Great to know about Ithaca in particular. Thank you.
Definitely recommend Denison University, it has a reputation for being a school full of āthe good kids,ā and has a very collaborative/supportive environment.
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@onthetable - I visited Pepperdine unrelated to Sās search- gorgeous! I wondered if students stay on campus or if most of the experience outside the classroom ends up being around Santa Monica/LA?
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@mamaedefamilia - very helpful. I love that hearing that certain schools are getting a few mentions. Will prioritize those.
@tkoparent and @houston1021 and @lindagaf - interesting about Rice. The structure of the residential college sounds great. I had a different impression, not based on fact, and based only on rumors re: the intensity of the music program. Will explore.
@momma2018 Has he had a good experience at Brandeis?
@gardenstategal I had not heard of the Bonner Scholarships. Just looked them up - very cool program. I will look at the list of associated colleges.
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Theater can align well with being a strong public speaker, but it (almost by definition) would put him in the spotlight. Music can also be a spotlight type of thing.
I would second Brandeis. Iām currently considering attending there this fall (decision day is quickly approachingā¦) and the general āvibeā of the campus community seems to be very friendly, non cut-throat, and service oriented. Seems like it would be a great fit, and has a very strong research program. That being said, it is quite expensive without financial aid. Of course, these assessments are only based on a tour and a handful of virtual information sessions.
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Yes - he loves it at Brandeis. He made friends very quickly and loves the vibe. It ended up being just the right size for him and he got involved in new activities. It can be pricey - there are some merit scholarships but not as many as other schools. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.
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Florida State. Surprised me. Pretty campus. Everyone weāve dealt with is nice and seems happy. They offer a nice mix. The have a film school and met a lot of artsy types in music, theatre, and dance. I can also see it as a party school too but if you son doesnāt like spotlight he could blend in. Oh, they also have a circus on campus. Donāt see that every day. On S21ās short list.
Iāll second the Catholic schools. Fordham, Loyola-Chicago and DePaul were on both of my sonās short lists.
Oh nice! Yes it sure is! There are a lot of students from CA and it sounds like a fair amount bring cars. And thatās what I hear ā Santa Monica and surrounding area for fun. For those inclined, nearby UCLA for tailgatesā¦
If an introverted-idealist type, can make such a fantastic actor, musician, or speaker. But, ugh, it does take a lot of energy. Definitely certain supportive environments and likely some conservatories make a difference.
Also - Are you familiar with the Great Books program at Pepperdine? A lot of reading, writing & discussion. I hear students really bond in those classes and although it may be hard at first, the discussion may over time put some at greater ease. If you complete it, you pass out of a few gen eds too.
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My son is at Denison and loves the school. I always worry about being too much of a cheerleader for the school so I havenāt mentioned it in my posts on this thread, but I agree with you.
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This was a priority for one of my kids as well. He looked for schools that did not have greek life, because that often presents a āsplitā between those who do and those who do not participate. He looked for smaller schools who talked a lot about community and faculty being an important part of on-campus life, and where students would live on campus all 4 years. He also favored schools that had a more diverse student body and were talking about this as a value. Finally, he looked at where past students from his high school went, and thought about what type of people they were. He ended up at a school he loves with lots of involved faculty, kind, friendly students and many great friends.
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Another Jesuit fan here. Not preachy but all about community service and helping others. They believe in cura personalis or seeing the person as a whole.
St. Louis University, Xavier, or Gonzaga may be worth a look.
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If I had to boil it down, this is the essential approach we were looking for ā whole person appreciation.
He does not have a problem being on stage if he is in a group - so plays, bands, orchestra are all good. He really enjoys that. Itās when it is just him, or where it is a competition, that he gets uneasy.
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That is him - although throw in there that he is also very analytical. I did not know about the Great Books program. Thank you for the very thoughtful suggestions - much appreciated!
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I can personally relate to pretty much everything you have said so far about your son, @hifidelity Reach out any time (dm) should you want to chat more. 
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