Not your typical DCUM Kid
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Anonymous
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My S22 isn’t your typical DCUM kid but is finding his way through high school. His junior year was extremely challenging both academically and personally, which negatively impacted his grades. He had a 3.31/3.66 going into junior year and now has a 2.87/3.31, with two E’s on the transcript (AP Chem-2nd semester, Spanish 4-2nd semester). He also has a 504 plan at school based on his ADHD diagnosis. We worked with an executive functioning coach last year which seemed to help.
He does play a sport year round, which takes up a lot of time (no aspirations of playing in college). He has also had a job since the summer of 2019, where he works nearly 20 hours per week. Not a lot of other EC’s. He’s taken the SAT once and scored a 960. We have since pivoted to the ACT, which he is taking on 9/11. Recently took a practice ACT and scored a 22. Hoping that maybe a strong start to his senior year will help if schools defer until 1st semester grades are in. He is taking a somewhat rigorous schedule (AP Calc, AP Stats, AP Env Sci, Honors English, Honors World History, and a double period internship). He was been generally uninterested in college until recently. They just started back at school in person this week and I think being around friends again and talking has sparked some interest. He has expressed an interest in majoring in business and possibly finance. The current list of schools is LONG and many are huge reaches (please save the "no chance of getting in responses", I get it) and also varying sizes. What I’d love at this point is any feedback. Of course if there are others you want to suggest, happy to hear them! The only schools he has visited are the ones he tagged along when we did this with D19 (Delaware, Elon, McDaniel, Pitt, Duquesne, College of Charleston). Thinking about playing ED card if it improves his chances at one of the better schools he is considering. Here is the current list. Salisbury (in-state) Towson (in-state) McDaniel Mary Washington Susquehana Xavier Purdue VT Duquesne Roanoke JMU St. Joseph’s Dayton Ithaca College of Charleston Auburn South Carolina Delaware Indiana Pitt Miami OH Fairfield Providence Also we’re full pay and so not chasing merit. Just want to find a place that my boy will thrive and not fall through the cracks. It is clear to me (not so much to him) that he needs a bit of hand holding, smaller classes, and attention. Also, not interested in community college. Thanks and look forward to everyone’s input. |
Anonymous
| This all seems fine, what is the question? |
Anonymous
What I’d love at this point is any feedback. Of course if there are others you want to suggest, happy to hear them! |
Anonymous
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I would avoid Indiana, South Carolina, JMU, Purdue, Auburn, Delaware, and VT. Too easy to get lost in the shuffle and party-party.
Lynn University in FL has been wonderful for my ADHD nephew. He has really blossomed there. I have heard good things about McDaniel for ADHD. |
Anonymous
Agreed. You could also cut Pitt. I love it, but it can be tough to get into, depending on when you apply, and it's big. Overall, I think your list is good. |
Anonymous
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This all sounds fine. Personally I think picking a school in a bigger region (like Delaware) is a smart move - more access to internships; better name recognition on the job market. While I understand why you would think smaller classes/smaller school would be better for him, I'll just say anecdotally that my ADHD/underacheiver relative really blossomed at a large state university. You do want a diversity of opportunities, clubs, classes and majors for him. Like, what if he decides he wants to do something like exercise science or recreational therapy as a major?
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Anonymous
| These are all good choices. My kid had a 2.7 unweighted GPA from a non-big 3 private and got significant merit aid from several on your list. Your son would do well applying to SLACs if only because they are short on makes. Big thumbs up to McDaniel, Loyola MD, St. Joe’s in Philly, Elon, Eckerd, Mary Washington, Muhlenberg, Shenandoah U. All nurturing choices. |
Anonymous
| Short on males! |
Anonymous
Thanks very much and agree 100% with schools to cut. |
Anonymous
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My average kid is slightly better on GPA and scores, has several of the else as matches. Pitt, Delaware and VT are reaches.
Look at SLACs like Roanoke or Lynchburg. ODU is a safety for us. |
Anonymous
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Your son is lucky you have your head on straight. I think your list is good (yes long). Is it Naviance-informed?
I think small is good for kids who might fall between the cracks, because someone is more likely to notice. Best wishes to him. |
Anonymous
| I’d also cut Duquesne, Miami Ohio and add Eckerd as someone else suggested + New College (both Florida), Juniata, St Vincent (both PA), and smaller outposts of some state schools (some of the Penn State and UNC are nice) |
Anonymous
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My ADHD DC was a 3.3 GPA, no APs, only 1 honors class in HS. No sports, no job, some volunteering work. (Ha, talk about not-your-typical DCUM kid!)
Got a 26 on the ACT (with accommodations). Applied EA to these schools and got accepted by all: McDaniel, UMW, CNU, Roanoke, GMU. We specifically looked for schools with strong transition programs for Freshmen since we were also looking for the hand-holding and attention. Looked at Community College but already knew it wasn't going to be a good fit. I don't think you need to do ED, but I think EA certainly helped. Got big merit at McDaniel and Roanoke and a small scholarship at UMW. McDaniel has rolling admissions so it was great to already get an acceptance in November. Heard from Roanoke and UMW in February. Was waitlisted at CNU and GMU, was accepted in July. |
Anonymous
| Temple has a highly rated business school. Put that on the list. Many Catholic colleges are not as hard to get in and have good business schools. At Joe’s, Siena, St John’s and Fordham come to mind. |
Anonymous
| If he checks out Providence, he could also look at Bryant in RI. |