Best colleges for the returning student?

Parents Forum
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<p>My 23 year old son is thinking of returning to college. I would love some help from others who have been in this situation & would love to hear advice & experiences. He is not sure where he wants to go but is thinking of applying this January or next year.</p>

<p>My son went to college at 18 and it was a disaster on many levels. He is very bright (took SATs once, no practice, got 800, 730, 720) and was a great high school student, but was really looking for intellectual stimulation and in depth studies. The school he went to was a well respected urban college he thought he'd love, but not only was he was unable to balance city/school, he also got very disillusioned with entry level classes as he felt (in his opinion) that most classes were very shallow and your grade was based mostly on parroting the professor, something he'd had enough in in high school. His issues were compounded by a very bad depressive episode, which thankfully is mostly healed. He took a medical leave of absence and then tried to return the next year, but it was just as disastrous. His GPA from that college is a 2.9, which he thinks is horrific, but I tell him is really not too bad. Naturally, he is worried about returning and 'cracking up' all over again, and though he knows he has to try to succeed, I think it would be best to minimize potential stressors. Again, this would be for next year, not this year - he feels he is not quite recovered - but it's good to start thinking about this. </p>

<p>Since graduating, he has focused on recovering, and working/volunteering.</p>

<p>I don't think small LACs would suit him as he's older; I know there are programs like COlumbia for mature students, but honestly, I don't think he'd thrive in any pressure cooker environment so I'd worry about that, even if he could get in which I don't think he could. He is deeply interested in the actual learning, rather than competitive grades for grades sake. He would love to earn A's but wants real invigorating discussions & deep debates. At this point he is talking about majoring possibly in psychology.</p>

<p>I hope I'm making sense. He is thinking of California maybe, or maybe New York--he may try to establish residency there first before going to college. (Does anyone know anything about this?)</p>

<p>Is there any college that rings a bell for you? For those who have returned under similar circumstances, what has your experience been?</p>

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<p>I was just talking with a friend whose daughter is in a similar situation, and from our own experiences, we agreed that it can sometimes be harder to be in college classes at 23 or 24 than when much older. It is stranger to be that close to classmates in age, but not be a peer at all. I would suggest a school with mixed ages. Also, when your son turns 24, he is eligible for “adult learner” programs, and also for financial aid based on his own income.</p>

<p>Harvard extension school, Columbia School of General Studies, Penn and Brown have similar programs</p>

<p>New School in NYC
[The</a> New School ? A New York University | College](<a href=“http://www.newschool.edu/]The”>http://www.newschool.edu/)</p>

<p>BU (Metropolitan College or online degree completion)</p>

<p>Low residency programs such as Goddard or Lesley (I would say Goddard more than Lesley for him as you describe him), or Union Institute, which has online programs and programs with one weekend/month on campus</p>

<p>UMass Boston has all ages, and UMass Amherst has University without Walls</p>

<p>I am from the Northeast, so others will chime in with other ideas…</p>

<p>There are alternatives to college, too. Does he have special interests at all? Just for example, [North</a> Bennet Street School: Home](<a href=“http://www.nbss.edu/]North”>http://www.nbss.edu/) or [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.nols.edu/]NOLS[/url”&gt;http://www.nols.edu/]NOLS[/url</a>]</p>

<p>Does he have 3 years to do? He can do a full load or, in many programs, just do a couple of courses while doing something else. Sometimes that makes the school more enjoyable…</p>

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<p>How about Prescott College in Arizona?</p>

<p>[Prescott</a> College : For the Liberal Arts, the Environment, and Social Justice](<a href=“http://www.prescott.edu/]Prescott”>http://www.prescott.edu/)</p>

<p>Most students are older, and the school is small.</p>

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<p>At Guilford college, 50% of the students are non-traditional undergrads.</p>

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<p>The average age of an undergraduate student in the U.S. is 24.5 years old. So your son is actually younger than the average student. But there are lots of schools that seem to specialize in 18-20 year olds, and you probably want to avoid those. Of course, lots of the state schools have older students, many of them working while in school. The issue may be more a matter of good course and professor selection, as opposed to school (once you eliminate those that specialize in overgrown children with hormones.) </p>

<p>Does he have to start as a full-time, matriculated student?</p>

<p>If you’re in New York, can I make a suggestion? The award-winning neurobiololgist Stuart Firestein, who is a Professor at Columbia (has a Ph.D. from Berkeley, post-doc at Yale), never took a college course until he was 30. He spent the previous years mostly as an assistant stage manager in theaters on both the east and west coasts. At 30, he took a single course in animal communication (!) at San Francisco State University, and it launched his future career. If your son is that sort of person, he might enjoy reading Firestein’s book “Ignorance: How It Drives Science”, call him up, and ask for some advice. </p>

<p>Your son’s case is not at all uncommon. But what might make a big difference is some good mentoring.</p>

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<p>This is all amazing advice, and I thank you all. Mini, you’re absolutely right that mentoring would make a huge difference–I hope he finds someone. He has had some very kind teachers who have reached out to him but at the time he wasn’t ready to take their help and advice; maybe he’d be more ready now. He just has to take the plunge.</p>

<p>We live in New Jersey, actually, which kind of sucks because NJ has poorly funded state schools (for instance, Rutgers is at $25,000/year in-state because the state keeps taking away funding), unlike NY or California or other states. He doesn’t want to incur huge financial debt. HEnce his thought of moving out of state & establishing residency. I don’t know if that’s a good idea because of additional stressors but he’s 23 and there’s only so much I can say :slight_smile: </p>

<p>I love the example of Stuart Firestein. I will pass that along to him, as well as all this other advice. I know rationally he can’t be alone, but you’re right it would be good to be in the company of mixed ages rather than all 18 year olds. I will check out your other ideas for colleges. LOTS of food for thought here, very much appreciated.</p>