Landmark College
Tuesday, July 6th, 2004
Landmark College
River Road South
Putney, VT 05346
802-87-4767
802-387-4779 (fax)
admissions@landmark.edu
http://www.landmark.edu
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My daughter graduated from Landmark College in Dec. 2000. It was not always easy but she looks back at Landmark as a place of refuge where she was accepted for who she was. Students need to work hard but support is always available. Classes are small and the professors are available. It has made a wonderful difference in her life.
My son and I just visited and are very impressed. It’s now his top choice. Landmark is really looking for kids with a drive to succeed and move on to a four year degree. Assisstive services look great.
My Son went to Landmark College for a Spring Bridge Semester and stayed for several more semesters. Landmark had some positives for him in that it helped him understand that he has learning disabilities and that there are other students in the same “boat”. However, Landmark has many inflexible rules such as no excused absences. Some of the teachers at Landmark are great, but some are not. In addition, an environment of many students with Learning Disablilities can cause some cultural problems. It is not uncommon for one student to make criminal charges against another student. The LD circumstances of a particular student may be suitable for Landmark, but the results are variable and totally dependent on the student’s ability to make use of the resources. Very few of the teachers make pro-active attempts to help a student do better, it is left completely up to the student to access services that are on a limited schedule basis. Landmark has an academic policy that one “D” puts a student into academic probation even if the overall average is above “C”.
MJ: Landmark is known for its structure and I’m sure you must have known it was highly structured before you sent your son there. However, sometimes the only way to know what that really means is through direct experience.
Also, all of their academic policies are undoubtedly written down in a handbook that both you and your son were given (I would hope) so the grading and support and absence issues should have been known to you before he started there. If they don’t do this I’d like to hear about it.
Many schools in this category have a relatively homogeneous student body: all of the students have learning disabilities. Landmark isn’t alone here although it’s possible that your son got mixed up with a bad bunch of students or they’re having a rough year.
Most colleges have good and bad teachers but rather than characterize them that way, maybe it’s fairer to say that there are few teachers who are popular with everyone and few teachers who are unpopular with everyone. I doubt Landmark is all that different from other schools in this area. Again, it’s the luck of the draw and generally students find teachers they enjoy working with over time with the help of an advisor.
The issue of support is an interesting one and I would think (and I guess I’m mistaken) that a school with as much structure as Landmark is reported to have would provide pro-active support for students and urge them them to take advantage of it. It’s possible that Landmark’s classes are so highly structured that they feel that those classes provide enough support in themselves so they de-emphasize support outside of class (I don’t know this, I’m speculating).
Hopefully your son has moved on to another college at which he’s doing better. If you don’t mind my asking, where did he transfer to and what are the differences as you and he see them?
Thanks for your report.
My impression from Open House was that they are proactive – more classes, longer classes, weekly mentor meetings. Still my son’s top choice although looked at Beacon and smaller state schools.
Patricia: Landmark is known for it’s highly structured environment which, on the surface looks very attractive and for many it is. However, it’s not perfect for every type of LD learner and it’s important to know what type of envioronment will best suit your son. Sounds like you’re learning a lot and will make a well informed decision. However, even with that, sometimes it doesn’t work out which is no problem, credits transfer and even if they don’t, better to lose one year than to feel bad for four.
My son is currently at Landmark and is doing very well this semester. Fall semester, was a “learning semester” for him. Their philosophy seems to be that students have to make the decision to take advantage of the resources that are there and readily available. You cannot “make” a 20 year old do anything. And even if you could, what good would that do in the long run, if their goal is a 4 year school? But you can set up a support system that is there if they are ready to take advantage of it. If their goal is to go on to a 4 year school, then they have to learn how to get what they need and that involves learning how to become self advocates. He has had some really great instructors and advisors and some not so great, but, again, if they want to go on to another college, they have to learn how to navigate this for themselves, which can be a messy learning process. My biggest struggle with Landmark is the cost. I wish there were more resources out there to help families who really value this program, but don’t have the resources for the ideal of 2 1/2 years there.
To all who have posted here: Thank you for your comments. I am looking for information about Landmark College and found this discussion via Wikipedia’s link to LDresources’ webpage.
My question might be totally off-topic, but it’s a concern that I have. I began this search for info about Landmark’s origins and if it has, in any way, connection to the Landmark Forum, formerly known as EST – created by Werner Erhart. I will continue to look. But, if any of you has wondered and checked it out, I’d appreciate hearing from you.
And, FYI, I am an adult recently diagnosed with ADHD. I’m also an adjunct professor at a college for adults returning to school.
Joanne,
As far as I know there’s absolutely no link between EST and Landmark College or Landmark School.
Our son went to Landmark last summer for their 3 week summer program. His high school teachers were impressed with his progress after only 3 weeks. As a result, he will be attending Landmark this fall. He has NLD (non-verbal learning difference) and ADD. Landmark people are well-versed with the NLD student, and seem to know what their needs are. The cost is high, but the results (as far as we have seen so far) are well worth the price. Where else can he learn to live with his LD, rather than just get accomodations? He will have skills he can use for the rest of his life, not just to get through college.
Kris, thanks for sharing your experience with Landmark summer program. I find it interesting that Landmark seems well versed with an NLD profile (given its history of focusing on language-based learning disabilities). I’ve heard that before.
Knowing what I think I know about their approach, I imagine that the emphasis on developing organizational skills, notetaking and critical reading may have been useful for your son. Is that right? Are those the sorts of things that led to the results you saw?
My Son attended Landmark.It didnt really work out for him.Im not certain that his english teacher understood learning disabilities at all.Some of the other teachers were wonderful.Im still glad he went there.They were very kind to us after Hurricane Katrina.My Son is now doing great in the college he is attending.
i have a question I am transfering to Landmark College from San Diego California, (i know big transition)and i wanted to know how is the dorming there so i could get an idean porque (because) I read the book and everything and they say some things but i want pictures. Also i had a hard firs semester at San Diego City College, but now it is mucho easier i guess now that i slowed down my classes, pero It still is really hard due to the fact that i have ADD (just to give you guys a little insite on me). anyways thanks alot and i am looking forward to attending fall 08 as a sophmore, but i want a perspective from their perspective of the Muchachos y muchachas gracias pardon for the Spanglish I have lived down here for ten years and Spanish grows on you, and i am right next to mexico i can see it from my house adios -Lion
i messed up in alot of the language because i was sleepy sorry
Don: You really need to write Landmark College Directly about this. Their contact information is above.
The Landmark Foundation in 1963, developed into the Landmark School in Massachusetts. in 1971, expanded to offer a one-year college preparatory program in 1982, and finally evolved into Landmark College in Putney in 1984.
ATTENTION – FALL 2008 NEW Landmark College Student
My daughter is a student at Landmark College and is graduating in December 2008. She came to Landmark in Spring 2007 as a bridge student from a highly competitive east coast university. She has done fantastically well at Landmark and will be continuing her four year degree when she graduates. She loves Landmark and only wishes that it was a four year college.
WE ARE SELLING NOW HER LIKE-NEW, HARDLY USED LENOVO IBM THINKPAD NOTEBOOK COMPUTER. IT MEETS ALL OF LANDMARK’S NOTEBOOK COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS FOR IT’S STUDENTS. SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED AT LANDMARK IT CAN BE SERVICED THERE AND IS UNDER WARRANTY. THE COMPUTER IS A HUGE EXPENSE! WHY PAY UPWARDS OF $2,300.00 when you can purchase the same notebook computer for your classes and studies for $1,200.00. Please contact me at resipsa44@comcast.net if you are seriously interested in purchasing the computer.
P.S. Our daughter is a MacIntosh computer person. When she enrolled at Landmark, MacIntosh computers with windows did not meet the school’s notebook requirements so we reluctantly purchased the IBM. It virtually never got used except for intra-college communications. So this computer is like-new and in mint condition!
Karen, thanks for posting this, I hope someone connects with you via this thread and if / when it does sell please let me know so I can edit your comment so you won’t receive future inquiries.
When Landmark was designing the computer requirement in the very old days I did some consulting for them and one of the reasons they went with Windows was for Dragon Naturally Speaking. I’m a Macintosh user and have been since 1984 so I wasn’t happy about their choice but given that they thought (and maybe still think) that speech to text is important for LD students, I would have to admit that the Windows implementation of Dragon is the best tool for the job.
I don’t think, however, that speech to text is a great solution for everyone or for anyone who wants to learn to write. Talking is not writing and writing needs to be practiced. There is no research data that I am aware of that shows that people who use speech to text products can more easily move into writing than people who don’t.
But, I’ve never been rigid about this stuff, whatever works. I do think Landmark should allow any computer onto their network as Macs can do pretty much everything else a Landmark student might want to do and for Mac users, it will be easier than struggling with windows.
I will be graduating from Landmark in December. My life has completely changed thanks to the support from my professor’s, my coach, and counselor. I feel acceptance and I look at myself in a new light. I realize that I’m unique and special thanks to Landmark.
Anna: This is great to hear and congratulations. What will you be doing after graduation?
We just left an open house. I was very impressed. However, I am somewhat concerned by a comment above about the no excused absence policy. I am also confused by the lack of teachers and advisors being proactive, especially at the beginning. I agree that the idea is that the student learn to become independent and proactive. However, if that were already the case, he/she wouldn’t need Landmark. For any of you who were negative, please write and be as specific as possible. If your child left, where did he or she go that you was better for him/her? For those of you who ar positive, what happened after Landmark in terms of ability to move on to another college environment?
nancy
Thanks Richard, I will probably move on to another school. New England College is my top choice right now. And to you Nancy I have gotten a lot of support Nancy from the teacher’s I’ve had. They let the student’s do their own thing. Most of them are adults and should be able to make appt’s and seek out the teacher’s themselves. They’re not always gonna seek out the students if they need help.
Anna, sounds good. I hear New England College has a decent LD support program. What is the town it’s in like? It seems you’re moving from one small town to another. I’m just curious as the smaller the town, the more the school has to do to be self-contained and offer students some cultural and extracurricular stimulation.
I haven’t gotten a chance to visit the school, but from what I’ve read of the school it’s a gorgeous town. The school offers a lot of extracurricular activities of which I’m looking forward to.
We attended last Saturday’s openhouse. With no students on campus it seemed so peaceful; and the presentations by various administrators made us all feel that these people really “get it.” A notice in the ladies’ room about how to handle rape or a potentially threatening situation got my attention, as apparently, it had that of another mother. When we returned to the meeting, she raised the issue, but I felt that her concerns weren’t really addressed. Since we’ve already had a bad experience with a boarding school whose impressive openhouse had little to do with the functioning of the school, we may be even more anxious than most parents re whether or not what we see is what we will get. We’re eager to hear from other families–especially girls and their parents– about both their social and academic experiences at Landmark–positive or negative.
my older son attended the 3 week summer high school program about 4 years ago. He felt it gave him some personal insight into his ADHD , and he learned a lot about his personal learning style. My husband and I were impressed with the staff at the parent orientation. The current summer program doesn’t look as good as the one our son attended. We need a 2 or 4 year school for our 17 year old high school senior, but he doesn’t want to be in such a small town and so far away from calif. Does anyone have any suggestions for other ADHD friendly schools? (for a student who is not very self directed )
Michelle-
We are just beginning the college search(my son is a jr.) and are a bit stunned. Landmark sounds wonderful bit I am very concerned about the costs. I too would like to know about any other ADHD friendly schools. After the disorder being virtually ignored in HS, I am ready to see him take off with his learning.
Your son sounds like mine!
Did your son do the Landmark program after his jr. year in HS? Is it a residential program?
Best wishes!
my son has nld and add. we are going to tour landmark in a few weeks. i have been reading everyones comments and overall, it appears the students took away a better learning style, feeling about themselves (especially if high school was challenging socially). how are the dorm rooms and bathrooms? my son isn’t one to always take the initiative to ask questions; he’s somewhat timid. will he get lost in the shuffle. sounds like unless the students approach the staff, he’s on his own?
we are looking or a college that “forgives” the students shortcomings, for isn’t that why they need such a program? i know that we need to see the school lst hand, but do appreciate reading everyones comments. my son aspires from teachers kindness and understanding. if he is verbally demeamed, well, you just lost him. i was told by our college planner that landmark is #1 in LD and teaching the students how to do everything from “soup to nuts” so they can then move forward to a larger university. are we in the right arena?
Karen: It sounds like Landmark might be a good fit for your son but it’s hard to know until he’s been there a while.
Few of these schools beat up on kids with LD. If they did they’d have few applicants. However, they all cater to different types of student learning styles and Landmark has the reputation for being highly structures, great for some students and not great for all students.
I doubt any of these schools will let your son flounder. And, if they do, both you and he will know it soon enough and you can work to change his situation.
Let us know what you think after the visit.
I attended the summer program for the past two summer’s. First of my sophomore year) after having a difficult year because of family-issue’s my mom thought a summer away (or well, in this case, 3 weeks) would be really good for me. Of course, I was NOT happy with this decision at all…but now I can safely say, I’m GLAD I went. It opened up a lot of opportunities for me. I impoved a lot academically, and I met a lot of great people. It made me realize that I wasn’t alone in the L.D. world, and other people are going through the same thing. I also had a good social experience, and I still keep in contact with my friends from those three weeks…Safe to say, they’re still my best friends till this day. I loved the professors, and just pretty much everything about the campus. It was a really good fit for me, and I see myself there in the future. I actually just had my college interview with them last week=D Other L.D. schools i’m looking into are Mitchell College, Curry College, and Dean College…
My child is attending Landmark and failing one subject. the others grades are low. Along with not taking advatage of the sevices there seems to be alot of out of control parties and sex. What’s a parent to do? I don’t blame the school. Help!! If I contine to send my money and child there, am I a fool? What wold my other options be?
Penny, I’ve just finished my first term at Landmark. There are very few out of control parties, if any parties at all. The school is very strict about enforcing “quiet hours” through its RAs. If a student has their TV on too loud, they might get a visit from the RA; if it happens too frequently, they will get an infraction and eventually suffer real consequences. Though a lot of students on campus have cars, there aren’t many places to drive them to, unless the student is 21+, but this is the case everywhere. I have very few friends that live off campus and only one that ever has parties, which are pretty mild and under control–especially compared to those thrown at other schools. I visited my friend at Bennington College, about forty minutes away and his campus is absolute mayhem, especially compared to a place like Landmark.
There is an obtuse male-female ratio and, as far as I can tell, sex is not ‘out of control’ either (sexual frustration, however…).
Like others have said, if a student is ready and willing to mature and become a self-advocating student and adult, Landmark will allow that student to flourish.
Though my roommate and I hung out with similar people and had the same facilities at our disposal, he flunked out and drank too much (which is what I did for the past two years) while I managed to focus myself and get a 3.5 for the term. Perhaps your student just isn’t ready, as the environment of Landmark is not particularly conducive to partying and sex… The tuition should definitely be considered when deciding on whether or not he will return.
http://landmarkcollege.blogspot.com/