Where do all the shy kids go?

[Anonymous]

My introverted son went to VT and loved it. He also branched out a lot more than he had previously in high school, met his best friends, and took on leadership roles in clubs. It was a terrific growing experience for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here- DC is both shy and introverted. Moved from public to private and enjoys the smaller school. Also enjoyed our tour of Rutgers.

He likes the ability to go out and do things, but doesn't usually take advantage of social opportunities because he is shy and needs significant time to recharge.

What is a good website to identify campus culture?

His ideal Friday night would be studying early, followed by a party, but then he would stay in his dorm until his next class on Tuesday and would grubhub all 3 days if possible in order to recharge. He'll probably ignore your texts for most of those days too.

He's not meeting up with friends for food during the day, or between classes. I imagine him doing his own thing 80% of the time.

Based on some of the comments, I'm thinking he would benefit from a bigger school.

Johns Hopkins, Tufts, Rochester

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here- DC is both shy and introverted. Moved from public to private and enjoys the smaller school. Also enjoyed our tour of Rutgers.

He likes the ability to go out and do things, but doesn't usually take advantage of social opportunities because he is shy and needs significant time to recharge.

What is a good website to identify campus culture?

His ideal Friday night would be studying early, followed by a party, but then he would stay in his dorm until his next class on Tuesday and would grubhub all 3 days if possible in order to recharge. He'll probably ignore your texts for most of those days too.

He's not meeting up with friends for food during the day, or between classes. I imagine him doing his own thing 80% of the time.

Based on some of the comments, I'm thinking he would benefit from a bigger school.

Agree OP. I was a shy introverted smart kid and went to Rutgers. Absolutely loved it. Was able to do as much or as little as I wanted. My own DD is very similar and also goes to a large state school. Also loving it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LACs.

Why LACs?

SLACs are small enough that quiet introverted people aren’t drowned or left out. Less emphasis on social or Greek scene.

Harvey Mudd
Reed College
Swarthmore
Mount Holyoke
Grinnell

Idk. Shy doesn't mean offbeat or nerdy (I don't mean that negatively as I am both myself!). I have a shy athlete girl who loves fashion, pop culture. She is getting a lot of mail from most of these schools and it's not her vibe at all. She's probably going to go to our flagship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:William & Mary

I've heard it's not a great place to be an introvert actually, small enough that you'll always be running into people you know on campus

[Anonymous]

My introvert has applied to schools of all sizes, from LACs to 6000ish to large universities, and I think she feels that all of them would be a good fit. So she wasn't necessarily driven by size. I agree that what colleges appear to value skews toward extroverts. She wrote several of her supplements on the strengths and capabilities of introverts, drawing on direct experience, so we'll see how that shakes out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William & Mary

I've heard it's not a great place to be an introvert actually, small enough that you'll always be running into people you know on campus

OP here- I don't think he would mind it. He just wouldn't initiate the interaction. He enjoys having an active study group. I think a PP suggested W&M and from my limited knowledge it has potential. Would love for someone else to chime in with their experience.

[Anonymous]

Bigger schools. Small schools are much more cliquey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LACs.

Why LACs?

Most LACs have great orientation and sometimes pre- orientation programs that force team-building/ small group bonding. Great for shy kids (great for all kids, IMHO) as they transition to college.

[Anonymous]

Emory
Kenyon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LACs.

Why LACs?

Most LACs have great orientation and sometimes pre- orientation programs that force team-building/ small group bonding. Great for shy kids (great for all kids, IMHO) as they transition to college.

This. Look for a school with a week-long orientation program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LACs.

Why LACs?

Most LACs have great orientation and sometimes pre- orientation programs that force team-building/ small group bonding. Great for shy kids (great for all kids, IMHO) as they transition to college.

DP. Most schools in general have freshman orientation, with various activities and team-building exercises. This is certainly not unique to LACs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here- DC is both shy and introverted. Moved from public to private and enjoys the smaller school. Also enjoyed our tour of Rutgers.

He likes the ability to go out and do things, but doesn't usually take advantage of social opportunities because he is shy and needs significant time to recharge.

What is a good website to identify campus culture?

His ideal Friday night would be studying early, followed by a party, but then he would stay in his dorm until his next class on Tuesday and would grubhub all 3 days if possible in order to recharge. He'll probably ignore your texts for most of those days too.

He's not meeting up with friends for food during the day, or between classes. I imagine him doing his own thing 80% of the time.

Based on some of the comments, I'm thinking he would benefit from a bigger school.

Johns Hopkins, Tufts, Rochester

You're very bad at recommendations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LACs.

Why LACs?

SLACs are small enough that quiet introverted people aren’t drowned or left out. Less emphasis on social or Greek scene.

Harvey Mudd
Reed College
Swarthmore
Mount Holyoke
Grinnell

Idk. Shy doesn't mean offbeat or nerdy (I don't mean that negatively as I am both myself!). I have a shy athlete girl who loves fashion, pop culture. She is getting a lot of mail from most of these schools and it's not her vibe at all. She's probably going to go to our flagship.

Really none of those things are related.