A dear friend has a son with Asperger’s who decided to live at home and attend George Mason. For a while he didn’t have a car but lived on campus at the beginning and later on moved home and commuted. It’s what he wanted to do and he was very successful. Not all college experiences look the same.

If Virginia is an option, check out Mary Washington. Checks a lot of boxes from your list. Also has robust disability supports and great for economics/poli sci.

Same poster as above- my kid is also thinking poli sci or econ.

Also As a PP mentioned small liberal arts schools: we thought that would be best but it was what he liked the least.

I have a similar kid. My non-STEM ASD/ADHD often rigid kid has strongish stats. I agree with PP about staying close to home. We live in Maryland. We “forced” visits to:

2 small: Washington College, St Marys College of Md
1 med: UMBC
2 large: Towson, UMD

In order of his preference :
1) UMD but not sure he’ll get in because he did not take AP math or science. pretty walkable.
2) Towson very walkable; impressive campus/new buildings;
3) UMBC Liked vibe but he was concerned it was too STEM-y; not walkable at all.
4) SMCM too small for him; not walkable
5) Wash College- also small; wanted to leave immediately; DH and I thought walkable town was great.

I think housing is available at all of these for 4 years but for UMD and Towson a lot of kids move to apts that are pretty much on campus physically by junior or senior year.

If you struggle with rigidity, I would recommend visiting schools in the order of least to most interest. My kid’s attitude improved by the last few visits. I can’t tell if it was because he liked the schools more or if he was just coming around on accepting the whole process.

One thing we learned was some of the less competitive schools offer quite a few credits for AP classes- even for 3 on the test. In DS’ case this would take a little pressure off in finding a major, potentially double majoring or even just taking a lighter course load.

Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Introverted Junior in high school with mild Asperger's is refusing to research colleges. Says visiting campuses is a waste of time, and will attend the college with the lowest acceptance rate that he gets into. Since he doesn't drive, can folks here recommend 5 smallish colleges that 1) have a town with grocery store that is within walking distance, and 2) have guaranteed first year dorms so that he will have a built-in social living unit. Any that are in warmer climates are a plus, so that he can walk around in the winter. TIA!

That's not enough information for anyone to give you a useful recommendation. The vast majority of undergrads don't have cars. And nearly every school has guaranteed housing for freshmen.

Looks like you want a small, liberal arts college in a warmer part of the country. What's the intended major? What are the stats? Without that, it's kind of pointless to throw this at randos.

Sorry, yes here are more details. Probably economics/poli sci major. He has A's and B's. He got a pretty good SAT and ACt score. I'm pretty sure he could get into U maryland (I hope, knock on wood...). We are just in the planning stages of where to look at now and it is extremely hard to get him to cooperate with us. Extremely. He has Asperger's inflexibility. I think wherever he gets in we would be willing to move to as well, can work remotely.

Honestly, he doesn't sound ready. That doesn't mean he won't be ready in 6 months. But I'd just tell him that if he wants to go he needs to be engaged in the process, and if he doesn't want to engage he can take a gap year, or go to MC, or whatever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Introverted Junior in high school with mild Asperger's is refusing to research colleges. Says visiting campuses is a waste of time, and will attend the college with the lowest acceptance rate that he gets into. Since he doesn't drive, can folks here recommend 5 smallish colleges that 1) have a town with grocery store that is within walking distance, and 2) have guaranteed first year dorms so that he will have a built-in social living unit. Any that are in warmer climates are a plus, so that he can walk around in the winter. TIA!

That's not enough information for anyone to give you a useful recommendation. The vast majority of undergrads don't have cars. And nearly every school has guaranteed housing for freshmen.

Looks like you want a small, liberal arts college in a warmer part of the country. What's the intended major? What are the stats? Without that, it's kind of pointless to throw this at randos.

Sorry, yes here are more details. Probably economics/poli sci major. He has A's and B's. He got a pretty good SAT and ACt score. I'm pretty sure he could get into U maryland (I hope, knock on wood...). We are just in the planning stages of where to look at now and it is extremely hard to get him to cooperate with us. Extremely. He has Asperger's inflexibility. I think wherever he gets in we would be willing to move to as well, can work remotely.

Anonymous wrote:Introverted Junior in high school with mild Asperger's is refusing to research colleges. Says visiting campuses is a waste of time, and will attend the college with the lowest acceptance rate that he gets into. Since he doesn't drive, can folks here recommend 5 smallish colleges that 1) have a town with grocery store that is within walking distance, and 2) have guaranteed first year dorms so that he will have a built-in social living unit. Any that are in warmer climates are a plus, so that he can walk around in the winter. TIA!

That's not enough information for anyone to give you a useful recommendation. The vast majority of undergrads don't have cars. And nearly every school has guaranteed housing for freshmen.

Looks like you want a small, liberal arts college in a warmer part of the country. What's the intended major? What are the stats? Without that, it's kind of pointless to throw this at randos.

Many college campuses don't allow freshmen to have cars.

Campuses in or on the edge of an urban area would be the way around not driving.

Anonymous wrote:Introverted Junior in high school with mild Asperger's is refusing to research colleges. Says visiting campuses is a waste of time, and will attend the college with the lowest acceptance rate that he gets into. Since he doesn't drive, can folks here recommend 5 smallish colleges that 1) have a town with grocery store that is within walking distance, and 2) have guaranteed first year dorms so that he will have a built-in social living unit. Any that are in warmer climates are a plus, so that he can walk around in the winter. TIA!

Please keep him close to home. Believe it is a HUGE advantage. Sending good wishes to both of you.

Anonymous wrote:Major?

OP, yes, would be helpful to have a sense of possible major, selectivity, etc.

If he’s that rigid he’s going to have struggles in college. I’d keep him close to home.

Major?

You’re giving no information to guess at what selectivity of schools he is matched to.

CNU for VA, can take the train there, and there’s a grocery across the street. Residential for 3-4 years. 5000 students.

Introverted Junior in high school with mild Asperger's is refusing to research colleges. Says visiting campuses is a waste of time, and will attend the college with the lowest acceptance rate that he gets into. Since he doesn't drive, can folks here recommend 5 smallish colleges that 1) have a town with grocery store that is within walking distance, and 2) have guaranteed first year dorms so that he will have a built-in social living unit. Any that are in warmer climates are a plus, so that he can walk around in the winter. TIA!