25 Questions for Finding the Right College By Harry Heiser Since 1978, the number of college freshmen with learning disabilities has increased ten-fold. Many colleges and universities claim to provide services and programs for these students, but these claims should be examined very carefully by the prospective student and his/her parents. The following questions should be considered in order to find the "best match" for the student, the post-secondary institution and the LD support services. How do I choose the appropriate college for the student with a learning disability? Here are some questions you should consider: Does your son or daughter qualify for a learning support service college program? Have his/her high school courses prepared the student to successfully compete in college? Are there special admission procedures? Are there additional fees for the LD support services program? What kind of college (small or large) and location (urban or rural) would provide the best opportunity for academic success? Is the learning support services program "specifically" directedtoward the LD student? Are there services available to handicapped students and the general student body? How many students are enrolled in the program and what is theproportion of LD students to the general student population? When was the program started? How long have the personnel been in the program? Does the program have faculty and administrative support? Who does the academic advising for the LD student? Are the academic advisors (those persons who help the student select courses) familiar with the goals and procedures of the learning support services program and the general characteristics and needs of the LD student in particular? Does the institution have course waivers, e.g., foreign languagerequirements? Are special courses required of LD students? Do they carry college credits? Can these credits be used toward graduation? Are there remedial or developmental courses available? Are students in this program required to remain in the programthroughout college? Is counseling available and what kind, e.g., personal, academicand career, group or individual, and is it required or optional? Is there assistance available for improving social/interpersonalskills? Are there support groups available for the LD student? What kind of tutoring is available to the student? Are all textbooks available on tape? What kind of additional resources are available, e.g., word processors, tape recorders, etc.? Are students permitted to tape lectures? Is there a summer "pre-college" session available for enteringfreshmen? Should the student visit more than one college before making adecision? Courtesy of the Schwab Foundation for Learning. All contents ® and ™ 1997, 1998, 1999 Schwab Foundation for Learning All Rights Reserved Any interested person or organization may copy or reprint portions of this article provided such copy may not be sold or otherwise used for commercial purposes and any such copy must contain the above stated copyright notice. Back to Experts' Advice Get advice from other parents in Peer Perspectives. Legal Stuff You Should Know