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It might also be worth investigating Missouri University of Science and Technology.
I think that as tech schools go, these two are relatively easy to get through (OK, now, don't everyone jump on me for saying that!) and have nice opportunities for co-ops.
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<p>I sincerely doubt 'everyone' will jump on you, as Mo S&T isn't a blip on the CC radar screen. But I was going to suggest it also; and it's a good size (about 6,000) too. My techie D goes there and loves it. You're right about the co-ops - employers, if not USN&WR, apparently think quite highly of it.</p>
<p>I will add a third vote for Mo S&T... and if southern Missouri isn't a warm enough climate, you might want to check out Cal Poly (both SLO and Pomona); their "learn by doing" philosophy might be a good match for your son (if you're entertaining west coast options).</p>
<p>of course it depends on the individual, but I am not sure Kettering would be a good fit for an individual with Asperger's partly because their school alternates 3 months classes followed by 3 months co-op all year. Too many transitions for individuals who can often take many weeks to become familiar/comfortable with their surroundings. Also, from what I have heard, the area surrounding campus is not necessarily the safest - another strike for individuals who often do not have the greatest "street smarts." It may be small but not necessarily nurturing...</p>
<p>I'll add a third vote for Mo S&T... and if southern Missouri isn't a warm enough climate, you might want to check out Cal Poly (both SLO and Pomona); their "learn by doing" philosophy might be a good match for your son (if you're entertaining west coast options).</p>
<p>I agree with the posters who recommended you reconsider UMD, which has a great CS department. Many kids find that they are able to ignore the overall campus culture at a large school, as long as there is a sizable population of like-minded kids. It's worth a visit. Based on my kid's experience at a large state school, there will be lots of students in CS who match your son's description.</p>
<p>A small school sounds more desirable in many ways, but for those schools it will be very important that your son be a good match for the overall campus culture. You'll have to really investigate smaller schools to make sure they have a large enough CS department and that they offer enough of the type of classes he's interested in. I also recommend Rose-Hulman.</p>
<p>You might want to try University of Waterloo in Canada. It's Canada's MIT (without the global prestige, and not as much pressure[there's pressure but not as much as MIT]). Microsoft hires most of its students from UW.</p>
<p>During his visit to Waterloo in October 2005, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates stated, "Most years, we hire more students out of Waterloo than any university in the world, typically 50 or even more.</p>
<p>However, I'm not sure of the entry requirements for Americans. They also have the best Co-op program in the country. Students graduate with years of experience.</p>
<p>How about Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO--lots of engineering "nerds" nice weather, skiing and other outdoor stuff. denver nearby. i am pretty sure they have computer science.</p>
<p>I definitely agree with Case Western Reserve University and Rose-Hulman. I grew up near and worked in the environmental engineering lab at Case, and I think your son would fit in very well there, and he would have a pretty good shot at admission. The only thing is that it is in Cleveland, and Cleveland is not warm. </p>
<p>I would not suggest Rice. Academics are very rigorous, admission would be a reach, and people here, while somewhat nerdy (read: intellectually stimulating), tend to be very social, outgoing, and engaging. There is a definite party scene. The world of warcraft/dungeons and dragons-type scenes are not very big here.</p>
<p>UCSD. Filled with majority science/tech /premed nerds...Im a bioengineering: bioinformatics major here and the cse department is amazing, and i love the biology/genetics (the best). As bioInf major the programming puts you in a lab setting where you are surrounded by exactly the same people like your son, so Im sure he would fit perfectly. Im actually a little different and I definitely feel like Im the odd man out because everyone else matches the description of your son. Theres bioinformatics given from four departments (biology, chemistry, computer science, and bioengineering) so whichever subject he wants to learn more of he can apply through that department. (bioengineering provides me with the perfect combo of biology and cse, the latter being the harder for me)</p>
<p>plus, San Diego weather is amazing
and if you havent heard ucsd has the rep of being void of the college "im so social i want a kegger, and be able to throw a cheerleader over my shoulder" kids, we are all 'nerds' here</p>
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Jetcat45, from what I understand, the CMU kids are not big partiers. They work too hard!
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<p>Just because we can't go out partying on Thursday night doesn't mean we don't know how to party. ;)</p>
<p>Anyway, I had similar interests in schools as your son, and I applied to RIT, WPI, RPI, CMU, Rose-Hulman, and Caltech. You might also want to look into Case Western as some other people in the thread have said.</p>
<p>He should also be aware of specific programs within large state schools. One of my good friends from high school went to Penn State and lived in special interest housing for engineers. He said they used to play Battlefield 1942 almost every night together over the LAN. Certainly not fitting the reputation for PSU.</p>
<p>I haven't read the thread past the first page, but let me give some words of caution. Your son, given his GPA, probable SATs and lack of rigirous course schedule, doesn't even really have a shot at CMU, U of CHI, or Harvey Mudd. Those are extremely difficult schools to get into, even with high scores and grades. I'm not saying your son isn't smart enough, just that the adcoms won't believe he's qualified. </p>
<p>Maybe someone's said this, but RPI might be a good idea. They have a pretty high acceptance rate and it seems it might have some nerds. I would caution against going to a state school. Even amongst engineering and physics students, nerds are pretty rare.</p>
<p>I have not read this entire thread, but if he is looking for a school where being a computer geek is the norm and he does not need or want a broad based education (this would not have biology though) take a look at UAT. University of Advancing Technologies. My son would be a great fit there except he wants to study math and they have no pure math program, it is all mainly robotics, computer programming, game design, game programming, etc. It is a 4 year Bachelors program, residential college, not an ITT tech type school.
My son has an 800 in MATH SATs and did not get in to Rose-Hulman - we have not yet heard from WPI or RPI. We looked seriously at UAT but son decided he did not want to be limited to computer-based studies only. He really wants to study esoteric math while he is also doing the computer thing, so he nixed UAT. But you may want to look into it. No big name cachet there, and you may need to research how many graduates are offered decent jobs, but we thought it looked fairly interesting.</p>
<p>Like the last two posters, I haven't read this all. I don't know where you're located and I don't know how you've responded to all of the suggestions, but you might check out Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly UMR-Rolla). It's public, but it is smaller (4600 undergrads) and has a very nerdy reputation, probably because of the engineering/math/compsci focus.</p>
<p>I would not recommend Chicago for a variety of reasons, but first and foremost is that it doesn't offer engineering and its nerdculture is not geekculture. (As in, students are more likely to squeal over Platonist philosophy than Star Wars action figures). </p>
<p>RPI has been a miraculous school for a friend who reminds me of the OP's son. It's good to have a change for like to merge with like. Also like the suggestions of UMD and UMBC.</p>
<p>Other colleges that might be worth looking at include Earlham, Hampshire, and New College of Florida. I feel like all of these schools cater to self-directed wallflowers, and at Hampshire your S would have the opportunity to take classes at other colleges in the consortium (Mt. Holyoke, Smith, Amherst, U-Mass). U-Mass has a lot of engineering options:</p>
<p>I do NOT recommend RIT without visiting in the winter -- my BIL went and thought he could handle it, but the weather and lack of atmosphere did him in. The covered walkways are windtunnels and lack of daylight can be depressing.</p>
<p>I also think Chicago doesn't sound like a good fit -- </p>
<p>Consider Drexel in Philly.</p>
<p>Unless he is horrid in foreign language, etc, you may want to keep the LAC as an option. There are many LAC that have very strong sciences. </p>
<p>I do not have any personal experience with New College (FL), but I have heard consistently great things about it.</p>