When to tell prospective college of disability?

[rickhemi]

Hi folks,

My daughter (T5, incl, 3+ post) is 17 and in the 11th grade. She's an excellent student and is actively looking into a few colleges for possible enrollment. She'll take her SAT exam next week and she has made an appointment for a campus visit to her current '1st choice' college.

In her filling out her profile on collegeboard.com, she correctly reflects her A gpa with AP courses gallore (currently A+ in Pre-Calculus in 11th grade, 5th yr in foreign language, music therory in 10th, asst. coach girls varsity basketball, head coach for JV, currently in dual enrollment in local CC, etc.) I'm not meaning to brag (yea right ;)) but am trying to give an accurate picture of her profile.

No where has it come up that she's a parapeligic. Now this might be an item on her actual application, I don't know. But my question is this:

- When is the appropiate time to reveal her disability to a prospective college?

She wants to be treated as an equal and gain entrance on her merits alone, yet doesn't want to cause a "oh, NOW you tell me" reaction from the institution when she shows up. She would also like access to ADA dorms and perhaps any and all financial assistance available (actually this part is what I want).

She wants to apply to 3 instate institutions and 1 'shoot for the moon' one (Princeton).

Since she is my oldest child, I'm not real familiar with the process. Any comments and suggestions would be most appreciated.

[carl]

Rick,
Has your daughter met with her College Adviser at High School to review potential schools yet? Did she take the PSAT test her Sophomore year? Getting into a good University or College is extremely competitive and in my opinion every edge that she has should be used to its fullest extent (including her achievements WITH a SCI). I would suggest taking the SAT, talking to a knowledgeable college adviser, and then visiting appropriate schools. And don't leave out schools just because they might not have ADA-compliant dorms. I would also suggest applying to more than four schools especially if she can do the work at an Ivy League school.
No school application can ask about disabilities any more than they can ask about her race and no decent school is going to say "now you tell me."
The good news is that the odds are that she will love any school that she attends, but yes in my opinion it is worth the battle to get into the best school that she can.
Good luck,
Carl

[Lindox]

rick,
I don't know about NJ, but all the colleges out here including junior have handicapped services departments. They can answer any questions she may have and give some good advice also.

As far as funding goes. Your state vocational rehab. may help answer many of your questions if you go that route. Although in my day they had a slew of restrictions. Scholarships and student loans are an equal footing with the non-disabled.

She sounds amazing and I wish her and you the best.
Actually in 2007 I don't see any reason why the entrance into college should require she notify them she is disabled.

If it does we have alot more work to do.

[rickhemi]

Rick,
Has your daughter met with her College Adviser at High School to review potential schools yet? Did she take the PSAT test her Sophomore year? Getting into a good University or College is extremely competitive and in my opinion every edge that she has should be used to its fullest extent (including her achievements WITH a SCI). I would suggest taking the SAT, talking to a knowledgeable college adviser, and then visiting appropriate schools. And don't leave out schools just because they might not have ADA-compliant dorms. I would also suggest applying to more than four schools especially if she can do the work at an Ivy League school.
No school application can ask about disabilities any more than they can ask about her race and no decent school is going to say "now you tell me."
The good news is that the odds are that she will love any school that she attends, but yes in my opinion it is worth the battle to get into the best school that she can.
Good luck,
Carl

Carl,

Thanks for the suggestions. She goes to a small private school which doesn't have a designated college adviser, but we're getting input from the Vice Principle and several teachers. She's actually taking the PSAT on the 17th of this month, then we'll schedule the SAT I reasoning test and so on.

I was thinking along your lines about perhaps including some local articles written about her struggles and successes to go along with her application. Just to gain an edge in getting into a school thats very competetive.

Princeton sent her a info pamplet and made it clear that what they were looking for was a candidate who took advantage of ALL opportunities afforded to them, no matter where they went to school. And this is what Sarah has done.

Randolph Macon (her intial 1st choice) sends her something every week and this is the school we'll see next month. But William and Mary is a 'designated' handicaped friendly institution in our state, so she'll likely apply there as well.

When she was younger, she wanted to go to Liberty U in Lynchburg, but this schools is in the mountains and she feels the terrain would be an additional burden.

I agree that she'll do well wherever, just trying to gain any insight I can.

Thanks again.

[rickhemi]

rick,
I don't know about NJ, but all the colleges out here including junior have handicapped services departments. They can answer any questions she may have and give some good advice also.

As far as funding goes. Your state vocational rehab. may help answer many of your questions if you go that route. Although in my day they had a slew of restrictions. Scholarships and student loans are an equal footing with the non-disabled.

She sounds amazing and I wish her and you the best.
Actually in 2007 I don't see any reason why the entrance into college should require she notify them she is disabled.

If it does we have alot more work to do.

Thanks Lindox,

I agree with your primise. Just wanting to know the better approach. Whether to make the issue an upfront key element as to her being able to overcome. Or to keep it a low profile in order to let the admissions officer place whatever prominence on it they so choose. Sometimes the effect can have a greater impact when the candidate makes no issue of it themselves.

[chick]

Rick, her disability does not need to be mentioned, per se, until and/or unless there are specific needs she has RE accommodations/accessibility, but access issues can be explored once on the campus visits. Campus visits are usually set up through separate departments/staff, unless she/you are meeting with admissions during campus visit. If there is an interview, as part of the admissions process, then any disability (physical, w/c, etc) will be made aware then, upon meeting.

Any accommodations that need to be made, esp. if living on campus, can be addressed once she is accepted to the college of choice. If she shows herself to be an asset to college, many good schools will do what is necessary to accommodate, incl private schools.

I agree about utilizing as much as Sarah has, to her advantage, including anything that relates to her injury, and any achievements thereafter - those things which are positive and reflects on her hard work, determination, capacity to deal with (and/or overcome) adversity, ability to problem-solve (and manage time and organize), prioritize, be creative and imaginative in dealing with challenges/obstacles, etc., and any and all talents, skills, and personal character, further fostered by and through circumstances since her injury - incl. those events and the people she's met, that have helped to shape her to be the person she is today; and any plans/goals she has, and her perspective and outlook on life and the world (that show growth and possible impact, not only on her and her immediate family/friends, but how it might translate to impacting, in a positive way, her community and beyond). is that a run-on or what?! :)

Colleges look at much more than test scores. Personal background can tell admissions much more about a candidate and inform them in so many ways about a candidate's potential to achieve, succeed, and contribute.

[SCI-Nurse]

I would not include articles ABOUT her in her application, but she may choose to write her application essay (required by most schools) about her disability experience and how it has challenged her and help her grow as a person if she so chooses.

Contact the Disabled Students Services office at the schools in question early. They can help with a school tour, and let you know about how receptive administration is to accomodation. This makes a difference. Also check out any on-campus wheelchair sports activities if she is interested in this.

(KLD)

[-scott-]

Rick,

This isn't a big deal w/ larger university. If you mention Princeton, I assume she's steering away from a small college.

You're likely going to visit prospective schools. Yes, schedule an appointment with the disability service office... just chat with them, investigate accessibility, etc. Those offices operate separately from admissions. Build that relationship early, apply, and if she gets in, then she has someone to go to that will gladly help her.

There's no need to mention anything on an application.

If you need any feedback about VA schools, let me know. I went to JMU, live 10min from UVA, and have connections at several others too. :)

[GKTrader]

Rick,

Use the SCI on the application via essays and recommendation letters. It will help you out... and it might be the only good thing that comes out of this awful condition. I got denied from Stanford and Princeton for undergrad despite perfect test scores and grades. Of course, being a white male from the suburbs of Chicago didn't help either. In hindsight, if I would have had my SCI back then (Thank God I didn't), I probably would have got in. So my advice is to shamlessly use it as a means to get into you daughter's dream school.

GK

[Lindox]

rick,
Very varied opinions here. Isn't it up to Sara in how she uses her disability in regards to higher education?

I can't imagine highly educated people NOT understanding the difficulties she has faced and conquered. But her grades and her consistency in accomplishing very good grades have little to with her disability. That is her ability shining.

The powers should understand that as hard as it's been to deal with the disability, growing up, and also constant vigilance to her studies she plans on doing ALOT of positive things in the future.

What does she say about all the disability related attention?

[canuck]

If she wants to be treated as a equal why are you or she thinking about including the sci stuff in the application?

[Lindox]

If she wants to be treated as a equal why are you or she thinking about including the sci stuff in the application?

The SCI is a significant experience and could well be used in the admissions essay. How you do that is what is important. It can't be just a medical story. But to incorporate the disability experience to magnify her own personal characteristics can make a very interesting read. And that is the essays that finally after being read by undergrads etc. make it to the top.

It could be written as a unique and convincing experience without any type of media included. Or become a pathetic type of story.

[chick]

It's not about "using" her disability. She can and should highlight her achievements and anything else that justly reflects on her abilities and character (as I stated in earlier post). If that in some way includes her sci/dis, than so be it.

It's not about ..."I have a SCI and (insert inconsequential medical history here)"

A disability, or having one personally, does not necessarily even need to be mentioned. But if a young person acquired an injury while in grade/high school, yet managed to continue her schoolwork, and even exceed academically, that might better inform admissions officers how bright, determined, driven, focused, and responsible a prospective student may be, with not just some ability/skill in testing well. It may give admissions officers some insight about this person's perseverance and commitment, characteristics necessary to do well and succeed at college. Also, if after some injury, a young person chose (for example) to be a mentor for other youth with disabilities; do public speaking to educate others about safety/drinking & driving/making good choices and taking personal responsibility, etc.; participate in that advocacy efforts (lobbying, fundraising, etc.), and any other experience somehow tied to having the injury, then those experiences should be mentioned, as they are not mere activities. Such activities are service oriented, with implications effecting both individual lives and broader policies. Personal involvement and purpose/motivation as a result of one's own injury, can show personal growth, learning, and applying one's own experiences and lessons learned, to helping others.

As you noted, Princeton emphasises Opportunities taken advantage of:
- what opportunities has she (Sarah) taken advantage of, since/as a result of her injury?

for example: how has she utilized her experiences? what opportunities have been taken advantage of; what opportunities has she created? effecting positive change (how?)
educating, serving, helping others.... etc. what has been learned? how has it been put to practice? developing skills - organizational, learning team-work (e.g. organizing fundraisers, lobbying, public speaking and education, etc. )Following along what Lindox mentioned, I saw a brief report the other day, about college admissions, and an admissions person from one of the Ivy schools (may have been Princeton, I forget so don't hold me to it!), mentioning the importance of essay's and looking for/finding interest in unique and creative essays that reflect the individual's personality (also without too much parental editing that may inhibit, or not allow that).

Just a personal tid-bit: I never mentioned having a disability to my schools. Also, I only visited 1 campus (my bad decision and last minute app. submissions), but for grad school (only applied to 2), did write a brief essay which included some of my involvements - including both dis and non-dis related programs/orgs. Assumptions may have been made, but it could have just as easily been assumed I simply had interest in dis-related stuff, as I had interest in disadvantaged kids. Not planning more, before being accepted, required me to spend a LOT of time addressing access issues (being basically only person in w/c) on my own. This can be tiring and distracting, so planning ahead and getting as much info as possible is critical, as you are well aware and are doing. Looks like Sarah's got great support here, and with her accomplishments thus far, I wouldn't be surprised she breezes through to her school of choice.

Best to you guys!

[rickhemi]

Thanks to everyone, here are some things I've learned:

- No articles or disability centered essays. This is actually good news, for Sarah hates any attention to it and it wouldn't be her nature to promote it at all. But, at the same time, this fact may help in getting into a more competitive institution. If she shares her head and heart in her essay, I think she'll be fine, it is hard for an SCI to not be a part of a persons make-up, if even a small part. Perhaps using the mind set of how she can be an asset to the student body and provide diversity may be good.

- Don't try to hide the fact of SCI. Get with the Disability Service office during the visiting process to gain a more realistic view of life on campus.

Scott, thanks for the offer, perhaps I'll pick your brain at some point in the future.

Chick, your insight is very helpful, thanks for sharing.

Everyone - This input is exactlly what I was looking for. I'll keep sharing and let you know how we're doing. Perhaps other families will be able to use our experence to draw from.

[Aly]

I wrote a little about my disability in my essay with my application because of the timing of my accident. Just looking at my activities they were not overwhemingly great but to include I raised my grades after my accident and kept up with my extra curiculars in some way or another ie, (went from playing volleyball to keeping stats and announcing for the games)

You may really want to check out W&M before making a decision. I felt they had bad accessiability due to the age and historical issues in the area. Curb cut outs were few and far between and also short and steep. Several of the buildings have no elevators and there is a lot of cobble stone if I remeber correctly, (cobble stone hurts my back and sets off my spasms)

[sjean423]

While Sarah may not want to "play the SCI card" so to speak, it IS part of her make up. And her excellent credentials are even more impressive when considered in light of it. I think the idea of including a mention of it in her essay, is an excellent way of dealing with it. Most of the essays written recently in my family have included something along the lines of "Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken or ethical dilemma and its impact on you." (My oldest graduated with his Masters last year, and I have 2 still in college. My youngest is Sarah's age. The quote was from an essay I still had floating around on this computer.) SHe could take this to what ever level she wants, whether something concerning her sci being the signifigant experience, or simply briefly mentioning it in passing.

SOmething to consider in regards to accessibility (many of which have been touched on.)

ADA can not change the terrain. A very hilly campus is going to limit her. As well as one that is very spread out. BU in Boston for example has some buildings almost a mile apart.

Yes, she can fight for accessibility. The schools SHOULD be accessible and she can fight for it if need be. But a choice that is accessible, and doesn;t need her to be the advocate, would be one less hurdle.

Consider more than whether classrooms and HER DORM ROOM are accessible. My daughter's dorm is barely accessible, and luckily for me she lives on the 1st floor. There is no elevator. Some of the newer dorms are very accessible, and if Sarah were going there is where she would live. But consider the fact that she wouldn;t be able to visit friends upstairs in my daughter's dorm.

SHe is in 11th grade. You are just starting down this path, and she has plenty of time. Keep in mind that a lot can change in the next 18 months. ANd make sure she gets the most out of high school .... don't just worry about college. That old adage about the journey being more important than the destination.

[mom01]

Rick,

How are you and the family? I am the mom of Loretta and Michael, the boy who I must toss frozen marbles in his bed to ensure that he gets up in the morning! We met this summer at KKI. I am excited to read about Sara and her plans for college. I am learning from your questions because we have an 11th grader w/ a SCI appliying to colleges as well. Please give our best to Sara and our congratulations for her outstanding grades. She will go far...
Take care, Debbie

[okwjoe]

Hello,

I remember you and your daughter. My son and her were injured in 2004 right? You gave me so good advice and now it is now my turn to help you.
My son is now in 12 th grade and we live in NY. He sounds just like your DD. 10 AP's , 5th in his class , 2190 on SAT's , 97.6 avg. blah blah blah. The only difference between them is, my son is a quad. I just finished helping him in the college application process we are now DONE. He appplied Early action to SUNY's Binghamton Albany. Regular admission to privates Cornell, Columbia. ( both reaches) and early action to Fordham, and Hofstra. l
You must visit each campus and speak to the disabilty depts. at each school. We have issues pertaining to his ADL's. Your daughter is a para? right. So proboably she don't have as many ADL issues as my son. Still, visiting the schools is the only way to find out if it is a good "fit" for her, rfinding out for real about how big the campus, if it is level enough, if it has wide enough doors, too many inaccessible buildings( despite what they say on the websites).
In a weird way being disabled may help her in the application part for very selective schools. On the Common Application which Cornell, Stanford, and many liberal art colleges use, on one of the choices for the main essay topic, is " Descibe an event, person, situation that changed your life " Well I know many students in my son's class and many students in general have problems finding topics for these essays, but my son has his topic right there!! As a matter of fact two of my son's friends used my son's relationship with them as their topic. Also there are two scholarships that I think he has a great chance of getting. 1) The Horatio Alger Schlorship and the Chair Scholarship. Both of them are worth between 2,000 and 10,000 /yr.
You do not have to mention her disabilty at all. They do not used them for admission tools. But again , use them for the essays.
My son is on the Medicaid waiver program to get his 16 hours/ day care so as per the rules. he can't attend colleges out of state because Medicaid can't cross state lines. (Thank God we live in New York has a plethora of schools)
The vocab rehab will only pay if college is a stepping stone to get a job. ie. My son is thinking about law school someday, at this time he wants to major in history/ economics , so far they said it is ok but I fear they may say no, so teaching is another intrest he has, so we will going to say he will be a social studies teacher and since he is going to have about 32 AP credits in hand, taking education courses AND the major will not be so bad
The vocational rehab at least here will pay (in his case because of the severity of his injury) the SUNY ( State University of New York) tuition rate @ any SUNY school or pro-rate it @ private school, all room and board, books, fees, tranportation and for an aide.
Now since they willl also payfor out of state if that state has a program that New york State does not have. So we found out that the University of Illinois@ Urbana ( the flagship) has an great program for students that are severly disabled require ADL's / w/c they actually have students and staff on campus in a special dorm that provide soup to nuts care for people like my son. plus they have everything right there (PT/OT, SCI Physicians, and also they will teach my son how to self advocate for himself!! ( The best thing the vocab rehab will pick it up
Anyway your daughter sounds like she is going places and like my son they both are going to reach for the stars and grab a few !! If you have any questions about college apllications let me drop me a line !!

Joe

[rickhemi]

Rick,

How are you and the family? I am the mom of Loretta and Michael, the boy who I must toss frozen marbles in his bed to ensure that he gets up in the morning! We met this summer at KKI. I am excited to read about Sara and her plans for college. I am learning from your questions because we have an 11th grader w/ a SCI appliying to colleges as well. Please give our best to Sara and our congratulations for her outstanding grades. She will go far...
Take care, Debbie

Hi Debbie!

Great to hear from you, I hope you're far away from all those fires in CA.

Tell everyone we said hi. Best to all of you.

Rick

[rickhemi]

Hello,

I remember you and your daughter. My son and her were injured in 2004 right? You gave me so good advice and now it is now my turn to help you.
My son is now in 12 th grade and we live in NY. He sounds just like your DD. 10 AP's , 5th in his class , 2190 on SAT's , 97.6 avg. blah blah blah. The only difference between them is, my son is a quad. I just finished helping him in the college application process we are now DONE. He appplied Early action to SUNY's Binghamton Albany. Regular admission to privates Cornell, Columbia. ( both reaches) and early action to Fordham, and Hofstra. l
You must visit each campus and speak to the disabilty depts. at each school. We have issues pertaining to his ADL's. Your daughter is a para? right. So proboably she don't have as many ADL issues as my son. Still, visiting the schools is the only way to find out if it is a good "fit" for her, rfinding out for real about how big the campus, if it is level enough, if it has wide enough doors, too many inaccessible buildings( despite what they say on the websites).
In a weird way being disabled may help her in the application part for very selective schools. On the Common Application which Cornell, Stanford, and many liberal art colleges use, on one of the choices for the main essay topic, is " Descibe an event, person, situation that changed your life " Well I know many students in my son's class and many students in general have problems finding topics for these essays, but my son has his topic right there!! As a matter of fact two of my son's friends used my son's relationship with them as their topic. Also there are two scholarships that I think he has a great chance of getting. 1) The Horatio Alger Schlorship and the Chair Scholarship. Both of them are worth between 2,000 and 10,000 /yr.
You do not have to mention her disabilty at all. They do not used them for admission tools. But again , use them for the essays.
My son is on the Medicaid waiver program to get his 16 hours/ day care so as per the rules. he can't attend colleges out of state because Medicaid can't cross state lines. (Thank God we live in New York has a plethora of schools)
The vocab rehab will only pay if college is a stepping stone to get a job. ie. My son is thinking about law school someday, at this time he wants to major in history/ economics , so far they said it is ok but I fear they may say no, so teaching is another intrest he has, so we will going to say he will be a social studies teacher and since he is going to have about 32 AP credits in hand, taking education courses AND the major will not be so bad
The vocational rehab at least here will pay (in his case because of the severity of his injury) the SUNY ( State University of New York) tuition rate @ any SUNY school or pro-rate it @ private school, all room and board, books, fees, tranportation and for an aide.
Now since they willl also payfor out of state if that state has a program that New york State does not have. So we found out that the University of Illinois@ Urbana ( the flagship) has an great program for students that are severly disabled require ADL's / w/c they actually have students and staff on campus in a special dorm that provide soup to nuts care for people like my son. plus they have everything right there (PT/OT, SCI Physicians, and also they will teach my son how to self advocate for himself!! ( The best thing the vocab rehab will pick it up
Anyway your daughter sounds like she is going places and like my son they both are going to reach for the stars and grab a few !! If you have any questions about college apllications let me drop me a line !!

Joe

Joe,

Great to hear how well your son is doing. Man, he's really exceling nicely. Thanks for sharing your experiences and wisdom.

If I get too confused I let you know. :thinking:

[bcsimpsons]

Rick,
As a current college student and one that has been in college for way to long. I would suggest that your daughter let them know of her needs prior to her arrival for her visit day. And as many people ;have suggested, request to speak to the disability services on the campus. Your daughter seems very smart so don't count Princeton out, lol. That would be awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be up front. Honesty is the best policy. Her grades speak for themselves. Good luck to her and to you.

Becky,
Chicago

[ChesBay]

Randolph Macon (her intial 1st choice) sends her something every week and this is the school we'll see next month. But William and Mary is a 'designated' handicaped friendly institution in our state, so she'll likely apply there as well.

When she was younger, she wanted to go to Liberty U in Lynchburg, but this schools is in the mountains and she feels the terrain would be an additional burden.

I agree that she'll do well wherever, just trying to gain any insight I can.

Thanks again.

I agree w/ SCI nurse about not submitting articles in application packet but discussing in application if she is so inclined.

If you are a Viriginia resident you can get the most financial & other assistance from Virginia department of rehabilitative services (DRS) by going to a State school, such as W&M.

I went to William and Mary in the early 80's and it was good experience, the access has improved quite a bit over the years also.

Your daughter sounds like a good kid, I'm sure wherever she chooses it will be a great experience.

[rickhemi]

Hi folks,

Boy, a lot can change in a few months.

We've visited 2 campus's (Randolph Macon & Edinboro Univ. of PA). Sarah liked the compact/flat campus at RMC, but hated the freshman dorm situation and it didn't have the academics she's now looking for (arch. engineering). Edinboro was even better, most accessible school on east coast (according to New Mobility mag), but again didn't have the major she's looking for. The admissions counselor told her she would be accepted on the spot, due to her scores being higher than their average students.

She's now thinking about VA Tech, but will probably need to retake the SAT and also take the math subject test and one other. She was a little disappointed in her first try (1080 and a 610 in creative writing). It's still an above avg score, but barely. But her GPA is currently 3.83, which is pretty strong.

I've heard the campus at VT is a bit hilly, but the website does say they have accessible housing.

Any other engineering colleges we should be looking at?? Please let us know.

[ChesBay]

Any other engineering colleges we should be looking at?? Please let us know.

Old Dominion University may be worth looking into... They have always had a strong engineering program. In the last decade the city and university have implemented extensive plan to transform the university campus. It's nice.

Virginia state school w/ moderate climate and flat terrain.

engineering school : http://eng.odu.edu/

good luck

[rickhemi]

Old Dominion University may be worth looking into... They have always had a strong engineering program. In the last decade the city and university have implemented extensive plan to transform the university campus. It's nice.

Virginia state school w/ moderate climate and flat terrain.

engineering school : http://eng.odu.edu/

good luck

I checked out their site and architectural engineering is not offered there.

Got any others?

[chick]

rick, is she only interested in east cioast colleges?

I ask because the U of I in Champaign, Illinois has one of the most accessible campuses, plus it has a pretty good engineering program.
Chicago also has notable architectural programs, incl. IIT (http://www.iit.edu/) and their College of Architecture (http://www.iit.edu/arch/about/)
IIT Research Institute has several locations throughout the United States, and the university has four campuses in the Chicago area. The 120-acre Main Campus, at 33rd and State in Chicago, as well as many of its buildings, was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (http://www.iit.edu/arch/about/history/mies.shtml), who directed the architecture program at IIT from 1938 to 1958 and was one of the 20th century's most influential architects. In 1976, the American Institute of Architects recognized the campus as one of the 200 most significant works of architecture in the U.S.

The Institute of Design (http://www.id.iit.edu/), an international leader in teaching systemic, human-centered design, is located at 350 N. LaSalle Street in Chicago's Near North neighborhood.

[rickhemi]

rick, is she only interested in east cioast colleges?

I ask because the U of I in Champaign, Illinois has one of the most accessible campuses, plus it has a pretty good engineering program.
Chicago also has notable architectural programs, incl. IIT (http://www.iit.edu/) and their College of Architecture (http://www.iit.edu/arch/about/)

IIT Research Institute has several locations throughout the United States, and the university has four campuses in the Chicago area. The 120-acre Main Campus, at 33rd and State in Chicago, as well as many of its buildings, was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (http://www.iit.edu/arch/about/history/mies.shtml), who directed the architecture program at IIT from 1938 to 1958 and was one of the 20th century's most influential architects. In 1976, the American Institute of Architects recognized the campus as one of the 200 most significant works of architecture in the U.S., the Master of Public Administration Program, and the Stuart School of Business.

The Institute of Design (http://www.id.iit.edu/), an international leader in teaching systemic, human-centered design, is located at 350 N. LaSalle Street in Chicago's Near North neighborhood.

Well, perhaps not, I mean, we just drove 450 miles (one way) to get to Edinboro last week.

I'll get some info on it and share it with her. Ideally she'd like to be closer to home, but the right university will probably be the final deciding factor.

Thanks Chick. I value your input.

[okwjoe]

HI,

My son is a ASIA A C5 and we live in New York. He is going to attend the University of Illinopis @ Urbana for this Fall 2008. As a matter of fact he is going to summer orientation next week. Anyway, THe U of I has one of the best engeneering schools in the country and it has your daughter's major.

As per the earlier poster, it has the best disability program in the country and a brand new college of engineering buildings. The campus is flat as a pancake, has impressive disbility support. My wife and I would of never dreamed of sending my ASIA A C5 son 800 miles way if we did not feel comfortable with the accomdations they have there.
The admission process is competetive, but it is heavily based on class rank and SAT scores. She needs to get her scores up a bit, but my son had to do it also. I just know the U of I blew Edinboro away in all aspects.I was very involved in his admission process and became very much an "expert" I think I knew more than his guidance counslers ( I know I think that way) I now have all this knowledge and no where to use it, so if you have any questiions on the admission process, schools, which ones to apply to, etc. or how to write an essay for admission or scholarships , let me know. My son recieved 7 merit scholarships based on academics and how we answered the essays.
Tips to raise SAT scores. Buy the "Blue Book" SAT review book, do all the tests of the math, and critical reading and review what she got wrong. have her practice outlining and writing a short timed essays on topics gleaned from the news. Get a private tutor, preferbly one of her math teachers or teachers who know the "tricks" on how to answer the math. The best thing my son's tutor said that the Math section is really an English section, because reading the math question and understanding what the question is askingwill determine how to answer it. This is the key.
My son who is not interested in math raised his math score over 100 points just by this method. He raised his critical reading by 50 points just by taking his time and using the blue book and reviewing every word he did not know. The essay part is hit or miss. His scored a 680 on his first one because the topic was debating if somthing good could happen out of somthing that is bad and vice versa. He used his injury and believe or not Hilter(because the german economy improved directly from his reign before World War II go figure.) The next one he scored only a 590 becaust it asked about whether celebities have a moral obligation to help society. He could not care less about that topic. Don't forget almost all the schools "supersore the SAT scores, meaning they will take the best of any section and combine them into one score. Also have her take the ACT.. some students do better on it and some do better on the SAT.


l

[-scott-]

*shrug*

well... I'm currently looking @ grad schools. This time around (vs. undergrad) I'm meeting with department heads in-person prior to even applying. It has been nothing but positive so far, aside from current fuel prices for the out-of-state road trips to different schools.