<p>ha ha. I was just saying this same thing in my PM to 5boys!</p>
<p>Dairy State K8…I know, I know… it definitely has me worried. SDon… how does your S handle the academics? Does he have time to do other things he enjoys? Does he have time to hang out or do some club activities? It’s not that my S is afraid of hard academics… in fact I know he will thrive in the classroom, it’s just that if he has no time for anything OTHER than school, he will be miserable.</p>
<p>I don’t know yet. It’s too early to tell! I haven’t gotten details about much – which I’ve taken to be a good sign! All I know is that classes are “wonderful” and he has friends! In terms of activities, I only know about things that I’ve asked him a direct question about. Hoping to get more details on Parents Weekend. </p>
<p>I was also thinking that college work is much different than high school homework as is the time during the day spent in school itself. Three days a week, my son only has two 50 minute classes! His longest day is 4 1/2 hours. </p>
<p>My sense is, and I could be wrong, that for kids like mine who came from very tough high schools with alot of homework and who are strong readers and writers, it won’t be overwhelming all the time. They should have more options to schedule the work as they want and not have to respond to the daily grind of high school.</p>
<p>My son definitely has time for extracurriculars, socializing and even sleeping but, like SDonCC’s son, he is a very strong reader and writer. He is also not interested in math or science, so he has no lab classes. One great thing about Grinnell is the freedom it gives students to shape their own plan of study. I will say that my son reports that some students there do get overwhelmed and stressed out, but I don’t think it approaches the level of Reed in that way.</p>
<p>I’ve also heard that the kids who had to work hard in HS do fine at tough schools like Grinnell and Reed, and that those who breezed through HS (smart-lazy?) can have quite a shock.</p>
<p>maybe not smart or lazy, but i am sure that the high school experiences really vary. Kids from our high school always return home saying they are better prepared than most.</p>
<p>Same here SDon… the headmaster has said many times that he has never had a student come back to visit from college and say they weren’t extremely prepared. They learn to read and write well,come hell or high water. They learn how to write a research paper in the 7th grade… our school is 7-12th. A friend of mine whose daughter in one of CA’s horrible big public HS’s, doesn’t even have to read a literature book. They have gotten rid of books in English classes and gave been focusing on writing skills because the kids are failing out of colleges here. 70% of all freshman college students in the public system in CA need remedial work in English and Math. YIKES!!! I think my S will do well in college because he will be taking more classes to his liking and is an excellent reader and writer. Sorry, I forgot your S just started last week.</p>
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<p>If your student is turned off by jock schools and Greek life, and if you’re willing to consider the midwest (you must be if you’re considering Carlton and Grinnell), you might want to drop in on Oberlin. It’s a lot closer than Carleton. The Division III Sports are a joke and there are no frats or sororities. In terms of culture, it’s very much like Vassar, Wesleyan, Reed and Bard. And there are more students at Oberlin from California than Ohio. Cali seemed like the second biggest state contingent (after New York) of new frosh at Oberlin last year when my D started. No more outing, though, than at Grinnell.</p>
<p>Tricky to put too much faith in media reports. Lots of outdoorsy, independent-thinking kids at Bates and Bowdoin. They are not among the northeast schools we consider preppy or jock- I can’t imagine how someone rated them such (Trinity and Hamilton are reputed to be stiflingly prep.) Lots of flip flop culture (when the weather’s warm enough.) If you were to tell a student at Bates that it’s rated a jock school, they’d crack up. Students are highly motivated academically, quite focused during the week, generally a confident, determined sort. Yes, they can party hard on weekends. So, if son is heading to VT, please consider visiting Bates, Bowdoin, Colby. All relatively near each other. More of a consideration is whether your son wants to endure the NE winters.</p>
<p>lookingforward… thanks!!! I thought that Bates was more like you described so I was also confused about the Newsweek rating. Of all the Maine schools, Bates looks the most like what he would like. I’ve heard they have great Med School admit rates as well, but I’m sure all the top LAC’s do. My S wants to major in Philosophy/Religion and then go on to med school to become a rural ER Dr. I don’t think he will mind the cold but will find out after this Winter and Spring when he will be attending a semester at a school in Vermont. He loves the cold weather and actively seeks out winter mountaineering stuff.</p>
<p>An earlier poster was right–Bowdoin, Colby, and Bates are definitely NOT your traditional jock schools. They are definitely worth a serious look for your DS–and check out all three, as they each have their own spin. All have strong academics, strong laid-back presence and “flip flop” culture, and very strong involvement in outdoor activities. They have to–they’re in Maine! My D is extremely happy at Colby, just for the record. Feel free to pm if you want to know more about Colby.</p>
<p>I can answer more about Bates, if you need. PM me. Otherwise, best of luck.</p>
<p>cadence and lf… My S plans on visiting all three school this Spring. We actually went to an admission event in our town with Bowdoin, Carleton, Pomona and Swath. He went only because he has some interest in Carleton. He came away absolutely in LOVE with Bowdoin. I think it was the whole outdoor club thing. Of course Bowdoin is a huge reach for him. Do you think if he liked Bowdoin he would like Colby and Bates as well? The two of them look more likely for him based on our schools Naviance. I will pm you guys if we have any questions after our visit.</p>
<p>The three are often treated as triplets, though each has its own flavor. One may have a better this-department or that-activity, but all attract serious, fun-loving, independent, well-educated kids. Bowdoin is currently rated highest, on those media rankings. Each has an outdoors orientation program for entering freshmen, in the days before school starts. Each offers leadership roles in these programs to sophs and above. Colby has COOTS, Bates has Aesop an you can find Bowdoin’s by googling pre-orientation. I believe all three offer plenty of opps to be involved in outdoor-related academics or activities. Those of us who know Maine love it. It is a state with complex economic issues- this actually generates many community service-type activities. You might also look at the Bates Bonner leader program. And its Morse Mountain Conservation Area.</p>