"Nerd colleges"

College Search & Selection
61

<p>The suggestion to look at schools closer to home might be a good one. Maybe he could look at Goucher: Goucher</a> College: Mathematics & Computer Science</p>

<p>The site says that the writing requirement is satisfied by one of the math courses. This seems to be a BA, but if it is a BS (I can't find the degree offered) that would be better.</p>

<p>It is true that many gifted people take longer to do work, and do poorly on standardized tests, as a result. Gifted kids go deeper into everything, and that is what takes the time.</p>

<p>Once again, I resist some of the stereotypes. My computer-science major son is better with social cues than my humanities-focused daughter, who has trouble reading facial expressions (she has health problems so we have not filed for that as a special need, however)</p>

<p>There are true neurological/physiological traits that account for Aspergers, and many other "disabilities" that have been misunderstood forever. While some kids may be inappropriately labelled, the label can be a revelation and very helpful for others.</p>

62

<p>I feel like Case Western would be a good fit for your son, and it won't be a huge reach like CMU & other schools mentioned on this thread. Maybe a slight reach.</p>

<p>The co-op program here is top notch, and as long as your son makes an effort to socialize and find a group of friends here he'll be fine. It's really too bad he doesn't have any ECs, since they're a great way to meet people. There's a kid with Asperger's on my athletic team and I'm sure it's been a great experience for him.</p>

<p>Any state tech school would work as well.</p>

63

<p>I also think it is worthwhile looking into having your son tested. My son is bright and intuitive- but we couldn't figure out why it took him twice as long to get his homework done in Humanities courses. We discovered he processes information slowly, expecially reading. Has nothing to do with IQ. He has worked with a tutor this past summer as a junior and picked up his speed and comprehension. Got the highest grade in AP English Lit. this last semester. It still takes him longer than others- but he feels more confident and I have no problem sending him to a LAC where he can have access to professors and get extra help if he needs it.
A big university may not be the right place for your son. I think it is worth checking into having testing done. Couldn't hurt. Maybe the school would fund it if you are in public school.</p>

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<p>Others to consider:</p>

<p>University of Illinois - Urbana
New College (no grades!)</p>

65

<p>Whoever said Bucknell is incorrect, it's pretty much an extension of high school from what I've seen and heard.</p>

66

<p>Some less than "superhard" to get into:</p>

<p>Beloit (Beloit, WI) CTCL 1
Centre College (Danville, KY) CTCL 1
Clark (Worcester, MA) CTCL 1
Coe College (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Cornell College (Mount Vernon, IA) CTCL 1
Earlham College (Richmond, IN) CTCL 1
Elmurst College (Elmhurst, IL)
Grinnell College (Grinnell, IA)
Guilford College (Greensboro, NC) CTCL 1
Hampshire (Amherst, MA) CTCL 1
Hendrix College (Conway, Ark) CTCL 1
Ithaca College (Ithaca, NY)
Kalamazoo College (Kalamazoo, MI) CTCL 1
Kenyon College (Gambier, OH)
Kettering Univ of Engineering (Flint, MI)
Lawrence University (Appleton, WI) CTCL 1
Marlboro College (Marlboro, VT) CTCL 1
Millsaps College (Jackson, MS) CTCL 1
NC State University
New College of Florida (Sarasota, FL) CTCL 1
Oberlin (Oberlin, OH)
Occidental College (LA, CA)
Ohio Northern University (Ada, OH)
Queens University (Charlotte, NC)
Reed College (Portland, OR)
Rensselear Polytechnical Instit. (Troy, NY) CTCL
Rhodes College (Memphis, TN) CTCL 1
Ripon College (Ripon, WI)
Rose-Hulman Instit Tech (Terre Haute, IN)
Springfield Technical Community College (Springfield, Mass.)
University of Dallas (Irving, TX)
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.)
Walla Wlla CC (Walla Walla, WA)
Warren Wilson College (Asheville, NC)
Wartburg College (Waverly, Iowa)
Westminster College (New Wilmington, PA)
Whitworth (Spokane, WA)
Wooster, College of (Wooster, OH) CTCL 1</p>

<p>Truly computer nerdy schools which may be tough or just impossible:</p>

<p>MIT
Cal Tech
Harvey Mudd
Cornell Univ School of Engineering
Carnegie Mellon</p>

<p>Some less than impossible to get into for computer geeks</p>

<p>Illinois Instit of Tech
Cal Pomona
U Texas Austin
U central Fla</p>

<p>With his grades and lack of extracurriculars . . . I wold emphasize RHIT. It is the diamond in the rough. Been top for ten years in US News and World Report list for engineering, and passed Harvey Mudd this year. Not as small as Mudd, but small compared to average engineering. But, unlike Mudd, RHIT is available to the average (above for math and science of course) student.</p>

67

<p>Virginia Tech or Georgia Tech would be my recommendations</p>

68

<p>SUNY UB, bump</p>

69

<p>How are his SAT scores? You might want to have him do some SAT subject tests which might show more of his potential.
Consider UMCP - yes, it is HUGE, but that does mean there are enclaves of just about all student types. The Greeks and jocks rule some parts of the social scene, but you can also ignore them entirely. There are some definitely geeky groups too that he might be able to hook up with.</p>

70

<p>I second the suggestion to look at Goucher, and you might want to take a look at McDaniel College as well. We are in the D.C. area, and both of those schools are on my son's list, and he sounds like your son in some respects (although my son is not Aspie, he is a bright young man with ADD Inattentive and mild language-based LD). He is a serious "Magic the Gathering" player (he is a graduating senior). He will probably major in business or economics or finance -- wants a school that is not too far from home, and not too large. So, as I said, he is different is some ways from your son but sounds very similar in the way he has experienced high school (although my son ended up switching to a small, supportive private school).</p>

71

<p>helicopter parents?</p>

<p>let your sons think for themselves</p>

72

<p>I'll add to the posters who have suggested UMBC (they offer generous merit $$), Rose-Hulman, RPI, and WPI. Others to consider: UW-Madison, RIT, and Lehigh. Georgia Tech tends to accept kids who may have decent but not stellar scores and chews them up. It is very much sink-or-swim. I have a brother and a college BF, both excellent but not stellar students, who went and were devoured. S got tons of mail from Stevens Tech and Drexel.</p>

<p>OP, we know CS majors at UMD who are not the frat party/rowdy types. </p>

<p>Agree that MIT, Caltech, CMU/SCS, Mudd and Chicago are going to be very long reaches for a 3.4 without APs and ECs. Unfortunately those are the tickets that adcomms want to see punched these days.</p>

<p>Hoagies ROCKS!</p>

73

<p>west virginia university</p>

74

<p>Does your son's name starts with an M and go to Winston Churchill HS?</p>

75

<p>Hey, I'm an engineering major at UMCP. I would definitely recommend checking out the school. I know a bunch of kids in both biology and computer science who are definitely the "nerdy" types and are very happy here. While the school is a "party" school, you can really go all 4 years and never attend an outrageous party. There are so many other things to do on campus and so many people on campus that your son is bound to find something and someone that he likes. As for a nurturing community, I will say that the biology major is geared towards weeding out prospective med school students, but from what I've seen computer science majors have a feeling of community among them. Finally, I don't know much about how the school treats those with disabilities or how it works. I do have a friend who is deaf and it doesn't seem like she has any problems getting any accommodations that she might need. I really don't know enough to say anything about that though. Point is, don't immediately rule out UMCP, with a large school comes a large assortment of people and programs. I think sitting in on a class would be really useful. Also, as an aside, from what I hear UMBC is a smaller and nerdier school than UMCP and has a great community feeling amongst the entire school. Possibly somewhere else to consider. Hope that's helpful!</p>

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<p>One other thing, if not for the posters son (who sounds "high functioning") but for others dealing with Aspergers: Lesley College in Cambridge MA has a college program that is supportive and helps kids transition to a little more independence. A friend of mine sings its praises.</p>

<p>Creative 3, you don't understand the situation.</p>

<p>I'm assuming that the poster's son has been tested quite a bit. One of my kids has "slow processing speed" but we never had her tested: a teacher told me that was the label de jour, but very valid. The real point is that there is more understanding in many academic environments now (part of diversity) and more accommodations for individual styles.</p>

<p>One other thing about Goucher, in MD: you might want to read about it in Pope's "College that Change Lives." Clark, in Worcester MA, is also in there. Very nice schools with a lot of caring attention to the individual student.</p>

77

<p>I've heard really great things about William & Mary for kids who are "brainy." I'm pretty sure their biology program is also top notch. It's a competitive school, and the work load may be a bit too intense for your son, considering it takes him longer than usual to complete it. </p>

<p>Here are some student reviews of W&M, if you're interested: College</a> of William and Mary - College Reviews | Unigo</p>

<p>Hope that helps!</p>

78

<p>you said he might wanna major in computer engineering or biology... you should find programs for him in computational biology or bioinformatics... great programs to combine both his subjects he likes</p>

79

<p>I think it is great that you are trying to find a good match for your son. As the mother of a quirky kid myself, I have recieved wonderful recommendations here and I'm sure you will too.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Another option you stated, Rensselaer, is great. From what I hear the workload is manageable and it is an up and coming techie school.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I love Rensselaer; I have to because two of my BIL and one SIL are alum! As I remember it, they had heavy workloads. Maybe it's a difference in major? Two of them majored in Materials Engineering and one majored in Physics.</p>

<p>Also, I don't know how big the greek scene is at RPI but it seemed like a big part of college life when I visted. So is ice hockey and digging cars out of the snow!</p>

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<p>
[quote]
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?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Had to respond to this.</p>

<p>No, there is not bullying in adults lives like there is in elementary/middle/high schools. If a co-worker punches another co-worker, they get arrested and fired. If a neighbor yells "fag" everytime you walk your dog, you can call the police. If someone refuses to let you sit with them, or any of their friends, at the church picnic, that is not socially acceptable. A child being bullied or feeling like an outcast does not help the child. It's not a vaccine.</p>

<p>I took my quirky kid, who was being bullied in sixth grade, out of school and homeschooled him for two years. He was able to make friends, his confidence soared and he's done beautifully in high school, academically and socially. If he were to be bullied again, I"d yank him out of school again. I will not leave my child in a situation that I would not tolerate as an adult. </p>

<p>One of the lessons I want my son to learn is that it is always okay to walk away from a situation in which he is being treated with cruelty. Another lesson is that it's okay to seek out an enviroment that helps him to be his best, to be at peace. Hand in hand with that is his responsibility to treat others with respect and compassion.</p>

<p>Children do not learn the social skills and confidence to deal with the kind of bullying that may occur in the adult world by being victimized. They learn that in enviroments that allow them feel safe enough to grow.</p>