Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums College Rigorous college ends up not challenging

HK, I went to a small school known for being very quirky and intellectual and found my people almost immediately. My sibings went to huge universities (selective ones, but...) and found their people eventually, but it took them both till well into their sophomore years.

Of course, it makes a big difference not just where you study but WHAT you study. Ensure the subject matter is challenging, not just the level.

I didn't think it ever went away.

I've been disconnected for 20 years.

I have a tough time believing that he can't find "his people" at a rigorous LAC. I'm thinking along the lines of schools such as Williams, Middlebury, etc.

DD18 knows some PG kids. One went to a rigorous school (not an LAC) and he is thriving there. Finally challenged in classes and has come out of his shell socially.

Now maybe if it isn't an elite school, but more like a school DD18 attends, he could find school not so challenging. It is a good school for her major (typically listed in top ten for the major), but overall not so rigorous. She now aces courses that she didn't ace in HS. I have mixed feelings about that.

ITA. And fwiw... I am not sure that I buy that a person who is PG can only identify with people who are also PG - surely there are going to be people that your ds can find who he identifies with in other ways - through shared interests.

Which doesn't mean that all college campuses are going to be a good fit for all students. We had a *lot* of students transfer out of our relatively small university after freshman year - because the social part of life wasn't working out. I'm not so sure it was the actual mix of students or the campus itself as much as it happened because so many of the freshmen were away from home (in a far-away sense) for the first time and they missed what was familiar, missed old friends, etc. The people I knew who left after their first year all went on to other colleges and were all happy - sometimes in very similar circumstances to what they'd left at the first college. I remember wanting to leave more than a few times too during that first year too, but I lived close to home and was able to "get away" on the weekends.

Freshman classes (at our school) were typically a lot of requirements across majors, and not the most exciting classes. Once you'd gotten past that first year and were taking courses in your major, that's when the rigor started and when you started finding yourself taught by interesting profs rather than not-quite-so-interesting grad students. So that's the other thing to think through - is he really going to be unhappy forever at his current uni, or does he just need to stick it out and try sophomore year and higher level courses in his major.

Best wishes,

polarbear

This is such an important observation. Your student is so lucky to have your assistance and input. Look for a university level honors program. Find majors that require an unbelievable amount of reading, writing, science classes, writing or some combination. The honors students work through the night when everyone else is either partying or sleeping. Yes, you may find a small percentage of those people. I think that may be why someone said it is lonely at the top. But, the gifted person needs a high-level of intellectual stimulation. Also, there are some towns in the United States that are known to have a larger number of intellectuals. Your student will likely be drawn to those places and will want to work in those places anyway. It feels like a tough topic to discuss with just anyone; it is very hard to explain our needs when other people just do not feel that way. Good luck and please do not mind if we do not give too many specifics. This is not an easy discussion to have because people seem to take offense if you suggest that some students are working much harder during their college years than others. It is not about comparison. It is just about meeting different needs.

Interesting post. My D, a college freshman, had finding PG people in a challenging environment at the top of her criteria list. Her final three choices were U of Chicago, Swarthmore, and Harvey Mudd. She is happily working her tail off and hanging out with bright people and bright professors at Mudd. Other schools that seem like they could have met her criteria: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Caltech, and MIT. Certainly other schools have significant numbers of gifted students and challenging courses, but none except those seemed really immersed in the culture and challenges she wanted.

I've been dying to know how she's liking HMC, intparent-- that's great to hear!!

North Dormer/Linde Dormer here... Glad she's liking Mudd. Can't imagine anyone not finding challenge there.

I went to a huge state flagship university (over 60,000) and was part of the honors program. I had a fabulous experience. Mentors in your area of interest and the opportunities for research were built into the honors program. For my family finances were an issue and I found this to be a great compromise (and an overall wonderful experience). Also, the classes were considerably smaller this way:)).