OP-- not answering your question, but a brilliant kid who wants to study history/latin, walks dogs and fosters them for rescue sounds like a lovely human being, the kind that we need more of -- any college would be lucky to have him.

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. Thank you for all your advice.

Cost is not a factor.

He would prefer smaller classes with professors that are easily available, because of his learning disabilities.

We live in MD close to DC, near a Red line metro station.

He also has an Asian last name. Are Asian males held to higher standards in admissions, if they want to study Humanities, instead of STEM?

AU is the best commute and would be a good fit.

OP here. Thank you for all your advice.

Cost is not a factor.

He would prefer smaller classes with professors that are easily available, because of his learning disabilities.

We live in MD close to DC, near a Red line metro station.

He also has an Asian last name. Are Asian males held to higher standards in admissions, if they want to study Humanities, instead of STEM?

Your son fits the profile of a typical GMU student from 25 years ago.

I assume you live in Maryland so could he get into UMD? Good for classics. That seems like the best fit. I would also consider Trinity Washington and Marymount in Arlington for the personalized education, although trinity is 94% female undergrads, which is either a pro or a con depending on how you look at it!

What about Gettysburg- staying on campus during week but coming home on weekends?

Anonymous wrote:Also St John Annapolis could be a very interesting option

This is what I was thinking might fit this kid well-- the classic interests (Latin and history), the close attention, the historical lens and nearby. A lot of quirky kids go there and he would be above their stats so maybe eligible for merit aid. I would seriously have him look into it, OP.

Anonymous wrote:Also St John Annapolis could be a very interesting option

I was going to post the same thing. Whether it would work as a commuter depends on where in the DC area OP lives though.

OP, does he want a big school or a small one?

Anonymous wrote:I think the best options for him are College of William and Mary or St. Mary's, depending where you live. William and Mary is particularly strong in history, offers quite a few Latin courses, is small and has a good reputation. Admissions would be helped by being male. I am not sure how they do with lds but the class size tends to run small.

Otherwise, I would look at UMD-College Park and Catholic. He may be able to get into an honors program.

College of William and Mary isn't really commute-friendly from anywhere in NOVA though.

To OP -is cost a factor? Some of the schools being mentioned are very expensive

I'm the PP recommending William & Mary...

As far as Georgetown... Does he have any hooks? Is he coming from a private or Catholic school with a record of admissions to Georgetown? Otherwise, I think admissions is a high reach. Georgetown's 25-75 ACT range is 31-35 so an unhooked kid would have to have somewhere near 35, have strong extracurriculars. Even then, local admissions are tough. That said, there is no harm in trying but I think strengthening the extracurriculars with some of the suggestions above is a good idea.

I think the best options for him are College of William and Mary or St. Mary's, depending where you live. William and Mary is particularly strong in history, offers quite a few Latin courses, is small and has a good reputation. Admissions would be helped by being male. I am not sure how they do with lds but the class size tends to run small.

Otherwise, I would look at UMD-College Park and Catholic. He may be able to get into an honors program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He doesn't have a shot at Georgetown. GW on the other hand would be a great target

Why not? His grades are excellent. His ACT is good and can probably be improved to exceptional. And it is not too late to build his EC

DP, yes he has an excellent record, but schools like Georgetown and Hopkins have thousands of applicants with higher stats AND many EC's that this applicant won't have.

AU and GWU seem to be much better fits.

my DS with equivalent grades and scores did not even bother to apply to G-Town this past year because while he has normal ECs and is a four year varsity athlete, he knew he wouldn't have a shot. They really emphasize the ECs, stuff beyond the grades and scores.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He doesn't have a shot at Georgetown. GW on the other hand would be a great target

Why not? His grades are excellent. His ACT is good and can probably be improved to exceptional. And it is not too late to build his EC

DP, yes he has an excellent record, but schools like Georgetown and Hopkins have thousands of applicants with higher stats AND many EC's that this applicant won't have.

AU and GWU seem to be much better fits.

Also St John Annapolis could be a very interesting option

Anonymous wrote:George Mason is commuting distance. They require students to live on campus first year but there is a process for exceptions. Perhaps trying on campus would be good for him.

It's very easy to get an exception at GMU to the living on campus requirement, though living on campus may not be a bad choice as it is quite nice.