<p>Did he get fee waivers to apply? I'm asking because that - together with a financial aid application -- pretty much gets across the "no money to travel" message. </p>
<p>I'm a little concerned that Countingdown's GC was having conversations with the school (from the "shoe in" conversation to the "waitlist" conversation). Methinks maybe said GC volunteered a little bit too much information along the way.</p>
<p>One waiver, several "free if you apply online", at least one I just bit it and paid for, and one that was supposed to get a waiver but never did, but told us "the application is complete". His highschool is very small and this is their first graduating class; the school didn't know fee waivers <em>existed</em>, because no one else apparently asked about them. Because we live in an affluent area, I always get shock when I ask about things like that, because the assumption is "people like us with kids like ours in schools like this one" don't need such assistance. </p>
<p>With at least one school, I think their common app supplement asked about visits, and son's answer was straight up "I'd love to, but my family can't afford it."</p>
<p>Calmom, I had the same concerns - because GC apparently "volunteered" to the school that one reason we might not be able to visit over Spring Break was that I was waiting to hear if I was going to be laid off from my job and my superiors weren't keen on people being out of the office during the upheaval. The large corporation I work for is going through a massive layoff right now. Although the school is supposed to be "need blind", you just wonder...</p>
<p>I also wasn't impressed that they were more than happy to sign her up for visit experiences (sit in with a class, etc.) right before they told her she was waitlisted. I told D. we're not visiting, because I don't get good vibes from that school, it wasn't one of her favorites, and why possibly fall in love with someplace and know you can't go there? When all is said and done, and she's enrolled somewhere, I will write a professional yet honest letter to the director of admissions giving my feedback. It's a school that was virtually unknown, got a lot of press, and apparently is getting a bit too big for its britches. I don't say that out of spite - the original reason she applied there was the GC was pushing it down her throat. She's been admitted into 5 others so far, and had not visited any of them. We're the customer - with the money that helps keep schools afloat, and some schools seem to be forgetting that. :(</p>
<p>To the OP - I throw my hat into the ring with those who recommend visiting asap. DD1 considered COW and we visited several times. I thought it very different from how it was described by others. Sitting in on classes colored my perspective and DD learned a lot from the overnight.</p>
<p>Go as soon as good airfare allows. My D spent the night and followed a student around at the school she ultimately chose.</p>
<p>Before the visit I emphasized, "While you are there, try and picture yourself there next year. Does it feel right? Will you find the type of people you like to hang out with? "</p>
<p>** If she is happy and excited at the visit, both of you will feel great relief. ** It will make the other schools' decisions and aid packages less stressful.</p>
<p>If she hates the visit, you can come back to CC and ask about that! :-)</p>
<p>I would wonder about the GC that countdown talked about...wow....he/she deserves a letter as well, to blurt out totally private information like that that is no relevent to the admissios process is unpofessional</p>
<p>Welcome, Countdown'sBegun!
For DS, weather doesn't make a darned bit of difference. He visited Chiacgo during a snowstorm in January and loved it. His current top choices are located in Chicago and LA -- go figure.</p>
<p>On the other hand, a friend refused to even consider a whole slew of schools because they didn't meet the flip-flop rule (temps above 50 degrees in winter).</p>
<p>CountingDown (anticipating confusion!) :)</p>
<p>We thought we'd engineer a preference by our kids by visiting schools during good or bad weather, depending on whether we wanted them to like a school or not. And we also paid attention to the timing of the visits (is it setting a standard, or would it be out of sight/out of mind when they'd seen all the other schools after it). </p>
<p>At the end of the day, nothing mattered. Our D chose the school that she saw in a driving rain storm, and didn't like ones she saw in beautiful sunny weather. Our son chose a school from the middel of the viewing times, again in bad weather. </p>
<p>The trouble is, no matter how much they communicate, it often seems there are feelings and impressions they either don't communicate, or can't verbalize, that lead them to have certain preferences.</p>
<p>Just flip a coin ! But I guess you'll need a coin with about 6 sides . . . . .</p>
<p>Stupid question--what is DD or DS?</p>
<p>^DD=Dear Daughter, DS=Dear Son</p>
<p>op here. we've had some extended family complications. I signed DD up for the early visit and hope to know by monday or tues if we'll be able to attend or need to switch it to the later date.
she's calm, I'm a wreck over it all.</p>
<p>Old, if your DD goes to COW first and loves it, then consider the decision to be done. You are not obliged to make all those visits. You and she will be relieved and happy and she will enjoy the rest of her senior year with a smile on her face.</p>