Recommendations? 3.5 GPA, needs both rigor and support.

[Anonymous]

My youngest has the same GPA. He has applied to St. Joes and Furman like the OP above. He is TO so we aren't applying to any reach schools. He frankly needs to be with his peers and not with kids that are much smarter and more driven than him.

He has also applied to a few larger schools. Not sure how this will play out.

[Anonymous]

Univ of Dayton

[Anonymous]

Uni. Of Dayton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are some less selective schools that offer great merit aid and/or affordable out-of-state tuition and excellent student support (advising, executive function help), but still have solid/rigorous programs? Schools that might give money to a really bright but somewhat scattered student taking demanding courses and pulling about a 3.5 unweighted (higher weighted because of the rigor)? Student has an ADHD diagnosis but no IEP and does not receive any accommodations in high school, so probably won't in college either, but will still need a supportive environment with good default support. He is also a strong reader and thinker and would get bored in a sea of unserious or unintelligent peers. The lower GPA is from being scattered, occasional late work, etc., but not from lack of conceptual understanding. Any affordable-ish schools you'd recommend for this kind of student (ideally no more than 45K all-in, per year)? Prefer Mid-Atlantic or New England but would consider going further south. Does this exist?

Well don't know in the Mid Atlantic or New England, but would look at the Jesuit universities (think Marquette, Creighton, Gonzaga, etc). Marquette and Gonzaga both provide what you are looking for (know from experience). Have a kid just like yours who chose between those two. Ended up at MU and while struggled first year (it was the major---premed not for them, once they switched to finance it was much smoother), they had a lot of help if they asked for it. Professors care, the staff who manage the undergrads are amazing. And my 25 ACT/3.5UW/no AP kid got 35% of tuition for all 4 years (well it was 35% of freshman year, and stayed the same numeric amount all 4 years, so slightly less % each year). So 50% kid got great merit.

BOth schools have 20%+ of first gen students, so they are used to working with kids who need assistance

[Anonymous]

I think keeping it under 45,000 makes it much easier than keeping it under 40,000. At least from what I have seen. Jesuit and Catholic schools are great options.

And kids love Dayton.

[Anonymous]

What sort of ADHD services do colleges offer?

Knocking on doors to get kids out of bed? Escorts to classes? Homework supervision?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids with similar unweighted GPA, 10-11 AP classes, and SATs over 700 in both sections got merit aid at lots of colleges outside of the top 30. That seemed to be the cut off for merit aid, but not admissions.

But I agree with PPs that without prior accommodations or a neuropsych recommending accommodations, you probably won't get them. So look for schools that have strong student academic services available to all students. I think you will find that most schools have that.

This is not true at all schools, so it's worth asking the Disability Services office at each individual college on your DCs list what their requirements are.

My DC never had accommodations in HS, as she was "diagnosed" (my opinions about that process are an entirely different story that is irrelevant to this thread) with ADHD by her therapist during senior year. But she reached out to her college over the summer and was granted a peer notetaker upon request, extended deadlines on projects, and extended time/alternative locations for testing. There was absolutely no neuropsych testing involved at any time.

Happily there are exceptions, which is why I said "probably," as "no accommodation" is the probable, but not absolute outcome. Nonetheless, most schools have peer tutoring, writing support, etc. available to all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What sort of ADHD services do colleges offer?

Knocking on doors to get kids out of bed? Escorts to classes? Homework supervision?

Mostly support protecting them from jagoffs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like how you say he’d get “bored” around less serious kids but he himself only has a 3.5 and you won’t even tell us his test scores.

DP: the kid has ADHD, so the "only 3.5" is likely a result of the ADHD/lack of EF, etc. He's likely much smarter than that and may thrive once at college where 75%+ of what you get to study is things that interest you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those recommending a neuropsych evaluation, where and how do you go about finding a reputable one, either out of pocket or otherwise?

My senior kid sounds like OPs, but has never had a formal evaluation or diagnosis. Would like to do this this year if possible, before college.

yes do it before college. It will likely take you 3-6Months+ to get an appt, unless you get lucky and get a cancellation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are some less selective schools that offer great merit aid and/or affordable out-of-state tuition and excellent student support (advising, executive function help), but still have solid/rigorous programs? Schools that might give money to a really bright but somewhat scattered student taking demanding courses and pulling about a 3.5 unweighted (higher weighted because of the rigor)? Student has an ADHD diagnosis but no IEP and does not receive any accommodations in high school, so probably won't in college either, but will still need a supportive environment with good default support. He is also a strong reader and thinker and would get bored in a sea of unserious or unintelligent peers. The lower GPA is from being scattered, occasional late work, etc., but not from lack of conceptual understanding. Any affordable-ish schools you'd recommend for this kind of student (ideally no more than 45K all-in, per year)? Prefer Mid-Atlantic or New England but would consider going further south. Does this exist?

What about distance from home, rural vs suburban or urban? What size school?

I found by the time we considered distance from home (ideally no more than than 4 hours) suburban/urban, school size (not too big that professors don’t know their students and not so small that socially confining) and budget - there would have been no schools on the list if an ADHD specific program/support was also part of the criteria. There was also some schools that were mentioned as supportive that were in a quarter system and my kid had a preference for semesters. We ended up a a medium size, liberal arts school; paying for private virtual EF coaching. We made sure our kid did the paperwork for disability services at school - they use the extra test time and taking the exam in a distraction free environment.

I can’t think of a single four year college or university that doesn’t have a disability services office which will help your kid get accommodations. You don’t need a specific ADHD program. This is what disability services do - help ADHD kids.

But at some schools it is "lip service" and at others they actually provide detailed help. I find smaller schools, in the 4-8K range and private tend to do more. Also ones that have a goal of having more "first gen Students' attend and actually help them also seem to care about their kids with ADHD/Anxiety/EF. But your kid will have to learn to help themselves, it has to be driven by them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think keeping it under 45,000 makes it much easier than keeping it under 40,000. At least from what I have seen. Jesuit and Catholic schools are great options.

And kids love Dayton.

+1
The Jesuit schools are also great if you are not religious. My kid attended one, and outside the 1 theology course they had to take, there were no "required religiousness". My kid approached theology 101 as a "history course"

Jesuit schools typically really "care about their students" and have faculty and staff in place who care and truly want to help. Smaller sizes means smaller classes and it's easier to get help (as it has to come from the kid---things are offered but your kid has to take advantage of it).

For example: my kid struggled freshman year in a premed major, ultimately switched to business. But the "program manager" for the "premed program" was amazing. She remembered my kid 3+ years later at graduation (kid switched in April of freshman year) and had genuine interest in how he was doing (she watched hims struggle freshman year and was proud of all he did to get help and find his path--she helped guide him as needed). You don't get that most places.

[Anonymous]

Look at Marist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son got into UConn with great merit ($23K per year) which basically made it equivalent to in-state tuition.

I was surprised because his GPA was not good (3.3) and he was applying to engineering. I think it must have been his ACT score (34) that got him that kind of aid. So if your DS has a high score, you may get a similar package, I would look into it.

My DS has executive function difficulties and one of the reasons he applied was because UConn has a program called "Beyond Access" that helps students with EF issues (there is an extra fee associated with it, but it was reasonable).

This is good to know, thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What sort of ADHD services do colleges offer?

Knocking on doors to get kids out of bed? Escorts to classes? Homework supervision?

This is what I don't understand. What are the specific supports OP is looking for? Everyone is offering school suggestions but what are the specifics that these schools offer? All schools will offer tutoring and professor office hours. A kid will have to take the initiative to attend. All schools will offer extra time or quiet room testing with disability service approval.

There is going to be limited scaffolding of assignments, calendar management, or review of syllabi without hiring a private tutor.