<p>Like carolyn, I'd recommend Wooster and Ohio Wesleyan. His academic stats are considerably below the stats for both schools but his athletic and community service may make him a viable applicant. Visiting both schools may be a good way for him to decide if he fits there.</p>
<p>Lonestardad - Hi, my husband's family is from TX...Wichita Falls area.
Thanks for your posts. We'll looked at Lynchburg just a little. DS doesn't want to take new SAT, old one was difficult enough without accommodations and test center messed up his seating twice and once gave him the wrong test (SAT II writing), despite his protestations. Hopefully we can get him nicely placed with what he already has accomplished. He's taking 8.5 units of study his senior year and to add test prep on top of that would right kill the lad.
Thank your wife for her input; it's appreciated. DS doesn't have an IEP or a 504...public schools in our former area were strapped for funds and what they did have went to the gifted...plus principal said that since the 504 was merely a gentleman's agreement (what!?) there was no need to memorialize it in written form. Duh! Private school didn't offer consistent accommodations and work load was crushing, so we took him home for home instruction. That's worked out pretty well. It's the hands on, personal one on one that has worked so well...so much so that we hope to keep it going in college.</p>
<p>I agree with you whole heartedly that DS will need to become a strong advocate for his own interests and needs. This will definitely be a problem area, but a carefully selected and supportive school will help him bloom.</p>
<p>Read the Loren Pope books about a year or so ago. While I like the philosophy, my observation has been that several are seeking to upgrade their selectivity and are now pricing themselves academically out of our brain trust market. And, some are just flat out too selective for my child. It's a pity because the kids that need it most are being eliminated to make room for the bright kids who could get in to many other very suitable schools. Also I've discovered noteworthy problems with three of them, and so have reservations about pursuing contact with them. However, there are several that a still on the list.</p>
<p>In any case, thanks again for your and your wife's wonderful input. It is very much appreciated.</p>
<p>hssenior05 - Thanks for your reply. DS's stats make it difficult to get into the tier of schools that I might prefer, but I'm a bit afraid of having him make the reach if self confidence in his skills is lacking. I'd like him to be on the higher end of the curve so that he feels more confident, and doesn't immediately have to play catch up because he's not up to the work/load at first. DS swam for about 8 years, often putting in 25+ hours and 70000 yards and dryland a week, plus meetings and travel. For four of those years we also had a 2-3 hour RT commute to the training site. DS needed a break for a number of reasons and because there was just no time at all to come to know himself. Before he swam, DS studied tae kwon do for about 3 years, earning a first degree black belt and training, teaching, competing, demoing about 5 hours a day, 7 days a week. I'm sure he feels like he lost his life to sports. He's earned his hiatus and whether he opts to return to the pool or follow a different path, DS has learned fine things about the sports and about himself through hard training and competition. Thanks for your input.</p>
<p>OrangeBlossom - I'm a little confused by your listing of your son's 3.6 GPA and saying you are a homeschooler -- has your son been attending a regular school some of the time? or do those grades come from distance learning type courses?</p>
<p>Has your son taken the ACT? A lot kids with LD's seem to do better with the ACT- I think its partly in the way the questions are worded. It seems like the SAT has more "trick" questions. I'd highly recommend the ACT because most colleges will accept it in lieu of the SAT, and even a small improvement could make a difference.</p>
<p>Also, check out colleges that don't require the SAT. I know Lewis & Clark has an alternative, "portfolio" path to admission, and it sounds like your son has a lot of interesting stuff in his background that would be an asset if he applies to colleges that look at the whole person rather than the numbers. </p>
<p>Finally, re-read Loren Pope's book, but this time looking for qualities that you like in the colleges he describes. His list of 40 is by no means exhaustive - there ARE other colleges that are similar, but just aren't listed (yet). Maybe as the selectivity of his 40 goes up, he'll have to write a sequel. ;)</p>
<p>calmom - Thanks for your post. We homeschool under an umbrella homeschool that provides a wide array of services, ranging from curriculum planning, guidance counseling, recordkeeping, standardized testing and oversight to a large assortment of classes. Thus they provide the same services that a traditional school would.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tip about ACT. While I have heard of it, we never really pursued it last (junior) year. If you read my original post, things got really busy during the past year and that made taking the SAT very trying for DS. I'll discuss with him and see how he feels about another test go-around. I think that things have been so overwhelming for him for so long that it's felt like an enormous wave crashing on the beach...a sense of relief that so much is over. Thanks, too, for your input on Pope's books. Yes I've gleaned many old-fashioned values from the books and have used them in my search. The area we live in thrives on raw competition and the students coming forth are devouring every school in sight as those who don't make the first tier flow down into the others schools. DS prefers to end up with a different group of kids, ones that are more "outside the Beltway"...laid back, still interested in learning, but in a more thoughtful, reflective way. Commitment to community service is also important to him. We will keep Loren Pope's philosophy in our hearts. Oh, by the way, I understand there is a sequel forthcoming, but I believe on the same 40. Jay Mathews, educational writer for The Washington Post, has written many articles identifying "gems" he's discovered. The list is helpful, but often just little to up there for DS. But again, we read and drink in the values these schools embody and incorporate them in the search. Thanks for you great suggestions. Everyone has been so gracious.</p>
<p>Is Earlham a possibility for your son?</p>
<p>calmom - I believe we looked at Earlham and thought it was more of reach (<25th percentile), so we crossed it off our list. Earlham is a great school, but I'm not confident that DS has the solid skills to enter and feel secure from the start. If his executive and process skills were better (and needing less support), I'd jump at the chance for him to go there. But, it's worth another look, maybe ... based on its gentle ways and respect for all students... it can continue on a reach for DS. Thanks, again!</p>
<p>temple, its not in the area you specified but it sounds like a match. Also, what state do you live in? Try looking at state schools</p>
<p>harry3734 - Temple sounds interesting. We're in VA. So it's not that far really. I'm not at all familiar with it, but Philadelphia is pretty nice. I'll look into it. Thanks.</p>
<p>By the way, I've never heard of georgia being 49 of 50. All I associate GA with is Ray Charles's classic, and if the state is anything like the song, it's a winner. The song gives it such magic and grace that I've fallen in love with GA wthout ever having visited there.</p>
<p>I am very intrigued with Warren Wilson College in Asheville NC</p>
<p>OrangeBlossom - some great advice from people on this list who are very knowledgeable. I wanted to echo St. Anselm's in NH- it is an unusual school in that it is very much a school community, very nuturing, and very small. However, many of the Cathollic schools are very rigid in curriculum and structure of grading, classes, etc and would concern me for a LD student. Another school known for it's LD program in MA is Curry College. </p>
<p>A friend just went through an exhaustive year's search for her LD daughter, who scored under 1000, and who had a much lower GPA than your son's. She was accepted to every school she applied to- mother had carefully checked them out and they individually visited and interviewed at all of them. She was even offered money at two (I can't remember the schools - but all 4 year colleges - one was Curry). Your son has had some extenuating circumstances as well - how he presents his high school experience may have more of an influence on his admissions options than his SATs (essays about his choices, hopes for the future, etc., maybe a letter from the GC about the "gentleman's agreement in lieu of the 504). I have been very surprised by who has gotten into where with what SATs! Remember that this listserv is somewhat skewed with high achievers and Ivy/tier one applicants - kids ARE getting into schools with SATs in your son's range. Finally, my younger son has processing speed issues (9th and 6th percentile!) as well and we are trying to get beyond the "gentleman's agreement" of the 504 - thanks for reinforcing the need to get that in writing. All colleges are required to accomodate students with disabilities if they receive federal funds (PL 504 and ADA) but many schools do not have experienced staff or comprehensive support services (I often help kids with hearing loss transition from high school to college so have run into a number of probems with colleges who state that they provide accomodations but don't - think bringing the psychoed eval or the neuropsych eval detailing the issues would be helpful). It is important to find one that has a clue and is willing and able to make the right accomodations. Good luck!</p>
<p>If you like Earlham but it seems a bit too high on the academic admit side, you might look at Goshen (IN). It is Mennonite, not Quaker, but the Mennonites aren't very pushy with their faith and are huge on community life and service. I don't know about specialized LD service, but it does have a reputation for being nuturing.</p>
<p>I'm not familiar with your son's issues at all but from lurking here last year I seem to remember a pretty active poster with a son with lots of learning difficulties (perhaps ausistic,tourettes.....I cANT REMEMBER EXACTLY)whose son wound up at Old Dominion in Norfolk,Va. She was so apprehensive,but he had lots of accomodations and support and had a successful first year.Anybody remember the poster's name who can help Orange Blossom look for old posts by the Mom?</p>
<p>OrangeBlossom, I would look for a school that is not focused on research, but a teaching focused. There are schools out there who's beginning beginning were as teacher's colleges or junior colleges that grew into more. They are tend to be more student focused. I presume that the small liberal arts schools also are student focused.</p>
<p>I would also look at core required classes for the major your son may be interested in. For example, if foreign language was difficult, then a school requiring foreign language for math majors may not be a great choice for him. Check it out because I am not certain, but I think Lynchburg, does require foreign language in college. Your son may love fl, I am just mentioning it because as I understand it, many students with learning disabilities (I think language based) struggle with foreign language.</p>
<p>I'll be away for the day. My 86 year old mom has macular degeneration and needs her injections to slow the diseases's progression.</p>
<p>I plan to followup with each of you who have posted since last night. You have all been enormously helpful, and I value each and every bit of advice and good counsel you've relayed. Thanks!</p>
<p>Orangeblossom - I second Calmom's recommendation to consider having your son also take the ACT's. My ADD plus other challenges son indeed did score considerably better on the ACTs I think in part because - as Calmom said - their are few "trick" questions. Here are some other advantages to the ACT. If he takes the ACT, don't report the scores at first to any college (or the high school). Unlike the SAT folks, the ACT organization allows you to select which scores (at one taking) to send to a college/university at the time you designate. Thus if your son took the ACT twice, you could send just the scores he did the best on. If you don't want to send any ACT score at all, so be it. No one is the wiser and his SAT scores rule.</p>
<p>By the way, Wichita Falls is a nice community that I came to know well when my son played in tennis tournaments there. If you still have relatives in Wichita Falls, there is also Midwestern State University - a small university of 5,500 students tucked away in the nicest residential neighborhood of the city. Out of state tuition is just over $9000.</p>
<p>Monmouth University in New Jersey has excellent support services (including their MEWS program which gives extra support to students they identify as "falling behind"). They also have the Criminal Justice major. Here's the link to their Criminal Justice page: <a href="http://www.monmouth.edu/academics/deptlinks/cj.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.monmouth.edu/academics/deptlinks/cj.asp</a></p>
<p>Also, John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan, NY is a great school in his chosen area that offers a lot of services. Here's the link to their Disability Services page:
<a href="http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/johnJay/johnJayDisability.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/johnJay/johnJayDisability.asp</a></p>
<p>Hope this helps. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>John Jay is part of CUNY (City University of NY) so does not offer traditional housing. It might not offer the college life that your son desires.</p>
<p>Two thoughts:
I strongly urge you to pursue the 504 this year. Your son will need to have it on file for the benefit of academic support in college.</p>
<p>I know of two academically challenge kids very impressed by support at Cabrini in Philly.</p>
<p>Monmouth does not have enough housing on campus. They have small class sizes. It is likely that he would need to live off campus after freshman year, and I think this could get quite costly. I have seen many apartments in the area, but most will still likely require a car to get to Monmouth. The school is near the beach which is fun.</p>