Seeking College Recommendations for Nerdy, Techie, Socially Liberal Introverted kid...

Train_of_Thought said:

Tom_Reingold said:

Check out Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. It is like the Hampshire College of the west coast. It's quite unusual. Entrance requirements are easy, but survival is tough. Most people attrite by the end of freshman year. The survivors are brilliant and motivated people. They find or create their niches.

Go Geoducks!!

Geoducks?! That's what the students call themselves? 

Yep. That's the mascot. And for the record, your photo of geoducks is actually much more cleaned up than how they look in the market.

Did anyone mention Carleton college yet?

boomie said:

erins said:

The College of Wooster (my alma mater).  In fact, check out all the schools on the "Colleges That Change Lives" list.

Funny you mention this because he actually had an interview there.   Its very unique, isn't it?

It's a very unique place.  It wasn't until I took summer courses at Rutgers that I realized how lucky I was...to attend classes taught by professors (not assistants/grad students); to forge a relationship where you get invited to your professor's home; to get a chance to work one-on-one with a professor on an independent project for Junior and Senior year.  The independent study program prepares you so well for research many graduates go on to top graduate/PHD programs.  But I'm not sure if it is "techy" enough for your son.

Yes that's the hold up we are having.   Love the whole concept though, and the emphasis on mentored research.

If memory serves me well, Evergreen State is the school that had a ban on white people for a day, among other controversies.

Another member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest:  Cornell College in Iowa.  Unique because it operates under a One Course At A Time program.  

I attended before this practice was adopted, but as an active alumni I can attest that the graduates go on to awesome careers in a wide range of fields.  As a non-techie it is difficult for me to comment on if there may be a fit; but, at the time, a recent graduate ran the techie part of Obama's first presidential campaign.  

Worcester Polytech. 

Case Western Reserve, Washington University and Carnegie Mellon.

As you compile this list with your son he needs to first address whether he will thrive at a school geographically far from home..    What is the surrounding town like by the campus..   I also suggest you do a visit to feel the campus on a weekend when no new student program is planned to get a feel  what the campus is like.   If your son wants to major in computer science... does the small liberal arts school have the program to support it??     

Hampshire College +1  Although they sometimes come naked to the Halloween parties so the introvert thing might be a challenge.  

shoshannah said:

Clark University in Worcester, MA.

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester, NY

I'll second RIT (full disclosure, I graduated from there), great computer science program, many different sub majors in it (gaming vs. cyber security, etc.).  Consider Information Systems instead to avoid math as much as possible. Besides all the techie majors at RIT, there are other majors that are very different: photography, packaging, graphic design, industrial design, and hotel school.  Small Greek life but absolutely bonkers about their hockey team (a division III school with division I hockey teams).  RIT is in a suburb of Rochester, NY.  

The thing that sold me on RIT was the co-op program.  One of the oldest co-op programs, most of the techie majors require a co-op to graduate.  Co-ops are paid and are a great way to get experience in your field before you graduate.   In a lot of cases, the experience you receive in co-op leads to your first job.

Regards,

RCH

Harvey Mudd College www.hmc.edu     

Excellent recs here!   Thank you all.  RIT is my personal favorite right now.

boomie said:

Excellent recs here!   Thank you all.  RIT is my personal favorite right now.

Does he have a good pair of snow boots? (It sounds like a superficial factor, but, one way or another, I think seeing snow for most of my months on campus might have had an impact on my college experience.)

Also, kudos on the thread title. That's an enviable description.

HAHA thanks.  I wanted to be sure you got the idea...

Well I cannot thank you guys enough for this priceless info.    We have explored each of the suggestions in depth and have put together a first list of targets.   

UC Santa Cruz.

As a former Maplewoodian who moved to the Pacific NorthWest, I second the notion that Evergreen is a great fit and Geoducks make awesome sushi! I have also worked with recent graduates from RIT this year and was really impressed with their level of smarts, fortitude and comfort in their skin (if that makes sense). 

My son, who went to Tuscan and Columbia, is now attending Oregon State, which also has a good sampling of different courses and culture to fit your description.

So far he has applied to Beloit, College of Wooster, Goucher, RIT, Wells College, Ramapo, and his number one choice, a longshot, Stevens.  We anticipate a few more will be added.

That's a great list, best of luck

Thanks Apple!

Evergreen great school! Class of (83).

Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope is a wonderful book filled with personalized higher education schools...I know that Words carries it...many schools mentioned and some others will be found there

He applied to several on the "Colleges that Change Lives" list.   He has heard back from two colleges so far and both have accepted him.  Wells College and Clark University.   Seeking specific input on Clark if anyone has direct experience with it.  Thanks.

Clark University. A smaller Weslyan in Worcester MA. Liberal, nerdy, top quality academics, socially responsible, liberal arts university. 

Rufus said:

Clark University. A smaller Weslyan in Worcester MA. Liberal, nerdy, top quality academics, socially responsible, liberal arts university. 

Seconded again(my alma mater)!

Fantastic news!  Thank you.