Help me narrow down schools to visit [A-/B+, likely history major]

[hmayal]

Hi All,
I need your help narrowing down potential colleges to visit on an upcoming school break. First some info about our son (junior) and our desires for college:

• No official diagnosis but all signs point to high-functioning spectrum. Quirky kid with deep interests and a little behind his peer group socially/emotionally
• Given that, the most important criteria for college is that he be in a place where he might find his tribe among welcoming and accepting peers.
• His tribe? Turn ons: Role-playing games like D&D, LARPing/Comicons, History (likely major), SciFi, Reading, ModelUN. Turn offs: Sports, competitive culture, cliques, Greek Life
• Not looking for highly selective – he’s an A-/B+ student, will probably be in low 1300s on SAT. Long list of extra-curriculars.
• Small/medium over large, suburban over big city. Very familiar with CTCL but open to other schools as well.

Below is the list of schools that have come recommended but we can’t visit all of them. Do you have a kid at one of these schools and can provide more info on what it’s really like? I’d love to hear specifics – both positive and negative – what do they love/not love? Which of these schools would be best for the profile above?

• Lawrence
• College of Wooster
• Clark
• St. Johns College (Annapolis)
• William and Mary
• Elon
• Muhlenberg
• Goucher

[tsbna44]

I think the best thing to do when you want to do a school visit (s) and have limited days - is handle things geographically.

So Lawrence is in Wisconsin…it’s a stand alone.

Wooster in E Ohio and Clark in Mass.

Those are sort of stand alones.

A Muhlenberg, Goucher, St. Johns, W&M, Elon could work - but W&M is highly unlikely based on what you describe.

It really depends on how many days you have to determine how many you can do.

But the three - Goucher, Muhlenberg, St. Johns - would be the most efficient route if you will.

If you did Clark, Marist might make a good fit given the student may be on the spectrum.

Good luck.

[snappity207]

If you visit Clark, check out Wheaton on the same trip.

[blossom]

Agree. Both of these colleges have the vibe you’ve described.

[COMom3]

My nephew sounds a lot like your son and he’s a Junior at Clark and has found his people!

[vwlizard]

Seconding (or thirding) Clark. He sounds like a number of kids I know that have done well at Clark.

[AustenNut]

@hmayal

open to other schools as well.

I know you mentioned that you’re already familiar with the CTCL colleges, but there are two I feel compelled to mention:

If you’re going to Wisconsin for Lawrence, I would also check out Beloit which even has a Science Fiction & Fantasy dorm which includes role-playing (source).

A little further away is Knox, a school with a class called Dungeons, Dragons, and Deutsch: The Roots of Germany Fantasy (source). Having a class like that seems like the school’s student population would be a good fit for your kid and you can reach out to its LARP club for more info, too (source).

If he’s interested in College of Wooster, I’d also check out Oberlin which I suspect could be a good fit for him as well (and has joined CTCL). This 2024 blog post from a current student might provide some more context.

Don’t know how much time you have for visiting colleges, but here’s a map with all of the schools I just mentioned:

[tsbna44]

I think a lot will depend on how much time you have and your geographic expanse you can handle…and how many schools you want to fit in, etc.

[NiceUnparticularMan]

I note on the run between Illinois and Ohio in this map, you would be more or less passing by Kalamazoo near the midway point. And Kalamazoo College might be well worth checking out (it adds around 45 minutes total to the drive time to go that way).

[ucbalumnus]

@hmayal

St. Johns College (Annapolis)

Has a core curriculum that is the entire curriculum. There is a lot of history, but also other subjects, in it. Is that what the student wants?

Any cost constraints?

[LizHolt]

I’ll second some of these suggestions in the Greal Lakes area. All of these schools also offer merit for the A-/B+ crowd.

Kalamazoo-small city with good ties to college, quirky kids, no greek orgs, wide open curriculum, lots of academic support structures in place (organized study groups, peer tutoring), senior project opportunities for kids that might like a faculty supported deep dive

Beloit–small city, students are smart, welcoming, and diverse. Very little and atypical greek life, emphasis on faculty mentoring

Knox-- friendly, collaborative students, nice campus, small town but trains to Chicago. Big emphasis on balance for students and helping connect with experiences for personal and academic growth.

Lawrence-- compact campus adjacent to downtown area, supportive admin and student body, optional summer start program to provide a longer, gentler transition to college life, some greek orgs but not a large factor on campus, music draws in a lot of students

Wooster- students a little more mainstream, great campus with nice facilities, very welcoming, a strong student support center (well staffed, opportunities to get help with a variety of study and life management needs–like executive function support), all students complete a senior thesis, small but nice, walkable downtown.

Touring Lawrence we met a sibling attending St. John’s. They had excellent things to say about their experience with campus, peers, and academic rigor but the curriculum is both very unique and rigid.

[hmayal]

Thank you so much! That is very kind. Beloit and Knox were both on the list but I wasn’t sure we’d have time for them. This is super helpful - thanks

[jmnva06]

Adding another recommendation for Beloit. Your son sounds like many Beloit students I’ve known. Having a core of gamer folks in the same house is super cool (full disclosure I am a Beloit alum and lived in the house when it first started).