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I actually thought of Sara Lawrence…</p>
<p>UChicago is too big to be like Caltech. Swarthmore – maybe.</p>
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<p>JUSTAMOM - LOL your post made me chuckle a bit - I have one of those as well - definitely marches to her own drummer - and her college choice showed us that also. But on the other hand - I also had one that did/wanted the ‘elite LAC’ thing - both loved their choice of school - two different ends of the spectrum</p>
<p>WashDad, I suspect that your son’s attitude is going to change a bit in the next couple of years. Instead of trying so hard to not be a “poser”–or whatever–he will decide to just be himself and stop worrying about what other people are doing or thinking. The cool thing is that all those “posers” are going to be doing the same thing, so they’ll disappear off the radar screen, too. At least, that’s what I witnessed in the years between 9th and 12th grades. I don’t think he’ll want to end up at Harvard, but I suspect he’ll be looking at a wider variety of schools by the time it really matters.</p>
<p>It wasn’t the weather that attracted him to Caltech, it was the attitude (we’re smart and we aren’t ashamed of it), the honor code, the no multiple choice tests ever, the pranks, and the pizza. Sarah Lawrence is a little close to us. I also think SL might be too touchy-feely, but I may be prejudiced by the only graduate I know. His grades are all over the place - so it’s much less obvious to me what he’ll be aiming for.</p>
<p>Your post makes me think of my little sister. She used to list her favorite musical artist as John Lennon, but has recently changed her mind because “he was a communist.” In her case, I think it’s a little bit more regurgitation than independence, but the results are similar…</p>
<p>By soph year, I think I was the only person I knew who was even thinking about college, and two years down the road, I didn’t even apply to my original “top choices.” At 15, I was in love with NYU. At 18, I headed off to a tiny, suburban, single-sex, west coast LAC. Go figure! </p>
<p>As long as your son’s current goals don’t lead him to slack off in school (and if he’s shooting for a scholarship, that should keep him on track), then I don’t recommend worrying about this right now. Be glad that he’s already interested in a safety school (academic and economic), which is the most difficult part for many students! Be glad that he hasn’t announced his plans to abandon college, that he isn’t already choosing schools based on totally ridiculous criteria, and that he hasn’t set himself up for heartbreak. There’s more good in this than bad, and plenty of time to tweak or deal with the perceived downsides :)</p>
<p>When my wonderful, but very academically mediocre sister was 13-14, she made a sign that said “Do it for Yale!” and taped it to the ceiling above her bed. Rather than sit her down for a disheartening discussion about realism, my mom just said “let her be…she’s happy.” And of course, my sister enjoyed having a goal, my family was happy to see her express early interest in college, and the kid couldn’t have cared less about Yale by the time her senior year rolled around.</p>
<p>Good luck with the situation :)</p>
<p>Definitely find some way to have the music teacher talk to him. I’ve been saying that my D should apply to UMass; they have programs she’d like and tuition is cheap. She visited with friends this summer and expressed interest but when MOM expressed delight that she was interested, she wasn’t interested anymore. Today one of the young cool teachers told her that she went to UMass. And now it is high on her radar again.</p>
<p>CalTech without the science–based on your description and nothing else, yes, Reed comes close, so do Haverford and Swarthmore.</p>
<p>Muffy, which UMass is cool? Certainly not UMass Lowell, where my teaching degree is from?</p>
<p>MUFFY - you talking in-state or OOS?? I certainly would not say that UMA is cheap by any means either - for in or OOS</p>
<p>WashDad: I also live in King Co. I know quite a few people who went to Central and liked it. All the people I know who went there are quite solid citizens, all employed in their fields, seemingly happy. My D’s friend is a very talented musician and he is transferring there this Jan. Another friend went there for education, continued her Spanish studies, taught in Eastern WA and now teaches in an innovative bilingual elementary program in our school district. A friend from my D’s high school went there after Running Start and was able to work with the chimpanzees there. I also worked with a guy who went there and was quite an academic star in the little pond, leading to internship at the college that helped him on his way in his chosen career. Another family friend graduated from there and is now a lobbyist in Olympia. </p>
<p>I realize that these are all just anecdotal, but that’s quite a few success stories for Central.</p>
<p>totally ignore everything he says this year… no, don’t ignore it, just nod and say “Hmmm, that 's a good idea”. He’s only 15!
If you want him to see other schools with good music programs just gently inject them. Ask the band director to help if the private teacher is too fixated on his own school. Take road trips to places with good music schools. (around here its UNT, but I wouldn’t send a kid here from Seattle - not a great residential program for out of state.)</p>
<p>dmd77-The young cool teacher went to UMass Amherst. She wanted to go to Smith but her parents wouldn’t pay for it (oh, and now my daughter thinks Smith is cool too -which she didn’t when I suggested it).</p>
<p>JeepMOM- UMass is one of the lower tuition colleges for OOS in NE; UVM, UNH, UConn all much higher. And it’s definitely less expensive than most privates.</p>
<p>Mathmom, DS2 wants a school like Reed, only with football! :)</p>
<p>hey real women play rugby:)
they also have fencing.</p>
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This may be a long shot, CountingDown, but your younger son may be interested in Notre Dame’s [Program</a> of Liberal Studies](<a href=“http://pls.nd.edu/]Program”>http://pls.nd.edu/). It was very hard for me to turn down. Their football has been less than spectacular this year, but they certainly have school spirit, and some years their team does pretty well. My understanding (from knowing 6+ alums of PLS) is also that the students in this program often form strong bonds between one another, so they form their own small community within the larger Notre Dame population.</p>
<p>Also, congratulations on your older son’s acceptance to the U of C! :)</p>
<p>A school like Reed with football?
That would be Haverford.</p>
<p>WashDad, I live in that quad cities/towns area (Lewiston/Clarkston/ Moscow/Pullman) and have only seen that part of Ellensburg where all the fast foods and gas stations line the street once you exit I-90. It is difficult to believe a kid who has gown up in the Seattle area would be happy at a school in Ellensburg. The only kids I know who attended CWU were heavily involved in rodeo and wanted a school where they could easily board their horse and ride every day. Has your S actually spent time in Ellensburg?</p>
<p>Is it possible to go to an upcoming Jazz Band festival, or competition where Tallson could see bands from several colleges as well as the one from CWU? </p>
<p>If possible, you might want to send him to some other colleges band camps this summer.</p>
<p>We have unintentionally solidified a college in our 15-year old daughters head. She wants to go there because she really enjoyed their volleyball camp, and now feels a connection there. We picked that location purely for the practicality of the camp dates available…</p>
<p>Thank you all for your suggestions. We will feed him some information on other music programs (even though he’s not sure he’ll major in music, he knows he wants to make it at least a minor), ignore what he says this year, and I’ll have a chat with the teacher. </p>
<p>(A couple of posters have reminded me that a good education can be had almost anywhere, and that CWU isn’t that bad. I don’t think it is, and I know you are right. TallSon is really bright, and I want him to explore all his options and not lock into the easy path too tightly.)</p>
<p>WADad: D3 is less competitive than her sisters who fit the CC profile. D3 had Bs on her transcript and did not mind :eek: but she has folowed her own path and realised she had two choices public or private and private would take merit $$. She currently has WWU as a safety & a small WA private (early admit) with big merit $ to choose from as she got the right scores etc. I worried along the way she would settle for less than she deserved, but merely asked her to work hard and leave herself choices, the finla choice will be hers, but she cannot slack and expect to have good choices.</p>
<p>Take heart and encourage DS to keep his potential apps as strong as possible by being himself, but being the best version of himself he can be (no slacking Cs if that is not his best)</p>