<p>DS is currently finishing up junior year. He is very strong academically and has a 3.98 uw GPA, 4.44 w, and 36 ACT. Very strong in math and sciences and would like to pursue either pure science or engineering. He does not get any special academic accommodations but does work with school psychologist on trying to improve social skills and and has mild organizational weakness although has improved a lot. Is very shy and socially awkward although does desire social interaction. Poor self help skills such as grooming etc although again improving.</p>
<p>Looking mostly at science and tech schools as he feels the student population are most like him and he has a better chance socially. He does want to try going away as he feels it would help him grow. We are ok with this as long as school has good support. We would prefer a school in the Midwest, not to far from home. So far we looked at Missouri science and Technology which he really liked, & Illinois Institute of Technology which he was less impressed with. Also plan to look at Case Western. If anyone has any experience with any of the disability services at any of these schools I would really appreciate the feedback as well as suggestions on any other schools.</p>
<p>Ps. 3 in college at the same time and unlikely to qualify for FA therefore would need merit aid.</p>
<p>This might be a bit pricey, but I would take a look at CMU (and ask about financial aid with consideration of 3 in college at the same time) and possibly Pitt Honors (which should give your S full tuition and stacking engineering scholarship, with a chance at Chancellor’s - but a more eclectic student body than CMU.) There is a great social skills program run out of Pittsburgh (google Carol Komich-Hare for more info) for AS students at any Pittsburgh college.</p>
<p>Take a look at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). It has a large number of students like your son and gives very good merit aid. It also offers single dorm rooms - which are a good option for Aspies.</p>
<p>With 3 in college, are you certain that you won’t qualify for need-based aid? Or are you concerned that what you would qualify for still wouldn’t be enough. I can understand that even with an EFC of $25k per kid, that would mean paying out $75k per year. Yikes!</p>
<p>How much merit aid do you need? For instance, if you can pay about $12k per year, then that would cover room, board, and books at many schools. But, that would mean that your son would need a full tuition scholarship. </p>
<p>how much do you feel that you can spend each year on this one child’s college costs? </p>
<p>Is your son a likely NMF? What was his PSAT? </p>
<p>I think Rose-Hulman might be good, but I think it only gives up to half-tuition scholarships (others can correct me if wrong).</p>
<p>RPI is also possible, but I don’t know how much they give in merit…and it may be too far. </p>
<p>What about St. Louis University? Small, good engineering, and merit…but don’t know how much merit SLU would give.</p>
<p>I’d strongly recommend CMU, if you can get the numbers to work. It’s seems to me to be run by engineers! My youngest son, mildly Aspie, is doing extremely well there. Kids work extremely hard and the school is very well known, with excellent internship and research options. He also looked at Case-Western, which is an excellent option for bioengineering and also for generous merit money.</p>
<p>adamom, your son sounds a lot like my son (well, except for that great GPA…and he’s primarily a humanities kid). I second the Pitt and CMU thoughts - my son’s looking at Pitt. Not in the Midwest, but we’re also investigating UAlabama and UArizona - lots of merit $ for high scoring kids, and both have specialized support programs:</p>
<p>There is a new thread today from a parent whose son sounds similar to yours asking about disability services experiences at UW-Madison since son is starting there this fall. The OP there wants to know about others’ experiences at UW, you might want to PM that OP and find out why they chose UW, etc to help you in your search. Leaving the OP name off this post so some sense of privacy is maintained- those who want to know can easily find out the OP.</p>
<p>What about Marquette, Xavier and SLU? COA is generally lower than some of the more well know schools, and they do offer merit. I don’t know how the disability services are though.</p>
<p>Check out Case Western Reserve…it’s close enough, it’s great with merit money and the kids will be academic peers. I also agree with Rose Hulman.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions, I do appreciate it. our biggest concern is to make sure that the disability office offers the right kind of support while still finding a school that will meet his academic needs. I have heard about many Aspie kids who have crashed and burned in college despite doing well in high school and that is what we are trying to avoid.
We have thought about CMU but would prefer to be more Midwest as we live in Illinois. Alabama is intriguing as it would offer him a full ride as he has the PSAT score to be a NMSF, and they have an Asperger program, but I am concerned both about the distance. I think we will look at Rose Hulman. UIUC has excellent engineering but i think the school is just too big and I am not confidant the disability office will give him the right kind of support, which is more coaching then actual accomodations. The other Big Ten schools are similar and I don’t think Northwestern has the right disability services.</p>
<p>Just from my studying the various websites, it looks like Alabama’s Asperger’s program is the most closely alligned with what the students actually NEED.</p>
<p>However, I’d want him as close to home as possible.</p>
<p>With a 3.98 UW and a 36 ACT I can’t help but wonder if any Ivy League (or equivalent) schools have the kind of support he needs. A 36, wow… Congratulatioms to your son(:</p>
<p>My son was diagnosed with Asperger’s about 16 years ago. We had concerns about his ability to live on his own, but he has just finished his final exams for his BA in History from University College London and has been accepted for graduate study at Cambridge. He never learned to drive and has trouble keeping his shoes tied, but he has adapted very well to life on his own in England. He fell in with a group of friends his first week at UCL and made more friends by being active in an Anglican church, where he has served as an acolyte. He has learned to dress neatly and fashionably (in a tweedy sort of way), and has managed to transport himself throughout London and across the Atlantic without problems. The university has allowed him to take his exams on a computer because of his dysgraphia. Perhaps it is true that what seems ‘abnormal’ to us is considered eccentric in the UK, but I think it is important to let every person have a chance to live as independently as possible.</p>
<p>Irishdoctor, thanks so much for your post - our son also still has trouble with shoes and takes exams on a computer, but like your son is looking forward to living on his own. It’s perhaps not coincidence that he’s thinking the UK for graduate school…</p>
<p>Sounds like my S#1. If you need full merit & good accomodation don’t automatically discount schools that are an easy plane ride away. S went to Cornell, 5 hours away and managed to have several issues getting back and forth. At least when you put him on a flight you have a very good chance of him ending up in the right place.</p>
<p>I think older kids are more accepting of diversity perhaps and supportive. You may have read this on myriad other threads but S joined a frat and it was great for him. His gpa not so much, but we felt it was almost more important. You can’t really live in the outside world if you don’t have any social skills. He still struggles a bit, but college & his frat brothers helped him a lot.</p>
<p>S2 is going to Alabama next fall. The parents and students I’ve met on cc are incredibly supportive. Also, red tape can be difficult for these kids, Alabama seems to be more transparent and easier to navigate. Plus the Honors College is just fantastic. It may or may not be convenient or doable for you. Having just gone through this application season, I would have several financial safeties that your son would be happy to attend. Visit them all and you may be pleasantly surprised.</p>