<p>There is nothing wrong with you doing the research and providing the list of acceptable schools to your son…ones you can afford, he can be admitted to, and meet some basic qualities that you specify(variety of majors might be one). If Blackburn does not do it, then pull it from the list. I know that there are quite a few (if not most) LACs in our home state, Iowa, that I would not allow our son to attend.</p>
<p>I like Momof3Boys idea…Work with your son to pull 2 bigs and 2 smalls from your well researched list and visit.</p>
<p>The advice we were given was to apply as engineering and change later because it is way easier to get out of engineering than in later. Taking a tour of an engineering school will give him an idea of what they do.</p>
<p>I think it is fine for a parent to gather as much information as possible, but to leave college visits until after junior year is completed. That is what we did, and Frazzled kids still ended up with plenty of time to apply to schools and lots of nice choices come April, even compared to peers whose families started the search much earlier. But, we would have been fine if they had decided to do the “one and done” approach at Penn State, too.</p>
<p>But - </p>
<p>When looking at engineering programs, I think that in addition to finding ABET accredited programs, it is important to consider co-op, internship, and undergrad research options. Employers and grad schools will look at experience outside of the classroom.</p>
<p>I would also consider how intro courses are managed. Find out if these are curved, and try to figure out where your S stands among peers wrt preparation. These classes can be terrifying if they are poorly taught, harshly curved (to make sure that good grades are limited), or if your student is lagging in preparation relative to peers going into the course. A student who enters at the top of the curve at school A can end up being at the bottom at school B.</p>
<p>And, I would be aware that attrition rates in these programs can vary by school. Even a school with an impressive 4 year graduation rate can have alarming numbers of students who have left STEM, not always because they found something else they “like better.” Depending upon options (or lack of options) outside of an intended major, this might not be ok with you.</p>
<p>Relax, mom. Be sure your son knows that improving grades will be more imortant than his gpa. Colleges know that some students (especially boys?) mature into performing at the level they are capable of. Junior year of HS is the last year colleges see so this school year is the most important- let him know this year counts a lot more than the past. Give him an incentive to do his best- this is the year that matters.</p>
<p>He should spend some time preparing for the ACT/SAT and take them this coming spring. He can retake any next fall if it seems he could improve scores for schools he is then interested in.</p>
<p>Many parents are frustrated at this time of year when their SENIOR in HS won’t apply to more schools. Let your son have his dreams for now. Do plan a spring break look at colleges trip- one parent and only him. It could be a driving trip in your region. Tell him it is mandatory and he just needs to see what else is out there. Also sneak in exposure to other colleges when you can. Perhaps some weekend excuses for trips to places with colleges that have potential in your eyes.</p>
<p>You don’t want to bombard him with college info but you can expose him to math/science/engineering schools’ information in subtle ways. Links sent in emails to him regarding things happening in various colleges, even those far away. The Putnam math contest may intrigue him- all over and any school’s math dept will have a link to it. Check out engineering department activities- even if UW-Madison isn’t on your radar you can look at their site and the national competitions students have done well at (I’m sure you can find other colleges and their top performing competitors in things you/he wouldn’t think of). Or some schools that do well in robotics competitions. Show him the fun reasons to look at varied schools and he may dismiss the current dream. Now is the time to get him excited about being able to do the math type stuff he seems to like in colleges. Get him interested in something and then he may decide to see where he can do it and expand his choices.</p>
<p>A lot changes junior year. Students start in the middle of their HS years with it being their world forever into becoming the upperclassmen and seeing a world beyond HS. Patience on your part is required.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t look at Missouri S&T unless he is pretty sure of engineering, and I believe OP said he is not. But there are lots of excellent schools with a wide variety of programs, one of which is engineering. Large publics like UICU, Purdue, and Mizzou, and smaller privates, like Bradley. We visited Bradley and were very impressed; we liked the atmosphere, and it had great scholarships (tho she ended up at Missouri S&T - lol).</p>
<p>Hi I am a senior from Romeoville IL, I would like to add to the conversation. Parents always choose toys they like, just like the schools. they choose the ones they like. Could we at least make this decision for ourselves? I know my parents have my best interest in heart. We research the schools also, just gives us a little break. Your son will make a decision that will fit him. Good luck to your son Midwest1mom, I hope he makes the right choice.</p>
<p>2bnoir- this parent is lamenting the lack of schools on a list, not the several choices made. My son would only apply to 3 schools back when he was a barely 16 year old senior. Other parents have kids who won’t look at colleges as well. Many parents have “been there” and know it doesn’t always work out that kids research schools even if most do. This forum is for parents to find help with problems and with kids outside the norm/box. Having other parents tell her to back off for now and give other clues is more useful than someone with only your own, limited, experience telling her it will work out. It doesn’t always as threads from the Parents forum over the years shows.</p>
<p>^so true. I think it’s very important parents are aware and involved but not over involved to the point where they are choosing the school.
I think the OP has valid points and only wants the best for her kid ( just like any parent).
My parents were never involved in helping me and in the end I was way too overwhelmed doing it all on my own.
I give major props to parents who are proactive and help their kid(s) reach their greatest potential.</p>
<p>I’m a guy, and I have been torturing my parents with showing, talking, and watching powerpoints about college since my freshman year. So not all guys don’t want to look at colleges.</p>