<p>My daughter is a smart, quirky kid who has never fit in with the conventional crowd anywhere. Her ADHD and nonverbal learning disability (this means she is overly strong on the verbal side compared to the nonverbal side--as Aspergers is to autism, NVLD is to Aspergers) affect her social interactions. Despite these obstacles, she has very good grades, performs in her school's chamber choir and musical theater productions, and is a devoted volunteer for developmentally disabled children. After several failures at other summer camps, she finally found a "home" a few years ago at an arts camp filled with lots of other quirky "outsider" types, and she is now a counselor-in-training there. Her inclination is to attend Hampshire (known at her camp as "____ Camp goes to college") or a similar school, and I have no doubt she would find comfort there socially. However, she is not a particularly self-motivated student, is quite disorganized, and has trouble settling on themes and topics when asked to do independent work--e.g., she will start and then toss aside three or four books when she needs to pick one for a paper, then finally decide on one when there is barely time to finish reading it. I feel she lacks the qualities necessary to make her a successful student at a place like Hampshire, Bard or the like, where the students have to devise their own course of study, produce major original works to graduate, and, in the case of Hampshire, be proactive enough to find classes at other schools in the consortium when appropriate. Can anyone suggest a place with a more traditional academic approach where she will also feel like she fits in? Or, if I'm all wrong in my assessment of Hampshire, etc., feel free to set me straight! We are in the Northeast, and for various reasons want her to be no more than 4 or so hours from home via train or car. Many thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I agree with your assessment of Hampshire.
My D was going to attend Evergreen until we took a realistic look at who would be successful there, she went to Reed instead.
I suggest you look at landmark?
Landmark</a> College | The premier college for students with learning disabilities and AD/HD.</p>
<p>A very good friend has NVLD and thrived at Clark University in Worcester, MA.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input. Let me explain a bit more. My daughter qualifies academically for a more selective school than Clark, and her disabilities are not so severe that she is in need of a specialized school like Landmark. I think with a structured program, and maybe some support from a college's disability services, she will comfortably manage the work at at a very selective institution. But because her ADHD and NVLD cause her some social difficulties, she would never fit into certain schools-e.g., schools that are very preppy (cuts out a lot of eastern LAC's), or depend heavily on the Greek system. My dilemma is identifying schools that are accepting of more offbeat types, yet aren't so loosely run that she will be at sea academically. On paper, Oberlin sounds like the right type of place, but it's too far. So maybe an Oberlin-type school in the New England or Atlantic states? Or perhaps a larger university that's big enough to have a niche for every type? (We have visited a few schools. She liked Emerson and Northeastern, loved Bard except for the location, loved Hampshire, hated BU's sprawling "un"campus and thought Skidmore was lovely but way too preppy. Brandeis and American will be visited next.)</p>
<p>MommaJ, how about Smith? An "accepting" atmosphere, excellent academics, good arts.</p>
<p>I would agree about Hampshire probably not being a good choice for your daughter. There is so much independent work and the need to be proactive is very high. Also, a funny thing about Hampshire: while people who maybe didn't fit in with the high school model of sports being paramount, or grades above learning, or who just plain don't like to be told what to do, are attracted to Hampshire, it can be kind of a tough place socially if you have trouble making friends on your own. Like everything else there, you are left to create your social life by your self. There are certainly parties and other social events, but there isn't the greek system, or the "mixers" that many other schools have to help smooth social interactions. Basically, both academic and social independence are necessary to be successful there.</p>
<p>What about a place like Ithaca? More structure but also all different kinds of people.</p>
<p>Or Bryn Mawr? many types of women, a supportive social atmosphere.</p>
<p>Wesleyan? Strong academics, varied types of people.</p>
<p>MommaJ - how about Eugene Lang (New School) in NYC? Maybe Sarah Lawrence (although that, too, may be insufficiently structured)? Bennington? Connecticut College?</p>
<p>MommaJ, I was looking at the Fiske Guide to Colleges last night, and they have a list of schools that offer "strong support for students with learning disabilities." American U was on that list, Brandeis was not. Other schools in the northeast on that list were Clark, UConn, Fairleigh Dickinson, Hofstra, Northeastern, RIT, Syracuse, U of Vermont, Bard, Landmark, Manhattanville, Marist, New England College, U of New England, and St. Thomas Acquinas College. I may have left some out as there were schools on the list I had never heard of and I wasn't sure where they were located.</p>
<p>Good luck to you and your daughter.</p>
<p>Wesleyan comes to mind immediately. Someone once referred to Wesleyan as "the Oberlin of the East" to us. </p>
<p>I know a young lady who fits your description who is very happy about going to Goucher. I realize it would be a safety for your daughter but I thought I would put it out there. </p>
<p>Northeast rules out Reed, a school I think fits your criteria.</p>
<p>If she likes to read, what about St. Johns/Maryland, where they have to read lots of great books? I think a lot of the kids who go there are really intelligent but not conformists...</p>
<p>--Definitely check out Wesleyan, we're a LOT like Oberlin (although we probably have slightly more preppy people, the majority still fall pretty definitely somewhere on the quirky scale). Also check out Vassar and Brown, which have similar atmospheres. </p>
<p>--Check out the tri-college consortium of Haverford, Bryn Myer and Swarthmore. Any or all of these might end up being appealing. (Haverford has a really nice system to set hallmates up as a close social group at the beginning, which might help her feel comfortable). </p>
<p>--I agree that Goucher would make a really good safety, if it’s not too far away (Baltimore is closer to a 6 hour train ride from Middletown, CT, but it totally depends on what part of Nw England you’re in).</p>
<p>What are her academic interests? I'd be trying to find a list of schools which meet all of her other criteria, and then rank them by the social scene, type of support for her, etc. rather than pick schools based on the social criteria. College isn't HS; virtually any University once you're past a certain size is going to have its artsy crowd, its vegan/beatnik crowd, its jazz/we smoke Gaulois crowd. </p>
<p>Is money an issue? Other than being in the Northeast, any other location criteria? Prospective majors?</p>
<p>Agree with your assessment of Hampshire. I know many kids who ended up there for the wrong reasons, some of whom are on their 4th or 5th college now with no degree in sight. It is a tough place for a kid who needs support and direction academically but a great place for a really ambitious but unconventional student.</p>
<p>A good place for a strong student who needs an accepting social environment is Wellesley; the academics may be tough going if her disorganization is chronic- the standards are very, very high. Mount Holyoke slightly less daunting academically.</p>
<p>*I have no doubt she would find comfort there socially. However, she is not a particularly self-motivated student, is quite disorganized, and has trouble settling on themes and topics when asked to do independent work--e.g., she will start and then toss aside three or four books when she needs to pick one for a paper, then finally decide on one when there is barely time to finish reading it. *</p>
<p>My daughter is on the spectrum and she had an Aspie roommate @ Reed ( who graduated with * rare* double major}
But why I suggested Landmark, is that it doesn't sound that in high school she has learned to manage her learning difference and while a college like Reed will give her support for learning difference, they are not going to allow time to learn how to strategize college. +very heavy on reading and writing.</p>
<p>My son's elementary school best friend is very happy at Wesleyan. Rock and jazz musician, ADHD.</p>
<p>You might want to look into Vassar, which is also has similarities to Oberlin and Wesleyan. I'm not sure, however, what disability services they actually offer. They do have a lot of offerings in music and theater.</p>
<p>Goucher, Muhlenberg, Fordham (Lincoln Center Campus).</p>
<p>Oberlin really does sound like a very good fit. I know you didn't want a college that you had to fly to, but at least you wouldn't have to connect. Cleveland is a hub on Continental Airlines. You can get a direct flight to Cleveland from almost any city. Or if you live in an AirTran city, there are CHEAP flights in and out of Akron. Both Cleveland and Akron airports are not to far from Oberlin. (Just in case there is any chance you would consider it!)</p>
<p>Another school to consider might be Boston University; this is a link to an article discussing a program they started that provides assistance to students with autism:</p>
<p>BU</a> launches first-in-nation program to help students with form of Autism - News</p>
<p>In addition, I believe both Marshall University and Carnegie Mellon also have special programs for students with autism (I am assuming that your D may qualify for these given their similarities). And although my S who has mild Aspergers does not receive any services, he is currently attending Northeastern which also provides services for students with autism (I researched the Disability Center's director when we were looking at colleges a few years ago and she has a strong background and lectures on autism/aspergers). We chose NEU largely for the co-op opportunities figuring he might need that extra edge when it came time to seeking a job after college, and also since co-op employers often will hire students after having had a chance to "try them out" for 6 months... at the same time, S who just finished his second year, still struggles with organizational issues and does not take advantage of all the resources available to all students to help with this...but that of course is part of his "disability."</p>
<p>attached is a link to a "checklist" for finding colleges for students with Aspergers. Due to the similarities between the two, it may be a useful guide in your college search or in coming up with recommendations for you (and I think many of the suggestions so far seem to match the criteria in this list).</p>
<p>[and I apologize, I missed your comment about her aversion to BU's campus - my S felt the same way when he visited after starting school at NEU; he much prefers a more traditional campus layout]</p>
<p>Reed in Portland of The Evergreen State College in Olympia would be a match</p>