"Nerd colleges"

College Search & Selection
41

<p>that, at least from my experience, college environments, even ones with a ubiquitous athletic scene, tend to have a markedly more mature, less cliquish environment than high school-if only because it's college now and those obnoxious, cruel kids in high school tend to mellow out.</p>

<p>Having said that, I think the kind of college environment your son is seeking is understandable given his high school experience, but it might be more effective if you focused on finding a school that can accommodate a student with Asperger's instead of the alleged kinds of clothing or extracurricular activities that are popular among the student body of certain schools. </p>

<p>As for suggested schools, the only one that comes to mind, which hasn't been mentioned yet is Santa Clara. It's a decent sized school with a heavy emphasis on engineering, and it's located in a warm climate in Silicon Valley.</p>

42

<p>Haverford(sp?) as a reach, university of rochester as a match</p>

43

<p>Try Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. It's hard to assess your son's admission odds without more information (e.g., does his high school rank its students? If yes, where does a 3.4 put him?), but Case seems like a more realistic option than Harvey Mudd & Chicago, which usually admit only tip-top students. </p>

<p>Another option might be Drexel U. in Philadelphia. Drexel is diverse but with a strong engineering program and thus a large "engineering-type" contingent. There is also a co-op program that will allow your son to do paid work for college credit, and where he may find "friends" among his work colleagues, even if he's not as adept at finding them among his classmates. </p>

<p>However, while the vast majority of Drexel's freshmen live on campus, the vast majority of upperclassmen don't. So if you feel that your son might get lost in the shuffle in a largish school (~13,000 undergrads), in a very urban area, then this probably won't be a good fit. But definitely do check out Case. Although somewhat harder to get into than Drexel, I think your son will probably be in the ballpark, and it's much smaller than Drexel, and most students stay on campus for all four years.</p>

44

<p>I second the suggestion to look at UMBC.</p>

45

<p>Definitely research those schools above with alternative grading styles.. Evergreen State and the like.</p>

46

<p>I would agree with our CC Sr Advisor. Given your S's interests he may be able to find nerdy, like-minded types at many schools. But given the Asperger's you may want to consider how college can prepare him for the real world, and co-op is a great way to prepare students with Asperger's for the transition after college. My own Aspie S is attending Northeastern largely because of its co-op program. (It is comparable in size to Drexel although since most of the students do co-ops, only half of them are in classes at any given time so the larger student population is not so noticeable). You might want to look at schools with co-op programs such as Drexel, Northeastern, RIT, RPI, and WPI.</p>

<p>In addition, you might also want to give some thought to what other EC activities are available on campus that your S might enjoy? Pursuing interests other than classwork will also allow your S to develop both friendships and social skills. Another thing to look at might be whether the school dorms have living learning communities where students with common interests live in the same dorm (during freshman yr S was on the engineering floor at his school). Also, some schools offer first year experiences to help new students transition to college life; this could also be another consideration for students with Asperger's.</p>

<p>In case you are interested, I am also attaching a checklist for selecting colleges for students with Aspergers.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.dixonlifecoaching.com/docs/IECA-Aspergers-chart.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.dixonlifecoaching.com/docs/IECA-Aspergers-chart.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Good luck to you and S! :)</p>

47

<p>The stereotyping going on here is not only a little offensive, but potentially limits your son. The words "nerd" and "nerdy" appear here way too much. You are mixing apples and oranges here. Asperger's or even social awkwardness, and talent in computer science/math/science, do not go hand in hand, necessarily. Many techies are quite verbal and have wonderful social skills. </p>

<p>I have a son who got a BS in computer science and, yes, is headed to Silicon Valley (if the recession doesn't kill the job he just got). He is not "nerdy" in the slightest, nor are his friends in the department. I also have a kid with special (health) needs who is in college this year, so I can see your dilemma from both sides.</p>

<p>Personally, I don't necessarily think a "nerdy" environment is the only place your son could be comfortable. Sometimes a mix is better. Again, don't think that college will be like high school. I would think of schools like Oberlin, Macalaster, Carleton, Kenyon, where kids seem to be very accepting of each other, and there is a sort of family-ish vibe.</p>

<p>For computer science, of course, your son would have to make sure there is a BS program, which would involve far fewer humanities classes.</p>

<p>Our son didn't go there, but one of the most nurturing and exciting computer science programs that we found was actually at UMass Lowell, which was a surprise. However, accommodations for special needs may be harder to deal with at a state university.</p>

<p>We really did consider the schools' attitudes toward accommodations, in our daughter's choice of college. You should check out the accommodations or disability or accessible education office (whatever they call it at that school) and talk with them.</p>

<p>For one thing, your son should be able to take 3 courses, rather than 4 or 5, at least to start. This would be true at Harvard or MIT, so don't think that elite colleges don't accommodate: if anything, the more elite, the better the job they do with this, because it is part of the much vaunted "diversity."</p>

<p>Finally, it is not necessarily true that being around other "nerds" without social skills would be best for your son. Not that I believe there is an environment like that, to begin with. Being interested in computer science does not negate social skills, unless you want to paint everyone with that adhesive taped eyeglasses/pocket protector image, which is ridiculous. I would think being around a mixed group socially, including those skilled enough socially to reach out to others, with a good academic program that includes a BS, and an accommodation office that understands, would all make for a good experience.</p>

<p>Of course, he could also live at home and commute to a more local college. Many are doing that now, for financial reasons, and, at some schools, it is almost the norm anyway.</p>

<p>One other thing: you mentioned the Asperger's kind of late in the game? Are you embarrassed? All of your posts seem to convey some feelings about your son that might bear examining. If you want him to have a good experience, then - and I am being frank, but hopefully not unkind- I think you need to deal with your feelings and be up front with everyone at the schools he looks at, and chooses. Many colleges ask for that type of information anyway, and many also want a parental letter telling the dorm advisers and academic advisers about your child. Many accommodations offices send letters to a student's professors, with the student's permission, about whatever the disability might be.
Being open can really, really be helpful.</p>

<p>Your son will be 18, presumably, so it would be up to him, in many cases, but you can encourage this preparation.</p>

<p>And one last thing: it is a misconception that elite colleges want kids who are perfect at everything. If your son is good at a few things, often selective colleges might still be interested. And, as I said, the workload could be reduced as an accommodation if you and/or your son are willing to speak up about it.</p>

<p>I would vote not for a "nerdy" environment, but a sensitive one, that is both nurturing and challenging in the areas of interest for him.</p>

48

<p>I think its admirable that you are going out of your way and helping your son find a "perfect" fit school. Parental support means a lot, especially during application season. However, I think it is one thing trying to protect and harbor your son during middle school / HS, and a totally different one doing so in college.</p>

<p>Hypothetically speaking, lets say he does go to a "nerdy" school with a relatively easy going atmosphere and has the best four years of his life. This may sound as exactly what you want for him, but whats going to happen after that? In this life unfortunately, bullying takes place almost everywhere and at every age. How are you going to protect him when he is bullied in the workplace? Although you may be trying to protect your son now, you may actually be hurting him. I would much rather recommend you focus on finding a school with some diversity. After all, most colleges tend to have every type of student, club, social scene, etc. He should be able to manage, adapt, and find some people with common interest with whom he can forge valuable friendships. That is just my opinion and I respect yours as well.</p>

49

<p>My best friend's family all have Asperger's (one of the parents, 3 of the kids out of four). Two are now at college (the same one!) and are very into the XKCD/programming/gaming scene. The colleges the older one applied to were:
Case Western, William and Mary, maybe Carnegie Mellon?, and on a total whim very small Christian Grove City, where she ultimately decided to go. She absolutely loves it there, is double majoring in math and computer science, and is the president of the gaming society (anime and role playing is their forte). She loves that it is small, and the administation knows her family personally (since day one they made the effort!) so any accomodations needed were put right in place. She is also very Christian so that obviously was needed for this school to be a good fit.</p>

<p>She also got in to Case Western, maybe some other schools - but she+mom decided CW would be way too overwhelming for undergrad. The transition would be too much. So ultimately the very-small-school atmosphere turned out to be the best for her.</p>

<p>Her brother decided to follow in her footsteps, which he did in high school a lot too. He got in but has really struggled this first semester academically (unlike her) with the new freedom to not go to class, etc. Socially he actually got a roommate that he likes a lot and hangs out with all of his older sister's friends (just like high school), but also joined the travelling choir I think? so he has some additional friends through that.</p>

<p>I would also agree that a big school would be okay socially just because there are SO many types of people. At UVA (a moderate sized school, 13k undergrads) we have a science fiction club, an anime club, a gamers club (all different people in each club though there is some overlap...)... So lots of off-beat people to choose from! But it is pretty intimidating so the transition might be a bit stressful. I don't think I've met anyone with Asperger's here, except maybe this one kid who reminds me very much of my best friend and her family...</p>

<p>But in the end from experience I would definitely recommend a SMALL school, where you will probably be able to find the group of your choice hiding out in a club. (Grove City is not a dorky school at all! It is very... I dunno... More preppy-Christian than dorky). Become best friends with the administration. And a middle-prestige school is okay! My best friend has an amazing GPA and is actually -learning- at a decent pace, while the school is still pretty prestigious it is not MIT where she would have floundered.</p>

<p>Good luck!!!</p>

50

<p>I highly recommend looking at Carnegie mellon. It is full of the "nerdy" type of kids you are looking for. They play world of warcraft all the time, and it is a great school with a supreme reputation in computer science. I think I heard the campus computers outnumber the students 3 to 1 I think. Whenever I hear computer science school my first though it Carnegie mellon.</p>

51

<p>School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon is extremely difficult to get into, plus I don't know if the OP wants to spend $50,000 plus for an education there (merit aid is very limited, don't know if it is easy to get financial aid). However, U. of Pittsburgh might be worth looking at because there is an agreement with Carnegie Mellon to take classes at both schools. U. of Pittsburgh is less expensive, has a variety of programs, and walking distance to CMU. I also want to suggest George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. which will be closer to your house. George Mason is great in CS and great for jobs in DC. They also have a support program for Asperger's (but your son might be too high functioning for this program--look at the web site). I think there is gaming program at the U. of Central Florida-might be worth looking at, but I don't know if that university has what you are looking for socially. Have you considered a local community college for a year or two and then transferring?</p>

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<p>I'm thinking that the advice you are getting, although well-meaning, is unrealistic given your own statement that your son is unable to deal with a significant workload, or much stress. </p>

<p>An engineering/science curriculum, even at a laid back place, involves a significant workload. Grading is much harsher than high school--no credit for homework or labs, and in many cases the grade consists of only a couple of datapoints: a couple of midterms and a final exam. </p>

<p>All of you who recommended CMU, RPI and the like-did you not see the OP's statement that her son's GPA is 3.4 in the less rigorous track and the test scores are 90th percentile? And no EC's?</p>

<p>I would look at the resources available for Asperger's kids, as some have mentioned. I'd also take a serious look at community college, where there is more support for kids who need help with study skills, time management and the like. I would be cautious about sending him far away--if you need to check in on him it's going to be easier to do if he is within a reasonable drive, say 100 miles or so.</p>

<p>A school that might be right for him in terms of strong biology program and in-state tuition for you and in line with his stats is St. Mary's of Maryland, down in southern MD. Our D. is there, majoring in biology. The faculty is wonderful; the kids tend to be smart but interested in other things than studying-lots of sailors and other outdoorsy types, so a kid who loves to spend her time in the lab gets lots of attention and opportunities to work one on one with a faculty member. The campus has a very laid back live and let live vibe and it is very pretty.</p>

53

<p>Let's be realistic. Schools like Rice, Johns Hopkins and Carnegie Mellon are huge reaches for this kid. Kenyon? It's on the preppy side for an Aspie kid.</p>

<p>I second the suggestion of Stevens. It's nerd heaven, but it's not that hard to get into. My nerdy nephew is there and feels that he's finally found his tribe. (And... saying Silicon Valley is nerdy? Not an insult, a fact, says this proud Silicon Valley nerd.) RIT would also be a good choice.</p>

<p>Let's be realistic. Schools like Rice, Johns Hopkins and Carnegie Mellon (and especially Chicago) are huge reaches for this kid, and moreover would probably be too academically stressful if he were accepted. Kenyon? It's on the preppy side for an Aspie kid. I'm not a big fan of the idea of giving the kid four more years of abuse in college, so that he's ready for abuse in the real world. An Aspie kid has already had plenty of abuse, no need to pile on any more.</p>

54

<p>Kenyon is tough to get into and is writing intensive--OP said her son hates to write, so it would be torture for him academically as well.</p>

55

<p>The pyscho/educational-industrial complex is slapping "Aspergers" on all smart kids who aren't sorority-Susie types, the way that they slapped ADHD on all the normal active little boys who didn't sit still in class for 5 hour straight.</p>

<p>Would the parents of smart kids please unite in shouting down the labeling of perfectly normal behavior for smart kids as some sort of pathology. Smart kids are different; they aren't sick.</p>

<p>Check out the Hoagies website, which is maintaining all the talented and gifted research on smart kids that that federal government ditched.</p>

<p>Of particular note are papers on the 5 super-sensitivies of super smart kids. They tend to be sensitive (and distracted by) physical irritants such as the seam in their socks or the texture of their clothes. Many are also super sensitivities to unfairness, injustice, or social slights of others. With extra brain power sometimes comes extra strong emotions. It is part of the package, not a syndrome. </p>

<p>Super smart people often do not do well on standardized tests, because they can find ways of making all 5 choices correct, plus come up with 6 other ways of doing the problem. They don't parrot back, they really think, which slows down test taking. </p>

<p>When school official starts slinging around pathological diagnosis, remember that most teachers usually barely scraped hit the median on their own SATs and haven't a clue how to teach smart kids. Teachers colleges don't teach 'smart ed' and there is no career track for 'smart ed,' just 'special ed.' The teaching profession finds it emotionally easier to label the smart but different with some detrimental pathology and casting them aside. STAY AWAY FROM "educational professions" if you have smart kids. </p>

<p>The really smart are different. The "education" profession in grade school has no clue how to work with them.</p>

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<p>I agree that many of he suggestions offered seem to be very high reaches.</p>

<p>The first school I thought of after reading your description was Rose-Hulman. You might also look-up Michigan Tech in the MI UP and Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Although neither is warm, both are smaller and in his stat range.</p>

<p>For warmth,
--Georgia Tech seems reachy but worth investigating.
--I've heard good things about New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, but not enough about its culture. It appears to be a match stats-wise.
--Florida IT seems like it could be in the low-match/safety category for him but it would be warm! I know nothing about it at all.</p>

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<p>**Every college can offer coursework that matches
your son. Every college has intellectual, nerdy
individuals. There's no right or wrong here; there
are all sorts of different people on campus. It's
about finding them. So instead of asking which
colleges to apply to, ask yourself "how can my
son place himself in situations where he will be
poised to meet similiar people?" THAT is the real
question.</p>

<p>With that said...if you're looking for a general
populace...</p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon definitely. Matches his profile
very well. Caltech too. I don't get the "smart"
thing though. Read at 3, so what? Not in APs
and his GPA isn't stellar. That doesn't look prodigal
to me.</p>

<p>Just my .02**</p>

58

<p>Trek University</p>

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<p>Someone here mentioned Steven University. You might not have heard of it down in Maryland, but its pretty well regarded in the tristate area as a good engineering/computer science school with an excellent co-op program. Its right outside of New York City, so there are ample opportunities to experience all the cultural things in NYC if one wanted to. Again, it has a strong emphasis on the "tech" related fields of computer science, IT, and engineering, so it seems like an academic fit for your son. </p>

<p>I have a friend who was in my AP Java class who goes to Stevens right now, and he was telling me about all the gaming parties that they have. If video games are a thing for your son along with other nerdy type humor/culture (xkcd, apple fanboyism, etc) then Stevens seems like the perfect fit. The price tag is rather high since its a private college, but if your son does stand a chance to win significant scholarship if he does well on his SATs and takes some APs senior year.</p>

<p>FYI: Friend got around 2100 on SATs, 3.5 weighted GPA with all honors/AP. More than half scholarship there, I believe, bringing the cost to a manageable 15-20,000 (which is what you would roughly pay for UMD anyways).</p>

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<p>What about schools for really nerdy kids that are obsessed with humanities? That describes me. I used to be more of a tech and science type person, but overtime the switch has gone overwhelmingly to the arts. I also really like the city environment.</p>