Colleges for Non-Competitive Achievers

[collegemom16]

Check out RPI and Bucknell University.

[Mombot]

My son is very similar and I don't think the word "uncompetitive" is quite right. These guys are introverts.

His scores are almost identical to DS's scores. I think you will be surprised at how "competitive" he is at the right kind of school.

CS is offered almost everywhere. There are two basic approaches: a math based CS program, which is available at a LOT of LACs, and CS programs affilated with a college of engineering, which is typically at a university.

ANY CS degree is very marketable, so there is no advantage in "shopping" for a "highly ranked" CS degree. That is just stupid--if a kid is willing and able to major in CS they can go to ANY college with the degree and they will manage to find gainful employment upon graduation.

I would sit down with one of those search programs and look for CS programs and see what you find. The lib arts programs that are the descendants of math depts tend to be more focused on programming, where the ones affiliated w/ engineering schools have that as well as hardware, electrical engineering and info architecture branches.

If your son likes the mathy stuff you are in a good place because you can look at schools that do not have the engineering programs. My son is more about hardware and building things so we are looking at CS programs that reside in an engineering school. Frankly that is a lot harder for this type of kid.

IF he is willing to consider CS outside of a college of Engineering I'd be all over liberal arts schools who offer the CS degree. With his grades, stats and interests you could get a lot of attention at schools that are 60% or more female. I will do some googling and if I find anything interesting post it later.

[jonri]

I'd throw Brown into the mix. Yes, it's an Ivy. However, it's about as laid back as you can get. Given the fact you can take as many courses as you want on a S/NC (Satisfactory (meaning C or better)/no credit) basis, nobody is hung up on comparing gpa's. It has a good CS program.

His scores need to be a bit higher to give a good shot, if he's not in any special category. I'm not guaranteeing admission--just saying I think it might be a good fit.

If he wants a sciency/mathy/engineering-ish sort of place, I'd recommend Rose Hulman in Indiana. In most rankings, it comes out slightly ahead of RPI but, perhaps because of location, it's a bit easier to get into.

[wis75]

Computer Science is in the College of Letters and Sciences at UW-Madison, not the engineering school. I do not associate the field with engineering any more than math, physics, et al are. Get your son involved in deciding where he wants to go. Have him do the homework, ie coming up with lists of what he wants/doesn't want in a school. Get the US News and World Reports college issue as a list of colleges that is not an overwhelming book. Make sure it is his college search, not yours. And remember there are many good schools that will suit him, a good fit is a school which interests him.

[MarinMom]

I would also check out WPI. Small engineering college, very collaborative environment, nice kids. They have a music program, but it's oriented towards students who want to pursue music as an avocation, not professionally.

[cbreeze]

I noticed that his SAT verbal score is much higher than his SAT math score. Is this a concern for you if he wants to be a CS major? Perhaps his math score does not reflect his math abilities?

[momofthreeboys]

Non-competitive could be very different than say - laid back. My oldest was so laid back he was almost prone. He doesn't and didn't have the classic "leadership" drive - however, he is a very good diplomat, friend to all, participates like the OPs son in ECs that interested him, lettered in 2 varsity sports, was often the "study budy" for his smarter friends because my son is a steady Eddie. If people suggested he run for an office he would just say "no thanks, not interested." He's a classic team player and go-to person....and not what I would call non-competitive....just laid back. He drives me nuts sometimes because I am the antithesis of laid back, but I suspect my oldest will do well in the workplace. On paper my son was, well boring as milk toast and so different than me...but when I watched my son speak with admins and other adults he was quiet, thoughtful, engaged...but not what I would call agressive and very different than the son I thought I knew. I understand him much better now. He'll look people in the eye when he talks. I think we just shouldn't confuse the term non-competitive with a kid who can't thrive in an academic environment, or isn't "interesting" or "didn't live up to expectations"...it's more of one of those intangible "fit things". I suspect the OPs son will have a very good sense of where he'll be comfortable when he experiences it during visits. My son from age 5 on would say "I'm not that type of kid" when I would push him. I'd say, why don't you run for student council everyone knows you and like you they will vote for you...his answer...I'm not that type of kid. This type of personality often has a good sense of self, which is a positive and very mature trait in a young person even if they display every immature behavior that drives a parent nuts. There was a book that had the nickname "stealth" for one of these types! Remember he could be realizing his potential in ways that could be entirely different than your perception of what this should mean. One last thing, I used to feel the guidance office ignored but son...Now I just think they knew him maybe better than I in that environment and knew he'd take the competitive classes without a push and arm twist and knew he'd find a college that fit him. Good luck, I'll enjoy following your journey and story.

[Pizzagirl]

I'm loving this thread because I have a daughter like this, and I really hate how it seems as though college admissions reward only the loudest and most out-there students, not the quiet people who also are worthwhile.

[ellemenope]

If you can manage it, volunteer at the high school in the guidance center. That's one way to get your kid known by the counselors AND contribute.

[paying3tuitions]

I'm a cheerleader for LAC's and mid-sized universities where the focus is on the undergraduate, and where students are taught directly by faculty with no layer of graduate students in between. I've seen students really flower at them (my D for example).

Look for class size on the statistics about the college and uni, too, with a critical eye. The average size of classes, and how many are larger than 50, are two different kinds of stats.

LAC's that speak of "family feeling", "community of learners" could be just great for someone with your S's personality. I liked Mini's idea of Quaker affiliated colleges where a person is valued as an individual but with an appreciation for the spirit of cooperation and consensus.

I wondered, too, if he's passionate about studying Computer Science or just says it because he knows he likes computers (who doesn;t) and hasn't yet encountered some of the liberal arts majors he'll discover in college. He might find he's really enthused about a different major once he has a larger menu of departments than h.s. offered. He might be someone who shouldn't declare a major too soon in his mind.

Second vote for Earlham and Haverford, btw. And does anyone have a list of all Quaker-founded or affiliated schools in the nation?

[DefyingGravity04]

I do not have a list, but I remeber somewhere out there in the web, there is a full list. Some off the top of my head"
Haverford
Swarthmore
Earlham
Guilford