#1 Undergraduate teaching

[Anonymous]

Someone recommended Elon to our EF challenged kid saying that they are ranked #1 in undergrad teaching and first year experience. What exactly do those mean? What factors are considered in making such a determination? DC is quite undecided on what they want to study but likely leans towards business or tech.

[Anonymous]

US News ranks for teaching (separate rankings for universities and liberal arts colleges) check their site for details.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know how US News measures that but it’s a good thing to consider. Generally LACs will do better on this than large universities

[Anonymous]

US News talks about ranking being based on surveys. I guess my question really is, does this matter? What's the practical impact of this on the students? Will the school nag the kids to get the work done, essentially, parents-in-absentia?
Does this translate into better learning and therefore higher earnings for students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:US News talks about ranking being based on surveys. I guess my question really is, does this matter? What's the practical impact of this on the students? Will the school nag the kids to get the work done, essentially, parents-in-absentia?
Does this translate into better learning and therefore higher earnings for students?

My DD is a senior applying to colleges (mainly SLACs) and I liked to see how her colleges ranked on Undergraduate Teaching. I'm also interested in hearing about what goes into First Year Student Experience.

One thing I'm pretty sure of, however, is no college teacher will nag the kids to get the work done. Especially only like a parent would do.

[Anonymous]

Elon has never seemed like a very academic place to me. Davidson on the other hand.

[Anonymous]

Love Elon for my kid. Not sure about the EF side of things. But, the classes are small and the teachers are engaged -- sort of like an LAC experience, but with more activities, resources. Elon is also very well run (speaking from experience re the college my other kid goes to). They also have a really great first year experience, "neighborhood" activities (dorms are in neighborhoods and the student leadership for each neighborhood organizes activities just for them), and other ways for the kids to get to know each other. They also have a required 1-credit class that the freshmen need to take that helps them map out their four years and orients them to Elon resources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Love Elon for my kid. Not sure about the EF side of things. But, the classes are small and the teachers are engaged -- sort of like an LAC experience, but with more activities, resources. Elon is also very well run (speaking from experience re the college my other kid goes to). They also have a really great first year experience, "neighborhood" activities (dorms are in neighborhoods and the student leadership for each neighborhood organizes activities just for them), and other ways for the kids to get to know each other. They also have a required 1-credit class that the freshmen need to take that helps them map out their four years and orients them to Elon resources.

Thank you! This helps..

[Anonymous]

PP here. Just one more thing...like at LACs, you can major in anything you want to without needing to apply for a different major. There are just two exceptions: the BFA which requires an audition (many go on to Broadway) and a sound recording major.

[Anonymous]

Elon's USNWR ranking has plummeted like Biden's job approval. Must not be recruiting those Pell kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elon has never seemed like a very academic place to me. Davidson on the other hand.

What's the point of even making this comparison? These two schools have never pretended to be peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Just one more thing...like at LACs, you can major in anything you want to without needing to apply for a different major. There are just two exceptions: the BFA which requires an audition (many go on to Broadway) and a sound recording major.

Good to know.. DS has issues staying focused, submitting work on time, etc and no one cares at school. Therapy/coach is not helping. Wondering if he'd be better off at a place like Elon vs. a public, instate or otherwise. The ability to explore and change majors is a big help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Just one more thing...like at LACs, you can major in anything you want to without needing to apply for a different major. There are just two exceptions: the BFA which requires an audition (many go on to Broadway) and a sound recording major.

Good to know.. DS has issues staying focused, submitting work on time, etc and no one cares at school. Therapy/coach is not helping. Wondering if he'd be better off at a place like Elon vs. a public, instate or otherwise. The ability to explore and change majors is a big help.

If you are OP, you needed to say this upfront to get feedback. You can also cross post in Special Needs forum to get feedback from SN parents.

You need to drop the fixation on usnwr rankings and switch to focusing on the supports certain schools provide. There are entire books written on evaluating disability services offices. Get up to speed on that first because it sounds like your DS will need to get accommodations which means working with disability services. Are you in public or private.? Does your son have an IEP or 504? When was his last neuropsych testing?

[Anonymous]

I recently listened to this great podcast that some parents might find helpful:

The Truth About Learning Disabilities and Applying to College - Elizabeth Hamblet

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-about-learning-disabilities-and-applying/id1649349413?i=1000634760313

[Anonymous]

My daughter with EF issues is applying to Dean in MA and Randolph in VA. Dean has multiple levels of academic support for their students and Randolph does the Take2 program.

Another school I have heard is good for kids with EF issues is Emory & Henry, which is a CTCL school.