LOL you’re right. He thinks that’s where he wants to be geographically but I think he might open his mind once we look at schools in between the coasts. And he might fit in to some in-the-box schools if they allow a lot of flexibility or really care about attracting these types of independent thinkers
Eckerd College motto is “Think Outside”. It has a very flexible program, fantastic mentor/professor program. Students are encouraged to begin research with their mentors as early as freshman year. They are on a 4-1-4 calendar. Extensive study abroad programs. Writers in Paradise program. Diplomat in resident. www.eckerd.edu/about/colleges-that-change-lives/
OP, it occurs to me that a good number of the schools mentioned to you on this thread can be found on the website for Colleges That Change Lives, here: https://ctcl.org/ . There might be more schools profiled on that website which could merit a closer look by you/your son.
Thank you everyone, your advice is fabulous!
Also consider Quest U in Canada
U of Rochester – open curriculum
Smaller schools that might suit him – along the lines of already-mentioned Marlboro and Hampshire –
- Unity in Maine -- https://www.unity.edu/
- College of the Atlantic -- https://www.coa.edu/
- Green Mountain -- http://www.greenmtn.edu/
- Warren Wilson -- https://www.warren-wilson.edu/
I second this, its a create your own major program
OP, any cost constraints?
Hampshire College may be a good fit.
Would either subject be a potential major? If so, investigate each college’s offerings in the subject.
If he decides to look at schools in “fly over” states, take a good look at Carleton. Students there love to learn and the school really encourages intellectual exploration.
Agree about Hampshire in that it has the added advantage of being part of the consortium where he could put together the math program that he feels suits his needs best.
Note to OP – Hampshire (and probably the other schools listed here that allow students to find their own paths) IMHO works best when the student has a clear direction ahead of time and has a clear idea of him or herself or theirself as the case may be. I personally love Hampshire college and alternative methods of education, but I also realize that the students who fare best there (a judgement based on people I’ve known through the years who have attended) already are clear-thinking and self-motivated. Those students have thrived at Hampshire and have used the advantage that Hampshire provide in piecing together their own classes that will help them achieve their existing unique vision. The student who’s more wishy-washy can get lost – big time. If your student is focused and self-directed – even if he or she doesn’t have an ultimate goal in sight – that seems to be okay too. They can find their ultimate goal as long as they have formulated a clear direction. Like if you have a student who knows that they want to understand education – like really understand how a person learns – but has no idea if they will become a professor or maybe go into the government DOE and help to formulate education policy or whatever – that’s okay. They have a clear direction though not an ultimate goal. If you have a child who sounds more like: Gee I don’t know what I want to do. Maybe I’ll try computers. Maybe I’ll try yoga. Or maybe I’ll look into nutrition. Not sure. – Hampshire and Hampshire-type-schools may not the best place for them. They may graduate but they may also get lost along the way.
Just my 2 cents.