My kid is interested in the most random schools...

[Anonymous]

My kid, a current junior, is interested in the most seemingly random schools. He has the grades (so far) to get into VT or similar. I can't decide if this is a phase, if he's doing this to get a reaction out of me, or if he legitimately has found something in these schools that speaks to him.

Does anyone know anything about:

University of North Dakota. He says he is interested in their medical school for Rural Medicine, and they accept few people from outside of North Dakota, so going to undergrad and establishing residency there would help. He is also possibly interested in being a large animal vet, and they do have a pre-vet program.

New Mexico State. Also have a pre-vet program and majors like Rangeland Resources, Animal Science and Wildlife Ecology.

UC- Merced. Interested in their Natural Sciences programs- likes the field research component he's read about.


What I've gathered from his list and comments so far:

He wants to go far away/is drawn to the west. We do 1.5-2 week road trips through the west/national parks every summer and I know he really likes the more open spaces.
He wants to do something "outdoorsy"/not-a-typical-IT-office-job but isn't sure what. Other than the above mentioned road trips, this is a suburban kid, so I'm not sure if he really has a feel for what careers would be a fit.

Any ideas on other schools, or how to help him get a taste of rural life/careers? I'm concerned that he'll get his heart set on one of these schools, go there, and then decide it's not a good fit. I know he can transfer, if needed, but I'd rather help him find a school he likes that will also have options in case he decides that Rangeland Management is not for him. I feel like New Mexico State might be limiting if he changes direction.

(Also, I'm a little sad knowing that if he goes to one of these schools, he's likely to stay in that state for his first job. North Dakota seems so far away!)

[Anonymous]

Did you say where you live, OP?

[Anonymous]

University of Colorado in Boulder isn't rural, but it does have access to huge open spaces that might appeal to your son.

I'd also look at Montana. And Wyoming?

[Anonymous]

OP here- We live in Northern Virginia/Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

I asked because Virginia Tech is not out west, but it is definitely rural and a good 4-5 hour drive. Virginia tech Lots of rural medicine, great vet. school, and lots of environmental programs. UVA Med school (much closer in) but a rural medicine program. Purdue might also be an option.

[Anonymous]

Iowa State has a GREAT pre-vet/animal science program, probably what it’s best known for. But it’s also a big enough/well-known enough school that if he changes direction he will have a range of programs available and it’s not so obscure that people will go “huh?”

I know they give good merit aid.

Ames is a nice little college town but definitely small. 5 minutes off campus and you’re in a corn field.

UC-Davis is also known for its more outdoorsy/natural majors and is a great school. Davis is small town with more of a rural feel but is close to Sacramento for flights and such.

Your son sounds super cool!

[Anonymous]

Colorado State also has a Natural Resources college, animal science, vet school, and it's not North Dakota.

Oregon State and Univ. Of British Columbia would be worth checking out.

[Anonymous]

Some pretty cool choices there!

I'd add: Montana State Univ.
Humboldt State

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Iowa State has a GREAT pre-vet/animal science program, probably what it’s best known for. But it’s also a big enough/well-known enough school that if he changes direction he will have a range of programs available and it’s not so obscure that people will go “huh?”

I know they give good merit aid.

Ames is a nice little college town but definitely small. 5 minutes off campus and you’re in a corn field.

UC-Davis is also known for its more outdoorsy/natural majors and is a great school. Davis is small town with more of a rural feel but is close to Sacramento for flights and such.

Your son sounds super cool!

I lived near Sacramento for a while. It's just a few hours to Lake Tahoe or to the beach.

[Anonymous]

Your sons list doesn’t sound that random to me. Impressed he can articulate why he is interested in these schools, that it required some research and he’s identified some unexpected options.

He should also probably apply to an in-state option for affordability but overall a good start for early junior year IMO.

[Anonymous]

For getting a taste of rural life/careers, perhaps he can focus on finding an internship/camp/volunteer program for next summer to help him try that out.

Youth Conservation Corps could be one option: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/youthprograms/ycc.htm
or the Student Conservation Association: https://www.thesca.org/serve/youth-programs

I'm bookmarking your son's list for my DD -- she has similar rural/outdoor/animal interests although she wants to stay on the East coast so Va Tech is her current dream (she's only in middle school)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Iowa State has a GREAT pre-vet/animal science program, probably what it’s best known for. But it’s also a big enough/well-known enough school that if he changes direction he will have a range of programs available and it’s not so obscure that people will go “huh?”

I know they give good merit aid.

Ames is a nice little college town but definitely small. 5 minutes off campus and you’re in a corn field.

UC-Davis is also known for its more outdoorsy/natural majors and is a great school. Davis is small town with more of a rural feel but is close to Sacramento for flights and such.

Your son sounds super cool!

I lived near Sacramento for a while. It's just a few hours to Lake Tahoe or to the beach.

Ditto the UC Davis recommendation. My family lives near there and it's a good balance of being close to the outdoors plus the benefits of a large city.

[Anonymous]

OP Here- Thank you, everyone! I glad the list seems less random to some of you- I guess I was expecting him to apply to VT, Penn State, etc, until we sat down a few weeks ago to start making a list. I will have to adjust my perspective.

He is planning to apply to Virginia Tech, at my request, but he feels that too many people from his high school go to VT, and he wants to get away from that. But, yes, an in-state tuition option would be great.

I will definitely ask him to take a look at all of the suggestions below- especially Iowa State, UC Davis, Purdue, U of Colorado/Colorado State, to see if he wants to look at any of them. They all sound like they have qualities that would be a good fit, but also be more flexible if he changes direction.

Those summer program also look great- I just want him to get a feel for what these careers would really be like. He is also going to look into a part time job at one of the horse barns in Clifton. We've always lived in a typical suburban subdivision and he's had typical suburban kid activities- taekwondo, swim team, etc. He has always liked helping me in the garden and cooking, but he's never spent time on a farm. He has started rock climbing, but at gyms, not in the wild. The largest animal he's spent time with is our dog. But I guess sometimes you just know, and he can build experience over time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP Here- Thank you, everyone! I glad the list seems less random to some of you- I guess I was expecting him to apply to VT, Penn State, etc, until we sat down a few weeks ago to start making a list. I will have to adjust my perspective.

He is planning to apply to Virginia Tech, at my request, but he feels that too many people from his high school go to VT, and he wants to get away from that. But, yes, an in-state tuition option would be great.

I will definitely ask him to take a look at all of the suggestions below- especially Iowa State, UC Davis, Purdue, U of Colorado/Colorado State, to see if he wants to look at any of them. They all sound like they have qualities that would be a good fit, but also be more flexible if he changes direction.

Those summer program also look great- I just want him to get a feel for what these careers would really be like. He is also going to look into a part time job at one of the horse barns in Clifton. We've always lived in a typical suburban subdivision and he's had typical suburban kid activities- taekwondo, swim team, etc. He has always liked helping me in the garden and cooking, but he's never spent time on a farm. He has started rock climbing, but at gyms, not in the wild. The largest animal he's spent time with is our dog. But I guess sometimes you just know, and he can build experience over time.



Has he actually toured VT yet? (I am not a parent or a booster). We toured and my DS LOVED the place! It does seem out in the middle of nowhere but has a wonderful campus and spirit. Do make the trip. It's so huge he may find friends from high school either don't get in or go off on their own. DS chose UVA and has never even seen (yet) some of his classmates. A lot of people make that comment but when you are actually on campus with 37,000 people you don't run into your high school chums that often. At least that is my DS's experience. When he comes home I will ask "Do you ever see X?" (kid from high school, kid from church, kid from scouting). Nope. He has his own set of friends. I was impressed with VT and with the type of programs that your son wants.

[Anonymous]

If he loves mountains, can’t beat U of Utah.