<p>I have a friend who was a mediocre student in not the most rigorous classes, but he was BRILLIANT (published, etc.) and he was admitted to CalTech with no hook.</p>
<p>I'm wondering if the kind of mothering/nurturing liberal arts experience will suffocate your son, and if he'd thrive more by being thrown straight into the snakepit. For schools of the latter type, U of C and Reed, for sure, are used to seeing and admitting untraditional students (some of my friends at Chicago were high school dropouts, in reform schools, etc.-- a solid education and enough room to breathe has done them worlds of good).</p>
<p>Other highly selective schools that might consider him seriously include Williams and Brown. Hampshire and Marlboro sound perfect for him.</p>
<p>DunninLA, just to clarify he is in ALL honors or AP classes. Some classes, however, such as health and tech, are required courses that aren't offered in any different levels, and those are the ones he does the worst in. </p>
<p>The harder the class, the better the grade (usually) for him.</p>
<p>Your brother sounds a lot like my child. She wasn't very stimulated in high school but felt that if she could find the right college she would be motivated and excited about learning. She got into the U of Chicago, where she has thrived, getting great grades, lots of activities, social life, etc. I think that your brother might very well fit in there.</p>
<p>I second Haverford</p>
<p>U of Chicago, Reed, Oberlin, Kenyon, and other selective LACs and super intellectual unis (of which there are not many) would be superb choices.</p>
<p>I second U. of Chicago, Hampshire, Marlboro (and of course I think he should check out Bennington too!)
It sounds like he needs a place where he can take what he is interested in and run with it.</p>