<p>Our oldest son will graduate HS in 2010. We have a feeling that many reach schools would accept him (URM, athlete/captain, musician, volunteer work, unique individual, loved by teachers and coaches). Trying to figure out if reach schools make sense for him to attend if accepted. My gut says no but would like your opinions.</p>
<p>He has a 3.7 weighted GPA and average SAT scores V490 M540 W540 (doesn't test well). Haven't received ACT scores yet. Plans on playing a sport in college (not sure which division) and would like to be involved with clubs and other activities. Wants to study Communications/Media/TV/production oriented. </p>
<p>He has some learning difficulties. It takes him a long time to read and get his work completed. At this point, he has extended testing time which eats up a lot of his free time, and we assume that he will be allowed 50% extended time in college. We're thinking that he might be more successful and have more of a life at a school that is a "match" or academic safety - where he can maybe be a big fish in a little pond.</p>
<p>We've looked at a lot of schools and have spoken to a lot of coaches. He prefers schools with populations of 2,000 - 8,000. Loved Ithaca and Wilkes. Also looked at SUNY Brockport, Oswego and Cortland, Franklin and Marshall, Centenary, Elizabethtown, Drexel, American, George Mason, Kutztown. May look at Muhlenberg, McDaniel, Ursinus, York.</p>
<p>Thank you for reading and for your thoughts.</p>
<p>Whatever schools you consider, do not assume anything when it comes to accommodations and testing in college. Please be sure to ask about it and see what kind of support system is in place. Some schools, like University of Denver have extensive resources, others -some academic reaches for example - not so much. I think you’re being smart in thnking about this especially because sports at any division are going to eat into far more time than HS.</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply. I know that there are no guarantees in college as far as support goes. He has well-documented disabilities. I think he will mostly need extended testing time. All of the coaches mentioned academic supports in place to help the athletes, so being an athlete will be helpful to him. Do you recommend a match or academic safety for a student like my son?</p>
<p>I think he should look at matches and safeties, and then once he has some acceptances in hand, narrow down the list, have some more in depth conversations with those schools about academic accomodations, etc. </p>
<p>A “reach” school for student with stats relatively weak compared to the average admitted student, would, I think, be a bad idea. Kids often struggle a bit the first year in anycase --even the strongest students-- and combining that with an athletic committment would be a recipe for frustration and difficulty.</p>
<p>But the difference between a match school and a safety school may all just come down to the details of each individual college, what they have to offer, how your son feels about them, etc.</p>
<p>Not sure what sport he’s looking to play but if he’s not on any D1 radar yet its unlikely he’ll get much interest (especially if its FB or BB.) So look to D2 and D3 schools. Some good ones out there that might fit his goals. My S played 3 yrs at D2 and it wasn’t all consuming. Yes, practice every day from 3-5 and lifting or running most mornings - but his peers aren’t studying during those times either. And yes, the coaches keep good track of they’re grades and attendance. Miss a class or screw up a test and the coach will know about it and are ready to step in and assist.</p>
<p>The schools in western PA would all fit his criteria: Indiana, Slippery Rock, California. All good D2 programs in most sports and fine universities.</p>
<p>I will only comment that Ithaca’s Park School of Communications is quite well regarded, their sports programs are competitive and well supported, the music school is renowned, and the school has an impressive mix of students and activities. When I taught there the administration went to great lengths to inform all faculty of, and provide resources for, those with special needs with regard to testing. I was impressed.
The fact that it’s a Div. III school means academics take priority and coaches know that.</p>
<p>Your concerns and insights about reach vs. match are good, and my only thought is it depends on the individual and the school. How do they cope with challenges, stress?. . . are they confident in their abilities and the knowledge that they have something to offer? . . . do you feel comfortable with the school’s policies with regard to testing?
The larger the school, the more I might worry, however.</p>
<p>Thank you for all of your responses. This is my first time posting and didn’t know what to expect; I really appreciate any and all feedback.</p>
<p>I should have probably mentioned a couple of things about my son. He is:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>a wrestler (leaning towards D3, though we’ve spoken to 3 D1 coaches)</p></li>
<li><p>preferably looking to stay within 3 - 5 hrs. of North NJ but is somewhat open to travel further if there’s easy access to mass transit home.</p></li>
<li><p>Latino and Jewish. Doesn’t need a huge population for either group but wouldn’t want to be the only one - would like to be amongst at least a few :-)</p></li>
<li><p>Morandi, Since you taught at Ithaca, how difficult would you say the academics are? My son seems to be a match there, but it’s hard to know if selectivity of a school actually matches up with the difficulty level of academics being taught there. He’s very involved with production oriented TV/film editing at his HS. We loved Park School at Ithaca.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Park School, as you know is very competitive. The kids accepted there are high achievers. I don’t know how to rate academics. I mean, I also taught at Cornell and Cortland and I’d say the students at IC are closer to Cornell than Cortland. The faculty at each school, IMO, are great (there are a lot of Ph.Ds in Ithaca) and capable challenging and relevant coursework.</p>
<p>I’m concerned about his learning difficulties, low verbal score, and his slowness getting work completed. I think he’ll be best off applying to safety and match schools, and making very sure that the schools have systems in place that will help him with his learning difficulties.</p>
<p>Thanks to all of you for your advice and suggestions!</p>
<p>We’re starting to feel more secure in discouraging our son from applying to/attending any true reach schools. Better to find a good, strong match and ensure that academic supports and accomodations will be available to him.</p>
<p>Our HS guidance dept. and all that I read promotes applying to 2 safeties, 2 or 3 matches and 1 - 2 reaches. I never understood why someone would want to attend a true reach school if the academics would probably be too difficult and stressful. Now, a reach school that’s only difficult to get into but the academics are not as rigorous would be great! Figuring out what’s a true reach school is not so easy.</p>
<p>By the way, Hofstra would seem like a wonderful match, but their D1 wrestling team is so good that we’re not sure if our son would ever get to start. He would do better at a top D3 or medium level D1 or D2. He’s leaning towards D3.</p>
<p>You should look closely at Franklin & Marshall. My son just completed his Freshman year, and one of his best friends there is on the wrestling team = the kid really loved it. F&M is a VERY small school with an excellent support system in place, especially for student-athletes who are required to submit their written papers to the Writing Center for editing and helpful analysis. And while the work is hard, F&M really wants its students to do well. Plus, students at F&M only take 4 courses each semester + a writing foundations course (or at least this is what Freshman do) - making things more manageable for a student athlete. </p>
<p>I would suggest staying away from the SUNY schools - not that they’re bad or anything but they are HUGE and impersonal and I’ve never heard or read that they offer much support for students with learning deficits. PLUS the SUNY schools you identified are probably not all that convenient to Northern New Jersey … </p>
<p>Hope this information helps. Good luck to you and your son …</p>
<p>Thanks Brown Eyes. I had the feeling that F&M might be too rigorous. Do you think that with a 3.7 GPA and 490/540/540 SAT that he might do OK at F&M? I know they’re SAT optional. We went to their Jr. Open House and were impressed with the students, their love of the school, profs and the Pres., and we loved the wrestling coach. </p>
<p>The SUNY’s we looked at had 6 - 7,000 students and the coaches, especially at Brockport, all looked after the wrestlers and their academics very closely. Some other SUNYs are larger.</p>
Define “too.” A “reach” school is defined in terms of admissions probability, not ability to perform. Might a “reach” candidate not be at the top of the class? Possibly. But the stimulation of that environment might spark the student to perform at a level not otherwise attained.</p>
<p>Also, see Dante: better to serve in Heaven than to rule in Hell. Okay, that overdramatizes it a bit…but having to run fast to keep up with amazing students or doing well among plodders…easy choice for me.</p>
<p>Okay, I hadn’t read the OP and hadn’t seen the LD angle. Mmm… still. Accommodations to LD vary wildly irrespective of status of “reach,” “safety,” or anything in between. </p>
<p>Don’t know their attitudes about LD, but of the schools on the list I like Muhlenberg and George Mason, fwiw, which probably isn’t much.</p>
<p>I think you have done an excellent job of scouting for him so far. Some quick thoughts:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Sadly, a lot of wrestling programs have been cut because of budget concerns–check with the coaches how strong their administration supports the sport.</p></li>
<li><p>I think your D3 decision is very wise–the travel is reasonable and they understand your son will be a student first.</p></li>
<li><p>A friend’s son liked Ithaca a lot (other than the snow). </p></li>
<li><p>F&M, Ursinus and Muhlenberg seem like the most academically intense places on your list–both boast of their pre-med and pre-law programs. Do not get too hooked on prestige–your son has to feel the right fit and be comfortable there. </p></li>
<li><p>I believe Princeton Review has a book on LD programs at colleges–and you can post separate LD questions on the CC forums for the schools.</p></li>
<li><p>A friend liked York, but it is isolated. PA has a lot of good colleges in your size range and PA is traditionally a wrestling state.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Your son sounds like a great kid–best of luck!</p>