<p>Thanks for writing. We begin our college tour soon, though I'd like to focus in a bit more to limit the turf we need to cover. We'll definitely look at Muskingham College. I remember the name from my own college days many decades ago. Thanks for reminding me about it.</p>
<p>Thanks, Crash! If I not being too person (pls tell me if I am), how do you know of these schools? Are you a student, parent, faculty? Like you, I know mid-Atlantic schools better. We're considering McDaniel, UMW reqmts are a bit too demanding for DS, but the other schools hadn't even been on our scope, until you mentioned them. I'll also look at the other PA LACs. We had glanced at Juniata, but were a bit put off by some off-the-cuff remarks made by a rep of their admissions office regarding homeschoolers. Too bad, we really were beginning to like the place. Again, thanks for your input.</p>
<p>"Top Schools for Students with Learning Disabilities" Source: The College Finder </p>
<p>Adelphi
U of Alabama Horizons program
American International College
American U
Augsburg College (MN)
U of Arizona
Beacon College (Fl)
Bradford College (MA)
Brenau U (GA)
Curry College (MA)
Davis & Elkins (WV)
U of Denver
DePaul (IL)
Fairleigh Dickinson
Frostburg State (MD)
U of Hartford (CT)
Hofstra (NY)
U of Indianapolis
Iona (NY)
Landmark College (VT)
LEsley College (MA)
Loras College (Iowa)
Lynn U (FL)
Marshall U (WV)
Mitchell College (CT)
Monmouth College (NJ)
Mt. Ida College (MA)
Mt. St. Joseph (Ohio)
Muskingum (OHJ_
New Enlgand College (NH)
St. Ambrose College (Iowa)
Southern Illinois U
Southern Vermont College
Unity College (ME)
U of Vermont
West Virginia Wesleyan
WEstminster C (MO)
Wingate (NC)
U of Wisconsin Madison
U of Wisconsin Oshkosh</p>
<p>The "Experts Choice: Top colleges for a student with a mild learning disability" (Same source)
1. West Virginia Wesleyan
2. Curry
3. American
4. U of Colorad
5. New England College
6. Muhlenberg
7. Ohio Wesleyan
8. Syracuse
9. Adelphi
10 Elon College (NC)
11. Muskingum College (OH)
12. U of Vermont</p>
<p>"Colleges with Excellent Support for LEarning Disabled Students"</p>
<p>American International (MA)
U of Arizona
U of Denver
Fairleigh Dickinson
Hofstra
Lynn
Manhattanville (NY)
Marist (NY)
Marshall U (WV)
Marymount College (CA)
Muhlenberg (PA)
Northeastern (MA)
PRovidence College (RI)
Seattle U(WA)
Syracuse
U of Vermont
Wittenberg (OH)</p>
<p>Hope this helps. I know that SEattle U has a criminal justice/criminology program and I am sure there are other schools on these lists that do as well. I also would recommend you do a search on Amazon. I can't recall the name, but in the past parents have mentioned a book on learning disability programs at various colleges.</p>
<p>OH - One more list: "Colleges with a Caring Attitude towards the needs of learning disabled students": same source</p>
<p>Abilene Christian U (TX)
U of Alaska, Achorage, Fairbanks
Cal State Poly, San Luis Obispo
Calvin C (MI)
Champlain C (VT)
Colby-Sawyer C(NH)
Dean College (MA)
Drury C (MO)
East STroudsburg U (PA)
Georgia southern U
Green Mountain C (VT)
Hastings C (NE)
Indiana Wesleyan
LEnoir-Rhyne
U of MAine Machias
Mannhattanville
U of MEmphis
Miami U (Ohio)
Misericordia C (PA)
Mitchell C (CT)
Montana STate Billings
Mt. Ida C (MA)
U of NEw hamshire
SUNY C of technology, Alfred
Northern Arizona U
U of North Carolina Greensboro
U of the Ozarks
U of the Pacific
U of Redlands
Rochester Institute of Tech
U of San Francisco
College of Santa Fe
Springfield C (MA)
U of Tulsa
Washington State U
McDaniel College (Maryland)
Whittier C (CA)
Widener U (PA)
U of Wisconsin La CRosse
U of Wyoming.</p>
<p>Whew.</p>
<p>Looked a few up. These have criminal justice/criminology programs:
Iona, Marist, Widener, Northeastern. I'm sure there are others.</p>
<p>OB, My son's academic profile is similar to that of your S, although my S test scores are lower, he is not a strong student, has general "processing" difficulties and is classified as LD. He will need a very supportive environment to succeed in college! We used Pope's book (CTCL) quite a bit, but not exclusively. S applied early and was accepted at Ohio Wesleyan, McDaniel and Lynchburg (yes, they are all CTCL schools). After 2nd visits, recently decided to go to Lynchburg. We had an excellent meeting with the LD coordinator there. It was not an easy decision. He liked different things about all 3 schools. He runs XC and track and I hope he participates in college. They have a no-cut program and S will not be competitive at the college level, but it is a great thing to be part of a team. Since you mentioned swimming, our tour guide at Randolph Macon was an exceptional young lady swimmer who had (at that time) qualified for the D3 nationals. You might consider RM. </p>
<p>One thing that is sometimes hard to guage: When we were looking at colleges we were always trying to figure out if they would admit a student with stats as low as our son's. Many schools try to impress applicants by stating how "selective" they are and how competitive their admissions are because they are trying to attract the best students. Several admissions officers totally turned off my S with speeches about how selective their college was, even tho the reality was he proabably would have been accepted.</p>
<p>Have any of you had experience with an educational consultant? Would such a person be of help to us in our situation (getting the right testing done, advising us of good fit schools, helping us negotiate the special services maze), or just a costly experiment?</p>
<p>To Carolyn</p>
<p>Thanks!!!! Very kind!!!! I'll post back later.</p>
<p>To NJres -</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback!! I'll post back later at the end of our school day.</p>
<p>OrangeBlossom, thanks for responding to my off-topic message. We're keeping our eyes open and have certainly made our physician aware of things, so we'll see. The good news is that really significant issues would have/should have manifested by now. But as you know there are a lot of subtle issues as well. </p>
<p>Anyway, Carolyn stole my thunder and beat me to the "submit" button with all of those colleges! Oh well. </p>
<p>My impression is that, while many of the schools have SAT profiles that are not where your DS is yet, these are the types of schools (particularly the smaller ones) who really make the effort to look behind the numbers and personally evaluate the applications. As long as your DS is upfront about the issue and can get the issue in front of a good admissions officer, I think he'll do fine in the admissions game. He certainly sounds like a winner in so many areas. </p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>Landmark College in VT is specifically for students with disabilities. I know someone whose son went there and was quite pleased with the support he received.</p>
<p>Hey Univ of Arizona has a great swim team and an ADD program.</p>
<p>Look at the swim schools, look at the ADD program schools, and see which cross over. I know the academic compatability is important to you (as it should be) but remember that these programs can be hard to get into due to numbers & competition; if you S has the swimming too it might provide an edge at the right place.</p>
<p>If you go this route get his old swim coach to help you make some connections and to vouch for him.</p>
<p>Good luck,
SB </p>
<p>ADD proga at U Conn & Farleigh Dickinson; both good schools-- not sure about their swim teams...</p>
<p>Orange Blossom: Most CCrs are not educational consultant fans, but I have seen it work well in two different families (same consultant). </p>
<p>One family had a LD boy who dithered through high school. The consultant recommended he do a fifth year at an East Coast boarding school. He did it and was recruited by a dozen top 50 schools upon graduation. (Water Polo). After his first year, he transferred to Arizona and loved it. Started his own business after college graduation and has been very successful.</p>
<p>The other family had several boys, one with severe behavioral issues and one with LD. The consultant did a miraculous job of steering the older boy through a maze of rehab programs/therapuetic boarding schools--to eventual, on-tim college acceptances. Believe me, his upper middle class parents had given up any college dreams. She steered the younger one to a tiny but rigorous secondary school where he is thriving.</p>
<p>I think she is a saint and worth every penny. I once emailed her and asked her to recommend a 5th year boarding school with a strong basketball program for an international friend with severe dyslexia. She sent one name with an enthusiastic endorsement. He applied, was accepted, loved every minute and best of all: learned the management skills and independence he'll need for freshman year. He is currently sifting through college basketball offers.</p>
<p>What's not to love about this woman? :) I'd recommend her in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>If $5k is not an issue and you can find one with good recommendations--I'd say it is very very worthwhile. You might also consider a fifth year boarding school--especially since he has been homeschooled.</p>
<p>I agree with cheers, sometimes these consultants are miracle workers. But not all are created equal so comparison shop.</p>
<p>Orangeblossom, As much as I like it, and my S may even be going there, I wouldn't recommend Roanoke if you think he may want to do competitive swimming, as they don't have a team. In fact, that was the one area I thought was poor, their pool was only a little three lane, 25 yard/meter, at most, definitely not a competition pool. Our tour guide did say some of the students had started a swim club. OTOH, we've been very pleased so far with the school, although I don't know what they have available for LD students. Still, the small size and contact is excellent.</p>
<p>OrangeBlossom,</p>
<p>I am rather new to this process myself, so I don't have any specific school suggestions for you, but I just wanted to wish you and your S the best of luck for finding just the perfect match. It sounds like you have done a great deal of research already, so I'm sure that by the time he is a senior, you will have some wonderful options for him. I will be printing out lists that others gave on this thread because my fifth child (third daughter) was diagnosed with a very mild learning disability last year. She is extremely high functioning in the mathematical area, but she struggles a bit with reading and some related tasks, such as logic-based work (deductive reasoning). She has been spending about 40 minutes per week in an LD class, and I've already seen some improvement. She is just 10 now, so I don't know how this LD problem will manifest itself down the line, but at least if she requires a type of special setting, I will know where to go for advice! ~berurah</p>
<p>OrangeBlossom - I am sure you will find the right school for your son - there seem to be alot of school options that may fit his needs where he can be happy and prosper. </p>
<p>As far as swimming - if he is not of the mind to be in competitive college team mode - that is a choice that I would respect - academics and athletics can be overwhelming by nature especially to the freshman trying to adjust to a whole new life and new found freedoms. MANY schools have Club Swimming - which is an option to look at also - not as competitive as varsity level - much less stressful - but more competitive than intermural type of activities. That may induce him to reconsider swimming in school - but more on his own terms - especially where you and he realize already that the time committment now is somewhat of an overload - Club swimming may fit his needs quite well - and help to keep him in shape too.</p>
<p>My son - also a US competitive swimmer in high school - up and quit one day in his junior year!! He was just about in melt down mode with alot of things on his plate and needed a break - he worked thru things himself and returned to swimming - with a healthy attitude and acceptance of some things - and went on to college to swim for a D3. Sometimes - they do need a break - both mentally and physically - but boy do I remember those years of doubles days - 4am came mighty early far too often - then off to school - off to a job - and then back to swimming for another 2-3 hours - year round - and on top of that all the traveling - I am sure you are very familiar with the deal. I do have to admit tho - that I really missed watching him swim during that time and when he was away at college :( His love of swimming continues now and will be a huge part of his life for a very long time - he is now a coach!!! So don't give up - your son may need time to regoup for bit - wait and see what happens - he may surprise you.</p>
<p>I really wish you the best of luck on your search - the right school will surface for him.</p>
<p>The advice regarding documentation relating to his needs and issues will be very important.</p>
<p>Another school to consider is Old Dominian - in VA - I have a pal whose son goes there - also has need of special considerations - and also a kid who swims I believe also - not for the school tho but I think he did in high school - mom is pretty pleased so far with how ODU has dealt with her son - he is now a 2nd semester freshman - and doing very well there.</p>
<p>I am not that familiar with St. Leo's in Fla - tho I do know they have good baseball there lol. Anyways - I was in Fla 2 weeks ago and while I was there I took a little side trip - went to St.Leo's for a 'drive-thru' - and have to say - what a pretty place - on the edge of a lake, with orange groves, sprawling green lawns, beautiful church on campus, a nuns residence, a grotto, nice athletic facilities, bulding new on-campus apartments - very pretty 'quad' area - very spanish meditarian feel - the red tile roofs with the tan stuco buildings - some with the ornate spanish architecure. The school is in a somewhat isolated area - not real built up - but fairly good sized town near by - outdoor pool, and has it's own golf course!! A friend of my DD goes there and loves it - says the people are nice, not an overwhelming campus and has a nice feel to it there.</p>
<p>Don't know if this helps at all - sorry I really don't know about their reputation as far as managing special circumstances - but being a catholic school............would probably think they might.</p>
<p>Hi Orange Blossom - I share this site with my child - we take turns commenting - but in this case, the comments above were mine. I live in the mid-Atlantic, have had friends and friend's children attend all of these schools and also went onm family tours with our children when they were college hunting. The school that really stood out for me aka your son is Hood - once a girls school - now still only has 29-30% males and would like more. it's a fine little school - small class sizes, pretty campus, nicve location (Frederick is a great town) near skiing areas and about 2 hours from the Atlantic Ocean.</p>
<p>I did a little research and turns out Randolph Macon is NOT a great option! They do have a beautiful new pool but only a women's swim team! No men's team. Looks like Kenyon has won D3 for the past 20 years!! </p>
<p>Also, in order to receive accomodations from colleges and support services for LD you need to submit documentation to the school which would include professional evalutations. In our case we will submit evaluations that have been done by our local school district. I don't know with a home shooled child if you already have documentation to submit, or if you can ask your local school district to perform an evaluation, or if you will have to get one on your own dime.</p>