<p>I would think that the student body at HMC would have a fair number of high functioning aspies. Can anyone talk about how they handle/support this population or even if there is a need to handle/support them. The environment may be supportive enough?? THX</p>
<p>bump… I am also curious about this.</p>
<p>I would contact the administration and ask about this. As a parent I have visited a number of times over the past four years and really can’t say I met kids that showed any sign of Aspergers - but of course that is not to say they aren’t present. and I’m certainly no expert. Since no one has responded to the post there may not be any kids/parents active on this forum with any direct experience with this.</p>
<p>I would suggest you pm missypie for some insight into the issues her Aspie son faced (not at Mudd, but at a small challenging college) and how he/they handled them. It’s not a pretty story, but it might give you an idea of what to watch for.</p>
<p>As to Mudd, I’ll just say that keeping up seems to require some pretty solid executive functioning skills. I’m thinking of the one student I know from my son’s high school who’s a high-functioning Aspie; he’s so different from what missypie describes in her son that I’m not sure I know enough to be helpful. But based on that one observation point (a smart kid who took a top scholarship to the state flagship), I know for certain that he would have self-destructed at Mudd.</p>
<p>The faculty are very supportive, but it seems like the student generally has to initiate the “I need help!” sequence unless he’s already to the point of receiving academic advisories. Attendance isn’t kept. Many exams are of the take-home type, which requires self-scheduling. Many projects are of the team type, which may or may not be an issue for your kiddo. Homework is graded and builds over time, and it’s easy to fall behind – especially if you’re sick for a week or something like that.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if a student is “on the radar” from the start, the faculty/deans may pay more attention and reach out earlier. geek_son (not an Aspie, just a student who’s found himself underwater once or twice) has found them very helpful, accommodating, and willing to go the extra mile to help a student they know is putting forth the effort. It’s a very personal environment, like a big family, and they really care. Students tend to look out for one another too.</p>
<p>Is it possible? Maybe so. But I would be wary, and I would take ElphDriver’s advice and talk in depth with the administration about it first.</p>
<p>I am not personally familiar with Harvey Mudd, but it is actually on this educational consultant’s list of colleges for students with Asperger’s (and I do know that Rubinstien has a background in and has written about Asperger’s/Non-Verbal Learning Disorders):</p>
<p>[Colleges</a> for Students with Asperger’s: The Friendly Ones | InsideCollege.com](<a href=“The Best College Rankings and Lists | Inside College | CollegeXpress”>The Best College Rankings and Lists | Inside College | CollegeXpress)</p>
<p>Thank you! The InsideCollege link was very helpful. Truth is I need to visit with my son. HE will have a better sense if it is a good fit. Though aspie, he is very intuitive.</p>