Asking for a student who is a high school junior with Type 1 diabetes looking for strong engineering (Mechanical is main interest). So day to day eating and managing diet and medication (he has a pump though) is a concern and access to medical care easily if needed. Wants to to attend a strong school (not tippy top) for mechanical engineering with good support and he’ll need some accommodations. Any suggestions? Thanks!
@sbjdorlo may have some information on what to consider for a student with type 1 diabetes.
Thanks for tagging me, @ucbalumnus. @CA1543, my own son has T1 Diabetes (also on a pump) and applied to a number of selective colleges, a few for engineering. I also work as an independent college consultant, and have worked with a number of students with disabilities including T1 diabetes
I think you build the list of schools first and then reach out to the disability offices, either when you visit or by email/phone. Key for us was a good hospital nearby.
My son was at UPenn for 2 1/2 months. He withdrew for other reasons besides his diabetes, but I can say that it’s a great place to be if you have disabilities-great disability office and hospital basically on campus. Engineering there, though, is exceptionally challenging, and not for the faint of heart.
Frankly, the hardest thing for my son was/is the fact that when he gets sick (and he was sick three times in 10 weeks, unfortunately), his numbers are whacked out and he tends to stay sick longer than healthy students.
Many T1s are able to go far away, but you need to be very organized as far as supplies, insurance, and help should they need it.
Build your list first, and then whittle it down based on 1) good medical support and 2) good response from disability offices.
Thanks so much @sbjdorlo – appreciate your advice - so sorry your son had to leave UPenn (my son is a freshman in engineering there now actually - it is very challenging indeed and he has his ups and downs). The student I am inquiring for with Type 1 diabetes will be applying to less selective schools - will advise the family to do as you suggest - there are some schools with good medical facilities attached or near by. Understand your point about getting sick and staying sick longer as a possible concern too. I want to wish your son the best of luck in the future - I hope he has or will find a great school with strong supports/facilities for him - he is obviously very bright indeed!
Search the Rice Parent thread and other Rice threads for diabetes. There is a parent there whose son has diabetes and is a freshman at Rice this year. You could PM them. One of the reasons their son chose Rice was because of its easy access to hospitals and physicians in the Houston medical center. The Rice campus borders on the medical center. Rice has great engineering. Rice is also very good at accommodating students with disabilities.
My D is a T1D and studying about 3000 miles away from us. While I go back and forth on this, If I had to do it all over, I might have required her to stay in-state or at least a location that was easy to travel to. Managing supplies, insurances and illnesses has been difficult over her first two years. However, she has had great support at her health center. She jokes that she is on first name basis with the college doctor.
I’d be as concerned about good medical facilities, good food options, ease to travel to if needed, response from disability services as I would the program or strength of the university.
Just about any ABET acredited program is going to be fine as far as academics. Look into support for finding internships or coops, how active student engineering groups are (you stand out as an internship hire if you’ve worked on student-run projects) and also any other interests such as whether it is possible to graduate on-time if you spend a semester abroad.
I’m going to UCF right now and think it may work for your son. we are known for our really strong engineering program (the school was originally a technical institute that fed into NASA during the 60’s) and the program has many great ties. Since our school is located in Orlando there are many opportunities for students. The undergrad program is ranked in the 80’s and the grad program is ranked in the top 50. There is a health clinic on campus (it covers primary care, some specialty care, dentistry, and pharmaceuticals. There is a health program specifically for students with type 1 if he decides to go there.
I’m not sure if there are geographic preferences but I was just on a college tour at RIT the other day and they mentioned they actually have their own ambulance (they mentioned it the context that some kids who are EMTs might want to continue). That kind of thing might be comforting to know. I had a friend from high school with Type 1 diabetes and I remember he had to have a friend take him to the hospital at least once while he was in college. I don’t think it was nearby either. I think I would like to know there are nearby medical services and transportation in an emergency.
University of Pittsburgh ticks a few of those boxes. Strong engineering and a hospital and clinics right on campus.
My S18 has T1 and is a student athlete. He will be at a school about an hour away (not for diabetes-related reasons) but through the selection process we weren’t sure. His Endo doctor says that they schedule appointments 2x per year for college students, summer and winter break.
We recently visited a Nutritionist to discuss eating in relation to diabetes/athletics, and it was a great experience overall! Also discussed dining hall options, and what to look for. She mentioned checking out the vegetarian section for good grains/carbs options - I wouldn’t have thought of that (he enjoys eating healthy but not very many veggies - if I had recommended it he wouldn’t have listened!).
I think all schools have a department that handle Disability requests, and he will be eligible. We filled out the paperwork - I think we listed our own potential requests, such as allowing to leave class to check sugars if needed, eat a snack in class if needed, I think we included ability to postpone a test but can’t remember now exactly. And importantly - the possibility for priority class scheduling so the schedule can include proper meal-time breaks. The school does not have any suite-style dorms for freshman, but if they did we’d have requested one for the semi-private bathroom.
Finally, Texas A & M comes to mind for Mechanical Engineering, as we know someone going there for that very purpose (incoming Freshman, so I don’t have feedback yet). Can’t imagine College Station would lack great medical facilities.