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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DS is a top student. 1580 SAT. Also took ACT and scored 35. He was accepted to all the schools he applied to and he did not apply to many: GMU, Pitt, VaTech, JMU, VCU, UMD, and WPI. He wants to choose [b]GMU Honors for [/b](1) cost savings and (2) location. We live maybe 35 minutes away. He will live on campus. He can see us every day or never, it's up to him. [b]He has ADHD[/b]. He likes his therapist and doesn't want to lose her, he doesn't want to worry about access to his meds, and he takes solace in us being near just in case he needs support. The problem is everyone thinks he is throwing his talent away and they look down on him for his choice. I've heard his friends tease him about it. Many chose UVA, VATech, JMU. W&M. I am proud of him for choosing what is best for him. How do I help him be comfortable and confident in his decision?[/quote]

Parent of UVA and GMU students here.  two comments:

1) The Honors program is terrific.  I know of a recent grad who opted for the GMU honors program against other more costly private options due to sudden financial concerns that happened in her family.  She soared at GMU (graduated with highest honors) and has now been accepted at five very fine law schools. You are probably aware that the Honors program gives nice perks like Honors dorms and faculty meetings.  It was a great choice for this student.

2) re: ADHD.  My DC had this and an autism diagnosis.  He made use of the campus disability services which was not very strong at that time (start of freshman year would have been about 9 years ago).  There was too much turnover in the disability services office. No one could agree on what "services" should be offered.   I hope that has changed.  Check it out.  We paid an additional $6K for a "new" autism program that was a big disappointment and was disbanded the next year. But that may have all changed.  We were required to get "new" neuropsych testing because my son's was over three years old - which is standard - but just be prepared for that if your testing is old.  GMU provided us with a list of testers and we picked one that was familiar to us.  Another $3,000 down the drain in testing but them's the rules.  DS then took the testing to disability services before the start of the school year to set up accommodations.  Due to the diagnosis, we arranged for a single but somehow the GMU system managed to put DS in a Triple but being used as a cramped quad with three other students  ... so we had to go back to Disability services to get that corrected. You might want to consider the single if he lives on campus.

If you think your child will need extra time on tests or for tuning in papers, you will have to work that out through Disability Services.

Get a FERPA waiver so you can help your child advocate.  We had to make use of that once when a teacher was being abusive and claimed not to know of DS's issues (but each prof must sign a sheet at the beginning of the term indicating that they have been informed that your child has disabilities and receives accommodations and that signed document is returned to the Disability Services office). We had to advocate on behalf of DS.

Our child took 5 1/2 years to graduate because he took a reduced load.  He lived in the dorms for five years.  The last 6 months he took night courses to finish out the degree requirements.  He also took some summer courses which I was allowed to sit in at the back - it's lovely on campus during the summer and parking is easy so consider taking some of the more difficult courses then.

good luck.  happy to answer questions.[/quote]

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