<p>Would your son be HAPPY at an MIT or Cal Tech? </p>
<p>Don't those schools usually attract very driven & ambitious students? Yes, they're 'creative' and 'quirky' but aren't they also highly motivated and competitive as well? Just a thought....</p>
<p>I think he is a perfect match for MIT, Caltech and Olin. If he wants to go to a State U, that's fine, too - he may have great experiences there, especially if there's a Honors College or somesuch. But it seems like a good idea to request some admission materials from these top tech institutions. He should know what he'll be missing!</p>
<p>My DS was fascinated by the brochures Olin sent to his brother... just the same spirit you've described so vividly.</p>
<p>HMC and Olin might be perfect.</p>
<p>Katliamom,
OP's S is highly motivated to do what he likes, and goes way beyond expectations for those projects. He likes to work in a team setting and has a sense of humor.</p>
<p>I can only speak for Caltech, but projects and set are often done in teams. Houses include freshmen thru seniors, and there is a spirit of cooperation. Faculty interact with students as advisers and often socially.</p>
<p>If asked to describe my S or his friends with 3 adjectives, "driven" and "competitive" would not come to mind. I think they were looking for others with similar interests. Because it is a small college, students can explore possibilities in activities that they didn't do in HS, e.g. sports, newspaper, House leaders, student council, etc.</p>
<p>Also Rose Hulman.</p>
<p>Rice would be a good fit for him also. They love kids who are quirky and can pull "jacks" (pranks).</p>
<p>MIT even provides a hobby shop for those "crazy, inventive boys":</p>
<p>MIT</a> Hobby Shop Learning By Doing: cornerstone of an MIT education</p>
<p>My husband knows of a student (female, actually), who is building her own 8 x 10 camera, including planing the wood and machining of all the brass fixtures! She had never used all the necessary tools before, but the people at the hobby shop showed her how.</p>
<p>I honestly don't know if he has the work ethic to succeed at an MIT or CalTech. He does all of his assignments and is able to excel with relatively reasonable amount of effort in high school. But our high school math and science programs prepare students poorly for college level study in those areas. Although he's taking AP calc, he knows he has to retake it in college--his sister didn't and it bit her big time. </p>
<p>I will get his uncle to take him to CalTech though (uncle is an alum)--he might consider going there or HMC as he has relatives nearby. </p>
<p>The thing about him is that he considers these projects play, not work. If it wasn't fun for him, I wonder how persistent he'd be.</p>
<p>Update: I just did some research on Harvey Mudd, and it might be appealing to DS. The small size and liberal arts availability makes it sound like a better fit for him than some of the other schools.</p>
<p>I am happy for him to attend the state U if he thinks he would be happy there, but this is a kid who might benefit from a smaller and more personal environment. We will see what his SAT scores look like to decide if he's competitive for this type of school.</p>
<p>Okay, I read your description of your son, and I thought of my son--very similar in style and work habits--who did go to MIT, and did graduate.</p>
<p>But it was a tough thing for him. He couldn't stay with his old habits of learning stuff, and he needed to study, and study hard. He took a semester off in the middle and went to work for an engineering firm because he wanted to DO stuff not learn theory. His grades varied from poor to excellent--depending on whether he liked the course--and his desire to be out doing stuff laid him low time after time. He had a job--hardware engineer at the Media Lab--which he adored and spent way too much time at. If the professor there hadn't given him credit as well as a paycheck, he wouldn't have graduated. I had to do a lot of emotional support, and a certain amount of regular threatening. ("If you drop out tonight, your car project goes on sale on EBay tomorrow morning. For ONE DOLLAR. Is that what you want? And yes, I will refuse bids from Cambridge, MA.")</p>
<p>If he'd gone to the local state U he probably would have been out in half the time, as he could have taken more courses and done well at them--but he wouldn't be off starting a company now either. </p>
<p>Tough call. It can't hurt to apply and then decide later, though. It's only a few app. fees.</p>
<p>Mombot,
For years I've noted similarities between dmd's S and mine. </p>
<p>My S thrived with stimulation. He was more interested in taking classes at local U than in HS. He studied math, Latin, physics on his own, since courses not offered at his HS (at his level). He left HS after junior year, after so many problems with cross-registration, but was certainly not as prepared for college level classes as other students were. Fortunately, Caltech has first 2 terms P/F, which gives students a chance to catch up. Lots of discusion groups, offered at various levels. Caltech allows students to switch a class from a grade to P/F, and one can drop a class at almost end of course. They want one to succeed.</p>
<p>There was a point when S considered an offer to leave school and join a growing company. I wanted him to have a graduation, but this company has done fabulously, so who knows?</p>
<p>When your S visits Caltech and HMC, encourage him to attend many classes. Perhaps class interactions will stimulate him.</p>
<p>I'm glad your S will have a chance to visit schools before applying. My S applied to colleges 12/31 or 1/1 (absolute deadlines), did not prepare for PSATs or SATs, and never visited until after admitted. I have no idea what college would have been best fit for him, but I suspect there are more similarities among students at any of the good tech schools than S had previously found in a peer group.</p>
<p>
[quote]
His AP physics teacher called him a little sh** when he rolle d into class and aced a test...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>that made me smile. Deep inside, the AP Physics teacher might have probably meant that as a compliment :) just had a "different" way of saying it.</p>