to Holy Cross, I would also take a look at Clark. It's an extremely small university, same size as an LAC, and it definitely does not have a frat/jock culture. While his grades might be a little low, they are a pretty forgiving school and they would probably be interested in a capable male with an upward trend in grades.</p>

<p>Also, I would look at Goucher. It's an excellent school that could use more boys and it has an EA option as well.</p>

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<p>Reasonwhy:</p>

<pre><code> My son has ADHD also. He is in Colorado College for freshman this year.
</code></pre>

<p>You might conside Colorado College due to thier Block Program. It might help ADD student a lot. His SAT was 700 math and 710 Verbal 640 Writting.</p>

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<p>Block program is "The student take one course at a time for 3.5 weeks. The professors are always with students all day long. Students don't need to worry about time management at all. Besides, professors are very close to the students. It will be much eaiser for them to follow up the students. The school is only 3 blocks away from Colorado Spring. Over 80% white. The school is very pretty.</p>

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<p>I've heard good things about Susquehanna--it must be fairly close to you</p>

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<p>All the above have been excellent choices and some other colleges I would add are Boston University, Trinity College and Gettysburg College. I'll try to chance into some of the following based on the info presented.</p>

<p>Boston University- Good Match
Quinnipiac University- Safety
Connecticut College- Reach-Big Reach (reachable but very difficult)
American University- Good Match-Hard match
College of Holy Cross- Reach-Big Reach
Providence College- Slight Reach
Wheaton (MA)- Good Match-Hard Match
Goucher College- Safety
Dickinson College- Good Match-Hard Match
Gettysburg College- (20 minutes or so from Dickinson) Hard Match
Trinity College (CT)- Reach</p>

<p>Hope this helps! I understand how overwhelming this must for both the student and the parent (I'm going thru it right now!!). Wish your son the best of luck in admissions and hope he gets his number 1 choice!!</p>

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<p>I have a son with identical scores, but a higher GPA. I don't know about your son's personality, but my son found some of the schools on your list offputting due to a pre-professional, or "starting the grad school resume from day one" feel. He's a good but not agressive student--yours may or may not be the same, particularly with the ADD.</p>

<p>I know we're swimming against the current here on CC, but he found the Tier 3 LAC's to have a much better feel for him, even if he is a bit overqualified.
It's not all about going to the most selective school that will take you.</p>

<p>With that sentiment, we have been very impressed with Susquehanna, Elizabethtown, and Lebanon Valley in Pennsylvania. Also recommended have been Juniata and Ursinus.</p>

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<p>Thanks to all for your comments and assessments on chances. Very helpful! I thought that he would have a chance at Holy Cross and Connecticut College only if early decision, but I don't think we're even going to go there - there are lots of choices that are closer to home where he might feel more comfortable...</p>

<p>We're going to "pass" on Gettysburg due to intense fraternity and athletic scene - it's just not for him. Susquehanna, Juniata and Elizabethtown are a little too rural. Ursinus is really close to us, but I think we should take a look.</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

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<p>Not urban but small town; Westminster College in Pennsylvania. Also Hood College in Maryland. Don't know about their offerings for special needs students.</p>

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<p>no financial aid = bigger chances :), especially at private uni's</p>