Building a list- so much reading for dyslexic kid

[Anonymous]

We are starting the process of building a tentative college application list. We have visited campus types, we have a decent idea of where her GPA and test scores will land and her course of study is increasing in difficulty. She has been reflecting on her best fit characteristics for schools.

But the actual research process looks like a stack of phonebooks dropped on her desk. She is trying her best, but I've noticed the colleges she reads about first each night are more likely to land on her "possible" list. Is there any more tech-enabled way to do this? I am dreaming of a searchable database with things like "undergrad teaching focused", "small class sizes for entry level classes" as searchable fields.

Even an ebook version of the college guides that support screen readers would be helpful. I feel like I am missing some simple solution. The college counselors said the reading is part of the effort and to ask the special education team. The special education team hasn't had a student like her so they suggested community college she only gets extra time accommodations at school).

Her stats/ interests are as follows:
-3.8 GPA will have 1 AP senior year
~1200 SAT
-2 years foreign language
-will complete precalculus in HS but also considering statistics class if available (due to dyscalculia)
-Undecided major, interests include media/ communications, history, theater, forensics, marine biology, intends to go to grad school
-wants undergrad teaching focused school
-smallish class sizes for entry level classes (20-30)
-reasonably sized university (at least 5k students)
-opportunity to participate in/ do research
-writing center available on campus
-would prefer city, but access to city ok
-seasonal variation
-opportunity to do theater as non-theater major

[Anonymous]

TLDR. Oddly vague.

What state? Need merit? If so, aim for instate. College of st Mary if MD or Mary Washington or Longwood if VA.

[Anonymous]

A couple random college ideas based on your chip’s profile.

Eastern Carolina University
Muhlenberg College
Shenandoah University

Colleges that Change Lives may be another starting point list to work from, and possibly easier than the stack of large guidebooks.

https://ctcl.org/

[Anonymous]

My first thought is U Denver

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A couple random college ideas based on your chip’s profile.

Eastern Carolina University
Muhlenberg College
Shenandoah University

Colleges that Change Lives may be another starting point list to work from, and possibly easier than the stack of large guidebooks.

https://ctcl.org/

Thanks for the school suggestions. Maybe the list-building is best as a human-guided task.

I was looking for tools to make the student searching more accessible.

She did read the CTCL guide cover to cover because it was the most approachable. And Eckerd is on her list for some good reasons, but lacks seasons.

[Anonymous]

Is Naviance helpful for this?

[Anonymous]

Colleges that Change Lives is good.

But so too is watching videos about the colleges. When campuses were shut down because of the pandemic, most colleges started producing an array of videos about their schools. The videos may give a better feel than a guidebook, and may be a lot more fun.

[Anonymous]

My kid starting watching a bunch of YouTube videos on different colleges. I made a spreadsheet that had labels and he marked yes or no or filled in a word or number as he found info.
has housing all 4 years or just freshman.
City, suburbs country.
Majors I am interested in at this college
Has reasonable Lower division requirements
has sports clubs
has football team
how many students
etc.

[Anonymous]

There is nothing wrong with you doing a lot if the initial legwork here, especially in light of learning differences. Consider that some pay a college counselor to come up with an initial list. It’s ok if it’s not the student doing all the work.

As a parent, you may need to guide her re: prioritizing preferences and balancing needs and wants. You’ll want a school with a helpful disability office, and you might need to deprioritize mid-larger size.

That said, many Jesuit universities (and some other Catholic schools) are mid-sized and near/in cities. Lots of atheist, non-Christian students at these schools.

Consider Loyola MD, St Joseph’s in Philly, Seton Hall, U Scranton. Her grades are excellent, but her rigor is lower than many college applicants. She’ll have good options, but don’t be afraid to help with the research.

[Anonymous]

Elon. Ranks very high on best undergrad teaching list too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elon. Ranks very high on best undergrad teaching list too. Does she have Elon stats?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are starting the process of building a tentative college application list. We have visited campus types, we have a decent idea of where her GPA and test scores will land and her course of study is increasing in difficulty. She has been reflecting on her best fit characteristics for schools.

But the actual research process looks like a stack of phonebooks dropped on her desk. She is trying her best, but I've noticed the colleges she reads about first each night are more likely to land on her "possible" list. Is there any more tech-enabled way to do this? I am dreaming of a searchable database with things like "undergrad teaching focused", "small class sizes for entry level classes" as searchable fields.

Even an ebook version of the college guides that support screen readers would be helpful. I feel like I am missing some simple solution. The college counselors said the reading is part of the effort and to ask the special education team. The special education team hasn't had a student like her so they suggested community college she only gets extra time accommodations at school).

Her stats/ interests are as follows:
-3.8 GPA will have 1 AP senior year
~1200 SAT
-2 years foreign language
-will complete precalculus in HS but also considering statistics class if available (due to dyscalculia)
-Undecided major, interests include media/ communications, history, theater, forensics, marine biology, intends to go to grad school
-wants undergrad teaching focused school
-smallish class sizes for entry level classes (20-30)
-reasonably sized university (at least 5k students)
-opportunity to participate in/ do research
-writing center available on campus
-would prefer city, but access to city ok
-seasonal variation
-opportunity to do theater as non-theater major

Does she have any interesting or compelling ECs? Public or private school? School with known grade inflation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are starting the process of building a tentative college application list. We have visited campus types, we have a decent idea of where her GPA and test scores will land and her course of study is increasing in difficulty. She has been reflecting on her best fit characteristics for schools.

But the actual research process looks like a stack of phonebooks dropped on her desk. She is trying her best, but I've noticed the colleges she reads about first each night are more likely to land on her "possible" list. Is there any more tech-enabled way to do this? I am dreaming of a searchable database with things like "undergrad teaching focused", "small class sizes for entry level classes" as searchable fields.

Even an ebook version of the college guides that support screen readers would be helpful. I feel like I am missing some simple solution. The college counselors said the reading is part of the effort and to ask the special education team. The special education team hasn't had a student like her so they suggested community college she only gets extra time accommodations at school).

Her stats/ interests are as follows:
-3.8 GPA will have 1 AP senior year
~1200 SAT
-2 years foreign language
-will complete precalculus in HS but also considering statistics class if available (due to dyscalculia)
-Undecided major, interests include media/ communications, history, theater, forensics, marine biology, intends to go to grad school
-wants undergrad teaching focused school
-smallish class sizes for entry level classes (20-30)
-reasonably sized university (at least 5k students)
-opportunity to participate in/ do research
-writing center available on campus
-would prefer city, but access to city ok
-seasonal variation
-opportunity to do theater as non-theater major

Does she have any interesting or compelling ECs? Public or private school? School with known grade inflation?

Her ECs are theater (major play or musical each year), track and field athlete, thespian honor society, history honor society, and she is a social cause activist (started neurodiversity club, active in women's rights club, and also volunteers to help impoverished nearby school and replant coral reefs). She is hoping to create a dyslexia VR simulation her senior year, but that is a huge project and I don't know if it will be possible.

We are military posted overseas, so she is in a private international school. That is part of the issue, most of the students are gunning for top colleges and DD isn't after that. I am sure there is some grade inflation happening, but the bigger issue is that she isn't taking the AP classes that many of her peers are. That is absolutely the right choice for her, and we are very proud of her hard work and achievements. But it will be tough when she is compared to her peers if they apply to the same school.

We are hoping by helping her create a good possible list and then she can tell her story. Then she will be able to find a good fit where she will continue to grow and learn. She has her dad's post 9-11 GI Bill, so private schools are possible, depending on the cost.

I'm working on a spreadsheet design now. The videos are a great idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TLDR. Oddly vague.

What state? Need merit? If so, aim for instate. College of st Mary if MD or Mary Washington or Longwood if VA.

Great suggestions, especially if in state. Looking for private or public? Which state are you granted residence (as military)??

[Anonymous]

It can be hard to get students to use resources even if they don’t have learning differences.

I’d suggest helping her directly or hiring someone. But I think you can do it on your own and talk to her about the schools.