We have a senior applying to college now. He is having difficulty deciding which colleges to apply to because he is truly very bright with top grades and aspires to Yale or Harvard, but simply cannot manage the output demands at such a selective institution. And he feels stymied because he can't imagine himself accepting a less prestigious college. He has been on an IEP since middle school, and he wishes he didn't need support, but relies on extended time for tests, extension of deadlines periodically, and assignment reduction in some of his AP classes. He is in the top high school in our state, and with an exceptionally high verbal IQ, he thrives on challenging curriculum and intellectual discussion. But he is in the 4th percentile on fine motor skills, has an average processing speed, and struggles with sensory processing disorder and anxiety. He is very introverted, and even though he is witty and quite charming, he avoids a lot of social interaction because he is completely tapped out by the end of the school day from all the sensory stimulation. He is most comfortable in a temperature controlled, quiet environment, researching his various interests, which are wide ranging.
We are thinking that Earlham College may be a very good fit for him, at least until he gets a better grasp on what he wants to do and what his strengths and weaknesses are. It is not near our home, but not too far away. We are also encouraging him to consider taking a gap year once accepted. He is researching gap year options now. Other schools we have suggested are Oberlin, Wooster, Kenyon (but the writing demands may be too much.) Ohio State and other large universities probably have more class offerings he would enjoy, but the sensory issues are a concern.
Can anyone with a similar experience give me advice on the appropriateness of a college like Earlham for a really bright kid who is excellent in math and science, superior in history, and really good in English, especially reading, but struggles with output demands and executive function skills like organization and planning. He has current, up-to-date documentation of his disability (though he doesn't like to call it that!) He is also musically talented, sings in choirs, plays piano, and wants to pursue some music outlets as an extracurricular. Thanks for your advice!
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