If you liked Minneapolis, you may want to check Macalester College. It is fairly close, and not as difficult to gain admission as Carleton, also nearby.
You have already mentioned school size, but something important worth considering that doesn’t come up on cc very often: sometimes introverted, shy or more isolated students actually prefer and thrive in a very large university setting. There they can pick and choose exactly whom they want to be involved with, and simply avoid / not participate in all of the other things going on.
Of course, there are other INT-type personalities that do well in a small setting; sometimes the close interaction and contact at an LAC can feel supportive and helpful. But the former situation isn’t brought up much at all. It is relevant to a certain subset of students who really just want to be on their own, and explore academia and life as one individual among a wealth of resources where they can be left alone when they need to be, and participate when it suits them.
Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo MI (K-zoo is supposedly a good “college town”)
Augsburg College in Minneapolis MN - known for having services and help for LD kids.
Elmhurst College in Elmhurst IL - suburb (very safe and upper middle-class area) of Chicago; 15-20 minute train ride into downtown Chicago and close to O’Hare airport for traveling home. My D and I visited here - she thought it was too small, but the kids there seemed very happy to be there and it seemed like a nurturing, welcoming environment)
Dominican University in River Forest IL. Just west of Oak Park and east of Elmhurst, on the same train line. I received my Master’s here as a commuter, but it seems like a tight-knit community of undergrads. However, it does not have a great reputation around Chgo area for UG studies - although a couple of their Master’s programs are well-regarded. (shrugs) Their reputation could be just that, and unfounded, so worth looking into. It’s in a great location I think… Catholic, but not overly religious.
Your son should receive decent merit at the latter three, I’d think; not sure about Kalamazoo.
It would definitely require a visit, but give Hampshire a look. When we visited, it wasn’t right for my DS, but I had the feeling it would be perfect for the right student.
There was a thread on this topic a few years ago where the posters split evenly on whether a small college or a large university was a better option for a kid on the spectrum. Many parents reported that at larger, tech-oriented schools, their students finally found a community of many other people just like themselves.
thanks everyone for their input. I will look at all the schools listed. We are definitely looking into Macalester as well as Clark. We have already visited U of Chicago (which he loved) and Northwestern. We will be looking at a couple of the smaller state schools in NJ (our home state). Any other suggestions for the east coast?
What are his grades like? U of C. or Northwestern may not be in reach, unless he really improves scores, etc. It may be better to help him visit schools that are within his range, so he doesn’t feel let down – unless you’re already aware of that. Clark and Macalester, and some of the other schools listed, would be more reasonable. Maybe check out University of Rochester, perhaps SUNY Geneseo. Haverford, and William & Mary as reaches (it is OK to apply to a few “reach” schools that he loves, so long as there is a balance of applications where admission is much more likely for him). There are many choices in the east.
His grades are A’s and B’s in all AP classes or Honors classes. His SAT CR scores were 710. His math scores were 580 but I am having him tutored over the summer and he should be able to get into the 600’s.
OK, thank you. He should do pretty well, as long as he keeps trying to improve. These suggestions so far are mostly reasonable, and he could choose a couple of reach schools he loves, but do be aware: University if Chicago, for example, isn’t very likely. It does sound like he will benefit from a school which focuses on liberal arts. Sometimes some of the more selective liberal arts colleges will practice a more targeted admissions process, where they might forgive a slightly lower math score in favor of other strengths which he displays. At least it is worth a shot. Chicago, Northwestern, etc. would probably expect high math scores, in addition to top grades and other performance.
Also, he may benefit, as many do, from choosing an early admission school that he really likes, and would be happy to commit to if he gains admission. Probably something still a little easier to gain admission than Chicago, but somewhat of a reach. It is often the best chance for students to get into a “dream” school, but needs to be selected carefully.
unfortunately, at the moment his dream school is Chicago. We are continuing to look, but the “feel” of the school is crucial to him and he had the best feel at Chicago. I don’t know what other dream schools to suggest. His favs so far are chicago, georgetown and northwestern, all of which will be difficult if not impossible for him to get into. He is willing to consider Clark, Brandeis, Macalaster and TCNJ. Is that enough? Is there something else out there that seems to support “quirky” kids with attention paid to off-beat creativity and supportive housing (I think he really needs a single)?
Those reaches are a bit “reachy,” for lack of a better word. If he loves Chicago, then he should apply. Maybe if he really gets that math score up, and gets some 4s and 5s on AP tests, he could possibly be … waitlisted? Other people on the board would know better, but I am glad you at least are realistic on his chances. I would like to see that application list rounded out a little more. And after your initial description of him, Chicago would seem, well, I think it would take a rather self-motivated, assured individual to feel comfortable there. Either maybe his tastes run a little different than you articulated, or perhaps he is not estimating an environment for himself as objectively as he could?
Why don’t you have him check out Oberlin and Grinnell colleges? They are not easy to gain admission, but very well-regarded, and not impossible to get in, either. Oberlin would be the more creative of the two, and would certainly fulfill the quirky bill. But Grinnell offers a very supportive, excellent liberal arts education. I had also been thinking Brandeis, so I would leave that on the list.
Oberlin I think is a little too quirky. I have heard great things about Grinnel but Iowa isn’t easy to get back or forth to and I think he needs to be able to get him easily if he gets overwhelmed.
As to Chicago, I am hoping that he can really express himself on his essays. He writes beautifully and I hope he gets the opportunity to show what a unique kid he is. Do you really think it will be impossible? Now I am getting depressed.
By the way, he does enjoy science - he has taken AP Chemistry and Physics and loves astronomy and quantum theory. He just has a bit of a block on math.
It is not impossible. More like not a great chance, so be realistic now. Also, we don’t know his whole transcript, how his grades translate into a 4.0 scale, how competitve his high school is… we don’t really know many things, some factors of which only an admissions committee will be able to make a decision on. So the best you can do is try the best you can, and also ensure that his application list is well-rounded: with schools he will like, that you can afford, and that will support his health and his academic achievement. I would look at Haverford maybe, not easy to be admitted, but not as difficult as Chicago, and much closer to home. Bard College might work; and there might be a slightly better chance at Wesleyan (though not easy), than Chicago or Northwestern.
I actually wonder, if he likes Chicago, if he would like Johns Hopkins as well? That’s another difficult school, and he would have to get his math scores up. It may be not quite as difficult as Chicago to gain admission, and he might find the atmosphere quirky, yet traditional enough. But it is a reach.
I have taught at research institutions, and done some advising. But I only come on here to let off steam, lol. I actually do know the higher education landscape fairly well, but there are some excellent contributors on the forum, some of whom have been around much longer than I. Thanks for the compliment~
