Son's college list, with a twist

Creekland
Mon, 23 Jul 2018 15:18:38 +0000

He’s very bright, underachieves in classes that do not challenge him. He can do a whole lot of nothing in a “boring” class and come out with an A or B. He absolutely absorbs information like a sponge when it is self-directed or when he has input into what he is learning. He does very, very well in his AP classes and in classes like Latin, which is a college-style seminar with lots of philosophy and deep thinking.

It will be very good for him to sit in on classes when he visits - have him pick a couple. Then have him talk with students from the class or in the library if he can find some who seem to be at a break point from their own studies.

I’ve worked for 19 years in a public high school. I’ve seen students like him go off on visits and be able to make their decision about contenders there doing just what I’ve described. Some schools are almost all lecture with students who haven’t even read the material yet. Getting a discussion is difficult. This is NOT a good fit for these types. Other schools have students who are interested and profs who expect the reading to have been done already with new info and/or discussion in their classes. Kids like your lad thrive in these environments.

He needs to gauge the overall environment and be sure he didn’t just get the “right/wrong” professor - hence - talking with students in addition to sitting in on classes himself.

If he gets a better ACT score, definitely consider U Rochester. My “loves learning” lad absolutely loved it there - and still made it into med school. He thrives on learning and rigor.

My “loves learning” lad wasn’t impressed with his brother’s classes at Eckerd, but they were in two different fields. Eckerd is very good at science and my Eckerd lad hardly took any science classes (the two joined in together for non-science classes). My lad who went there was very GREEN and enjoyed learning in that atmosphere. He was one professors loved because he’d delve into discussion (or so they told us when we visited). Apparently many others don’t. They want to just sit and learn, but I’d sit in on science classes before making that judgment across the board.

We don’t get enough kids from my area going to St Lawrence to be able to offer any current thoughts on that one. I know when I grew up in the area it wasn’t exactly considered top for academics (we all considered it a wealthy party school), but that was decades ago and schools definitely change. (Many of my top peers went on to top schools.) If your guy likes it, it’s definitely worth a visit IMO. He ought to be able to catch the current vibe to see if it appeals. The area is pretty. Students there tend to love the outdoors as much as Eckerd, just more mountain and skiing outdoors vs water outdoors like sailing and paddle boarding.

Allegheny is well regarded locally, but again, definitely rural. Juniata is similar. Franklin & Marshall is well regarded too, but they don’t offer merit aid. Washington and Jefferson tends to attract some of our “loves learning” kids. They’re small, so I don’t know that they have all the other things you’re looking for.

Just some musing this morning! Best wishes on your search!