<p>Would your leg to WW be easier with another little flight before driving?</p>
<p>There's one parent on the board--I forget who--who thought her D was going to wind up at MHC because it's equestrian program was absolutely the tops. Then the D discovered Smith, which has a merely very good equestrian program, and that was the ball game.</p>
<p>Fwiw, virtually every student I've talked to who goes to one of the womens colleges has a speech that goes "I never intended to attend a womens college but...."</p>
<p>Aries, why no. I'm fine, how are you? Never be misled by a diplomatic cough.</p>
<p>Regarding equestrian programs: This was tops on my daughter's list early on (end of sophomore year/beginning of junior year) but she's now decided that she probably is not going to do any riding in college. Ironically, two of the schools on her list - Earlham and Goucher - have fine equestrian programs, but that is not even an issue for her at this point. So, as with all such "passions," I wouldn't limit school choices by it, but merely consider it a bonus.</p>
<p>Carolyn: I agree 100% with you. As I learned from my football player son, who in the end turned down Pomona, Wesleyan and Wash U. because he decided at the last minute he no longer wanted to play football, she will be exposed to a variety of schools on this trip, as well as others, that offer a broad spectrum of schhols.</p>
<p>August 15th in Barryville-ok spent 9 summers there at Camp Wel-Met. I know your daughter is not at my old Camp as it is now a Lakeside Development. Anyway, your itinerary from Barryville to Hamilton-Skidmore etc. looks ok. But there has to be a better way to do the first part of the trip. It may mean a ticket change but can you start your trip with Warren Wilson (fly into Knoxville or Charlotte??) Goucher and DC are so close to one another that by breaking up the trip the way you have it-- you seem to be making a REALLY BIG LOOP. Also Barryville is not really that far from Haverford and the other Pa. schools, so it may be easier to backtrack from Barryville to see Haverford etc. ( and even some other suggested schools like Bucknell and Lehigh) Route 81 is pretty good to get you from Pa. to NY State. I just gave you some initial info to think about. If this idea sort of works for you, we can brainstorm some more. Also good point was made- A lot of NE colleges start by 8/20 and campus tours may be limited. So check the calendars carefully. If you nix WW, your itinerary is doable but that 1 school really makes this an exhausting itinerary. Hey, what is one more application? Let her apply- if she gets in, she'll visit it next year.</p>
<p>The flip of seeing colleges after the term has started is that it gives a much better feel. Every place from UCLA to Smith is <em>much</em> different in the summer and I would throw out a lot of the inferences you might draw beyond facilities, setting, etc. I realize that it's not practical in many cases to visit during the high school Spring break, when most colleges are still in session, so one does what one can. </p>
<p>Also, the colleges tend to have more tour guides available once they're in session.</p>
<p>I agree. We used spring break junior year for this. Almost all schools (except Harvard) were in session. D also got a taste of the weather :).</p>
<p>I think Marny's concern was that many schools do not offer tours during the first week of school and some also do not offer them during the last week of the summer before school starts. </p>
<p>TheDad, I agree with you about trying to do visits during the school year when possible --- some of the schools my daughter rejected during summer tours might have made her list if she'd had a chance to sit in on some classes and actually see more students then the tour guide. :) However, a few summer visits are good for narrowing down what kids like and don't like --- and certainly someone like CD with TWO girls in TWO successive years needs to plan carefully. </p>
<p>CD, I think you will have a great time on this trip but I predict you'll be doing a second trip next year anyhow with your 2007 grad. It will be fun watching your girls and seeing where they end up!</p>
<p>Carolyn: You may be right, only time will tell</p>
<p>Another trip with the 2007 grad could be scheduled around April open houses or even move-in and orientation with the older daughter. </p>
<p>Then again, you could try my parent's approach: no where outside of the home state. :)</p>
<p>concerneddad-
My head is swimming trying to keep up with all the suggestions here! If I follow, you are planning to pick up the car in Newark and drop it off in PA? Might I suggest you fly to/from Asheville? There are plenty if very affordable flights into either Asheville or Greenville/Spartanburg airport (about an hour away). My s. is working at a camp in Hendersonville, just outside of Asheville. We had to get him to/from a family event in NY. As he was originally travelling up from Atlanta, we got him a VERY reasonable fare from Greenville/Spartanburg to LaGuardia (flight up went through Charlotte, flight back was direct) on USAirways, which is merging with AmericaWest, so you don't have to worry about the airline going belly up. The flights were very smoothe and very cheap. This will free up a little time, should you want to cram yet another rthing into your schedule), to visit the Biltmore House (Vanderbilt Mansion) in Asheville. Absolutely spectacular. I would also imagine that a day or 2 rental car in Asheville is a whole lot cheaper than the comparable days out of the NE.</p>
<p>As for the Blue Ridge Parkway, as ariesathena mentioned, should you drive to/ from Asheville, it is gorgeous, but slow. You can hop on/off it at different exits, but it will stil slow you down. Also, at dusk and night you run the risk of hitting a deer on the road. They are everywhere. When we drove it, 2 German fellows were out photographing a baby cub on the side of the road. Unfortunately they took our attempts to talk to them as very annoying, so we chose to boogey outta there rather than get eaten by mommy bear who was standing and watching very nearby (hence the warning we were trying to convey to them :eek: )</p>
<p>Good luck with your lofty plans. If you need help finding bargain airfare or rental car deals, that is my hobby!! I love finding deals on the web!</p>
<p>Well AA, having traveled the country with my son, my Ds deserve (and bless their hearts, demand) no less. Besides, what is so bad about the opportunity to eat real pizza and deli twice in a year! LOL</p>
<p>I hear you CD - I certainly gorged myself on pizza and pistrami sandwiches while I was in NY the week before last. Sigh.</p>
<p>A quick perusing of the web did not find any great deals into Asheville or greenville/spartanburg right now, but I did find $79 (each way) fares Newark-Charlotte (there are lots of flights between Charlotte and Asheville, or you can drive it in about 2 hrs, I'd guess). Its still early-- your trip is a month away. Better fares may pop up to Asheville or GSP. I found some rental cars starting at about $25/day. Yes, even at that price, they really do have engines AND tires :)</p>
<p>CD, if your daughters are like mine, you'll have to "tour" every Starbucks at every campus. I really think the spring break trip with my daughter was one of the best times we have had together, a real bonding experience for the two of us.</p>
<p>update-
Take a look at Independence Air. They have a sale fare (started today). You can fly Newark- Greenville/Spartanburg (through DC) on Aug 9 for $99, and then Greenville/Spartanburg- Washington Dulles (direct) on Aug 12 for $59. Not too shabby. I must have been a travel agent in a previous life.</p>
<p>Jym- you're hired. I am going to defer to you for any future travel plans I have to contend with. I think taking advantage of these flights makes the trip to WW realistic. I think the original itinerary seems a little too grueling and will exhaust the kids even before they get to see many of the campuses on your list. Just remember- a lot of kids "fade out" after seeing 4 or 5 colleges. Adding long car rides may not make the process easier.</p>
<p>I agree marny</p>
<p>Thanks marny and sempitern! I really enjoy finding deals -- and have done so for lots of folks. Feel free to ask-- happy to help! Think I can quit my day job?</p>
<p>As for the long trips-- I fully agree. Our first college tour wasn't that long by most standards-- 5 schools in 5 days (with some playtime thrown in), but my s. got sick at school # 3 and wasn't feeling so well for the last few. By school # 5 (which happened to be Harvard) none of us remembers much about it :( I was amazed that people were seeing 7-10 schools in one trip. I certainly understand that it is hard to schedule cross country trips, but we found that it became a blur after a while. </p>
<p>By the way, there is a map of the US available that shows college locations. I am not at home at the moment so can't put my fingers on the name of it. Carolyn, do you recall the name??</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for all the suggestions, and jym for you remarkable travel skills. I am looking at tweeking the trip just a bit. If not, I am certainly hoping that the built in "down time" and the carrot of 4 nights in Manhattan (with a few plays yet to be determined thrown) will keep the girls in good humor.</p>