Another perspective...Help

Parents Forum
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<p>I'm a public high school jounior and I want to attend any all male libreal arts college. only two still exist. They are Wabash [<a href="http://www.wabash.edu%5D%5B/url"&gt;www.wabash.edu][/url&lt;/a&gt;], Hampden-Syndey [<a href="http://www.hsc.edu%5D%5B/url"&gt;www.hsc.edu][/url&lt;/a&gt;] </p>

<p>now both my parents work for the state, so I can get a tuition wavier or reduction by 75% or 25% percent. However I REALLY want to attend one of those colleges. But I can't think of "good enough reasons" for my parents. I am the eldest of three childern, so there is that two consider as well, the cost and the like. </p>

<p>I haven't talked to them indepth with them about these colleges.</p>

<p>When I do they say "What about the money, a car, where will you live" and the like.</p>

<p>So I guess my question is, what would be your response if your son said "Iwant to go to an all-male college"?</p>

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<p>Why? What is it about single sex colleges that you think you will like? what are you trying to avoid at coed schools?</p>

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<p>have you seen teen fashion? they walk down my HS hallway almost naked.</p>

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<p>You could tell them about why you want to go. Mention "fit", and offer to get a job to help pay. Cheers, it could be that he just doesn't like the state school and feels that the single-sex college is a better fit.</p>

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<p>LOL, Wabash! Not** all** girls dress like that (I'm a teenage girl, btw).</p>

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<p>it's just hard for guys. I get the feeling that when i say all male my dad thinks im gay or something. but I</p>

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<p>Are there any college that you like that are similar to the all-male one? Maybe if you came up with a list of similar co-ed colleges to apply to with the one that you love, he could understand that you don't want the state college and that you actually like what the school has to offer.</p>

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<p>could work but hmmm. i don't know. i looked into all male becuse it's a different sceanary, ya know?</p>

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<p>I think its great you are considering a school that will really work for you. Is it possible to check them out? Visit? Maybe if you tell them you really like the colleges were in the 1940'sand 50s-focus on study, work, etc. and the traditions at those schools. And most single sex schools do alot of stuff with singles sex of the opposite sex (okay that was a mess) schools. We have three all male highschools in our city, and the boys that go there have no problems having it all male. If you dad is worried about you wanting to go to an all male school because he is afraid of the gay thing, he is crazy.</p>

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<p>I have no intention of goingt there for :love" seeing as im not gay</p>

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<p>Wabash is a good school, but I haven't heard a very good case for your interest. HS girls' fashion? You're not applying to HS, and you will find that the women at selective colleges and universities dress a bit differently than your average HS mall rat. And note that after college you will find yourself exposed to a wide variety of women. You might as well get used to it in college.</p>

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<p>actually, when you mentioned all-male liberal arts colleges, i thought of deep springs (<a href="http://deepsprings.edu%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://deepsprings.edu&lt;/a&gt;), although it's a 2 year college it's excellent (and i would have applied there if not for the gender barrier, heh). but as the other posters have been saying, the type of females you meet at college may not necessarily be like the ones you currently know at HS. as a more moderate alternative, maybe you could try looking at more conservative liberal arts colleges?</p>

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<p>OK, you have already gotten through the tough questions...</p>

<p>My first question also was, "Why?" </p>

<p>I also would wonder if your motivation had something to do with sexual preference, but you have ruled that out. </p>

<p>So now that the messy stuff is out of the way, a very good reason for men or women to attend a single-sex school is to avoid the distractions of the opposite sex! Girls don't have to run around half naked to be a distraction. They just ARE! :) I still remember.... even after all these years... must still have some testosterone left... I remember in high school being distracted by a girl sitting behind me and breathing!! (She wasn't panting, just breathing) In college there were similar distractions. I have always found attractive women a distraction. I could spend more time in class looking at an attractive young girl than a boring old professor. </p>

<p>So in conclusion, to convince your parents, I would focus on your desire to concentrate on your studies without the ever present distractions of the opposite sex. You can still meet, seek, and go out with women, but on your own time.</p>

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<p>re sangria's mention of deep springs - isn't it also tuition free? and after the 2 years are completed, I believe these kids transfer into pretty much any 4-year college they want.</p>

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<p>that's cool. but nothing is every free. and also my gpa is only like 2.95 so i don't know.</p>

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<p>I didn't start taking AP/honors untill now, my junior year am I screwed out of Wabash and Hampden-Sydney?[<a href="http://www.wabash.edu%5D%5B/url"&gt;www.wabash.edu][/url&lt;/a&gt;] [<a href="http://www.hsc.edu%5D%5B/url"&gt;www.hsc.edu][/url&lt;/a&gt;] or should I play the disabled student card to increase my chances along w/AP scores [wow did that shound horrible?] Also, if I'm appying to these "lesser known" schools will that increae my chances of getting in?</p>

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<p>Wabash, has anyone ever told you that you are slightly...reactionary? </p>

<p>I'm sorry to sound like an old fuddy duddy, but I think you need some guidance on the issue of how to accept and handle everyday sexuality. Even if you go to an all-male school, you will most likely be working in a mixed environment. Sooner or later, you will have to deal with the bother of everyday sexuality. I imagine that every parent on this board has found a way to cope--you can too! </p>

<p>However, I understand your desire for a more conservative environment. There are conservative schools out there. There are schools with all-male dorms. Perhaps you should consider broadening your search to include schools like BYU.</p>

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<p>NOT BYU as it is a LDS school and I'm not, or do I have any intention of becoming LDS.</p>

<p>And yes, I am looking for a more conservative environment. As far as "everyday sexuality" I don't plan on locking myself in a room for four years w/o seeing a women. </p>

<p>Futhermore, high education as "gone" more towards females instead of guys. There are somethings which profs. can says in front of all-male/all-female students that he can't say in front of a mixed class.</p>

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<p>Frankly, I'm a little annoyed at those wondering why Wabash would want to consider an "all male" school. </p>

<p>I don't see anyone asking females interested in Smith or Wellesley what they are trying to avoid if they want to go to an all-female school. I don't see anyone calling someone interested in only looking at all female schools "reactionary" or suggesting they should look at BYU. I don't see anyone suggesting to women interested in Smith that they should "get used" to dealing with the opposite sex. </p>

<p>Why should it be any different for a male? Please, can we avoid questioning why someone would want to attend a single-sex school?</p>

<p>The fact is that an all-male school can provide the same sorts of benefits that an all female school can --- leadership opportunities, a supportive academic environment not based on gender stereotypes, and a welcoming social environment. </p>

<p>Wabash is an EXCELLENT school - it provides a very unique academic environment for its students, similiar to Smith or Wellesley. The professors are top notch, the academics are excellent, and they are very generous with merit money. Additionally, they have a wonderful alumni support network that includes many in top business positions. These are all important things to stress to your parents about Wabash.</p>

<p>If my son was interested in Wabash, I would be thrilled and very suportive, just as I would be if my daughter were interested in Smith, Scripps or Wellesley. However, like all schools, Wabash needs to visit to see if it would be a fit for him.</p>

<p>Wabash, Wabash puts a great deal of emphasis on finding the right fit between the school and prospective students. They consider recommendations and an interview to be very important. Also important to them are signs of leadership potential - they see their mission as preparing young men to be tommorrow's leaders and want to see signs that applicants will take advantage of what they offer. Your GPA is on the low side for Wabash but, again, they do consider the whole candidate. </p>

<p>However, you do need to visit as the social environment may not be as "straight laced" as you expect - Wabash does have something of a party atmosphere on weekends. I would not call it a school with a "conservative atmosphere" if you are turned off by drinking and parties. I would advise you to get your parents to go with you for a visit if it is at all possible to see if Wabash is right for you - if it is, you can not go wrong there!</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Frankly, I'm a little annoyed at those wondering why Wabash would want to consider an "all male" school. I don't see anyone asking females interested in Smith or Wellesley what they are trying to avoid if they want to go to an all-female school. Why should it be any different for a male?

[/quote]
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<p>Took the words right out of my mouth. Honestly, neither one of my kids was interested in single sex environment,and I wasn't encouraging it, but I wouldn't have seen any difference between my D or my S looking for it.</p>