<p>Have you seen this?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/871544-majors-college-programs-aspergers.html?highlight=Aspergers[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/871544-majors-college-programs-aspergers.html?highlight=Aspergers</a></p>
<p>levrim, thanks for the link to the Asperger’s thread. Although he does not have an Asperger’s dx, there are overlaps, and I often use those resources as another jumping off point. I had looked at that thread ages ago… but of course it reads entirely differently to me NOW as my mind/emotions – and his growth… are in completely different places.</p>
<p>One thing that admissions officers ask, particularly at smaller colleges, is this:
What will this student add to our campus? What will he or she contribute to the campus community?
I would suggest that you and your son ponder these questions very carefully.</p>
<p>Interesting I thought Bates was one of the least “un-quirky” schools I’ve encountered searching for S1 and S2. It felt very similar to Carleton. Mainstream kids who like athletics and academics. Interesting how people’s perceptions are different.</p>
<p>Alfred might be an interesting school for the OP to look at. Engineering and art predominate. Interesting student body with literally all types of kids from mainstream to definitely not mainstream. The engineering school was full of kids (and profs) tinkering with this and that project on a Saturday afternoon. Very friendly and personable profs and administration. Not terribly difficult to get into and might be a school that could “work” with your student’s spotty record. I think it’s one of those “right schools for the right kid.”</p>
<p>I was thinking of Alfred also!
But - here is a question for the OP: this may sound counter-intuitive to you, but would your son be better off in more of a “tech-y” school?
I was thinking of something like Worcester Polytech - I have heard of kids thriving there who had previous social issues - they found students just like them.
I think that “tech-y” schools are more forgiving on the social aspects of the admission process, and the socializing on campus, than the LACs that are being mentioned here.
You have to remember that you are not just the consumer here - the colleges to which your son applies will really want to know how he can add to the campus community. It is not enough to be “brilliant”. A kid who does not like to come out of his room? This is NOT a kid for these LACs.</p>
<p>levirm, thanks for the reminder – I wanted to add that Clark University is part of a college consortium which includes Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI, also fondly referred to as Whoopy Tech around here.) – so it would be possible for him to take classes at WPI while a student at Clark (or vice versa for that matter).</p>
<p>I really do think your son would be a strong candidate for Clark, regardless of time spent in his room.</p>
<p>Great ideas all, and thoughts to ponder… good for all parents beginning the process!
I am looking forward to hearing thoughts about this from school, later on in the year. He is well liked by others. One reason he doesn’t socialize outside school, he has told me, is that his school is so small he feels that he gets “enough” of his schoolmates in the hours he is there, and he says that very few of them are people he has much in common with. He is tight friends with the other computer hardware wiz. I happened to get a note from his headmaster today about how terrific he has been this session (he was his teacher for his main 2 hour per day DC history/culture/politics class) – sharp, participatory, insightful, retaining all the info, quality work and with great spirit. So I think I have to leave my idea of his past behind me, except for what is left in back and white on his transcript which is not much.</p>
<p>I think we can let this thread unwind, as thanks to you I have a good working first iteration list with a range of LAC’s, more technical schools, schools I never would have thought of… and I am sure the list will evolve. For the moment we are trying to include schools with Japanese and Asian studies if possible, and at least 2 out of Topology, Number Theory or Group theory, Latin, Computers and interesting big thinking/wacky questions classes. OF COURSE we have no idea what will be a make it or break it requirement a year from now, but this gives us some way of sorting through all the many, many splendid schools and choices!</p>