Which setting was best for your introverted kid

[Anonymous]

Who is slow to warm up to people.

A big public university? A SLAC?

Please, share.

[Anonymous]

For my kid, an SLAC. Much easier adjustment to a small, friendly campus. Feeling comfortable made it easier for him to warm up socially. At a big school, he would have been lost.

[Anonymous]

Mid size private university

[Anonymous]

I would recommend SLAC. My kid is pretty extroverted and they found it exhausting to make a close friend group at a large state school. It took a weeks and weeks of: "hey, would you like to grab coffee?" and then introducing new friends to each other. Lather, rinse and repeat. A few months later and they had a great group but I'm not sure they could have done this if they were super introverted.

[Anonymous]

Many introverted kids like mine prefer the large state scene. More places to go . More of a “something for everyone” mentality. I think it depends a bit on how introverted, however. I have a quasi introvert who values close friendships and was dead set opposed to a SLAC.

[Anonymous]

Mid sized private—big enough to find people but not overwhelmingly massive. I think this is where the “fit” conversation comes in—DC selected a nerdy school and they feel very comfortable in that social scene.

[Anonymous]

Kid number 1 has completely broken out of his shell since attending a large public. Working through multiple bureaucracies like a health clinic appointment, registering and tryouts for club sport, meeting with advisors in 3 departments (major and 2 minors), withdrawing from honors program and visiting multiple 500+ unit apartment buildings to determine preferred off campus housing. Dealing with bureaucracy is a part of life and he is getting a head start.

[Anonymous]

SLACs for me and my kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many introverted kids like mine prefer the large state scene. More places to go . More of a “something for everyone” mentality. I think it depends a bit on how introverted, however. I have a quasi introvert who values close friendships and was dead set opposed to a SLAC.

+1
It seems counterintuitive, but a large state school can be great for introverts. Mine found himself being swept up in all the fun from day one with people in the dorm. I was stunned by how much he had "blossomed" when he came home for the first break. He found so many like-minded people to hang with and endless club opportunities. I definitely don't think he would have found this to be true at a SLAC.

[Anonymous]

I’m worried SLACs can be cliquey and if you’re out of state it will be hard to find a group.

But then in a big public most kids are from in state too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many introverted kids like mine prefer the large state scene. More places to go . More of a “something for everyone” mentality.

Totally disagree with the quoted text - and I am an introvert. Quoted text is how extroverts feel. Large numbers of people nearby increases stress for most introverts. Perhaps read the book Quiet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many introverted kids like mine prefer the large state scene. More places to go . More of a “something for everyone” mentality.

Totally disagree with the quoted text - and I am an introvert. Quoted text is how extroverts feel. Large numbers of people nearby increases stress for most introverts. Perhaps read the book Quiet?

DP. Sometimes a large, busier environment makes it easier to feel anonymous and blend in, which can feel comforting for an introvert. As long as they have a space to retreat to. Introverts aren’t all the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many introverted kids like mine prefer the large state scene. More places to go . More of a “something for everyone” mentality. I think it depends a bit on how introverted, however. I have a quasi introvert who values close friendships and was dead set opposed to a SLAC.

+2

Small schools like LACs can be a tough environment for an introvert. Cliques form quickly. Being left out on a small, isolated campus can lead to a miserable college experience.

Large schools--whether public or private--have a much larger and more varied scene both with respect to academic and to social options; something for everyone even if one prefers moments of anonymity.

[Anonymous]

This is my kid. She ended up at UMD and I was worried about how huge it is. She's thriving. I worried about freshman dorms but she was just fine. And as a sophomore, she's in a very-close-to-campus dorm-like apartment where she has a single room in a four bedroom apt and I think she loves it there.

[Anonymous]

What about an AUHD kid who wants to make connections but is easily overwhelmed or nervous so retreats to playing video games because it’s safer