Oh, Wise Ones- College in NJ, PA, Del area

<p>laxmom,
My fault, I should have explained reasons for dismissing Lehigh more clearly. I'm assuming from what MOWC has posted so far that she wants a small college, PSU was never even in the running. It sounds to me like not only are they looking at place for him not to play football but without the hook of football and not outstanding SAT scores they are also looking at a lower tier. The average SAT score at Lehigh is 1300 (not including writing) and probably a real reach. I think it has closer to 6,700 students, but maybe that includes grad students. I can actually see part of the Lehigh campus (in the distance, on a hill) from my house. But, I might be assuming way to much. I like all the Lehigh Valley colleges!</p>

<p>They are looking for a lower tier, but they are also considering TCNJ which has an average SAT that is also pretty high (couple of years ago it was 1320-old).</p>

<p>Respectfully I don't think Lehigh is possible (I'm a graduate). At Lehigh virtually all the football players are recruited, it isn't a matter of going out if you want to. You can I guess but realistically you'll have little chance. Patriot League is very competitive. Also 1300 is a bit low for recent classes I believe. Workload is heavy and perhaps he could do well there but he most likely wouldn't get in. I have a nephew top 10%, high 1200's, 6 or 7 APs who was rejected a couple years ago.</p>

<p>Lafayette....the same. Muhlenberg is possible but reachy, Moravian I like and is realistic.</p>

<p>But, going back to an earlier post, if Ursinus is too expensive won't all all other privates be too? Good grades though and if he can get over 1200 (my guess) he may win some merit awards at some of them.</p>

<p>I thought Ursinus was out because it's in his hometown. Didn't know about the high SAT's for Rowan. Bloomsburg is definately not in that league so I assumed (there I go again!) that Rowan was more of a match.</p>

<p>His SATs would be fine for Rowan. It is TCNJ that has average SATs above 1300 (old).</p>

<p>Thanks again all. No football. Cheap is better, but money could be found for the right school. St. Joe's has caught his eye now. Ursinus is in his home town and too small.<br>
His sister (freshman at Penn State) wants him to come there but it is too big and not the place for him.</p>

<p>Sorry, MOWC, we sort of kept the search on without you. We have good friends whose daughter was a business major at St. Joe's. She graduated a couple of years ago and is now working in Center City for a large investment firm. She loved her time there.</p>

<p>No problem- it's a great thread with lots of good info. I just didn't want anyone getting distracted finding an inexpensive school where my nephew can play football! (wrt his anxiety/OCD- it wasn't just the screaming coach and the mean seniors, it was the anxiety about having to WIN and putting pressure on himself. He realized it wasn't going to work with the more intense level of college sports.)</p>

<p>Someone mentioned Lebanon Valley College earlier and I wanted to second that suggestion. My niece found LVC to have a very nurturing environment and received a merit scholarship with similar stats. They also have intramural flag football, lots of fun without all the pressure.</p>

<p>We absolutely love MOravian.</p>

<p>I think I figured out where we've made our searching mistake. MOWC, your nephew apparently wants a college with about 7,000+ students, but you said in your posts a smaller, more nuturing college so we were looking for Colleges with less then 3,000 with the emphasis on personal attention. While they are good colleges with a business progam, I don't think Rowan, Bloomsburg or even St. Joe's are known for their nuturing style. You know your nephew better then we do and he's only a junior so I'm guessing that he's also looking all over the place but for personal attention, my experience leads me to believe that smaller LAC's are the way to go for that. Maybe his priorities are different, which is okay too!</p>

<p>With all these suggestions, the key will be to pick a few & visit! Then you will have a sense of whether the place will be suitable for this student and his needs. Make a point to visit with any Learning Support Services staff (or Students / Disabilities office) at any of the places.
At the risk of overload, I'd also mention Kings College and Wilkes U as 2 more upstate, small, PA schools to check out!
Good luck.</p>

<p>I think that you can get personal attention at larger schools. You just need to go to the office hours, and take advantage of writing, and math labs. I think that there is more focus on the needs of undergraduates at schools with less grad students, and where there is less focus on research. They can be larger, or smaller schools.</p>

<p>In the "Pittsburgh area", I would consider Duquesne University (catholic, urban), Allegheny College (private suburban in Meadville), and Washington and Jefferson College (small private suburban in Washington PA). W&J seemed particularly caring. All of these have a good academic reputation but also have a reputation for focusing more on the individual. I would inquire about specific resources your son would need or want. </p>

<p>A friend of mine has a son with a learning disability at Penn State UP. There are resources for him, I guess, but he does not utilize them. He is happy disappearing in the crowd and Penn State lets him do that. They make no effort to offer help and sometimes there is even difficulty obtaining the help that was agreed upon. I'd probably not do the main campus, although a smaller branch campus might be okay.</p>

<p>I would vote for Goucher College (he would be a great catch, they are always looking for more male students!), and he would most likely get merit money, at least $10,000 a year (my daughter is a freshman this year and receives merit aid with similar SAT's and slightly highter GPA). By the way, this semester her English 105 class only has 6 students! Also McDaniel College seems to be very nurturing and supportive of those students with disabilities. Very friendly campus!</p>