<p>Our daughter applied to seven colleges - three out of state LAC's, two out of state public universities, one in-state public university, and one in-town private univeristy. She only visited one of the out of state LAC's ( cost of $35 for a chartered bus for a 700 mile round trip and dorm space provided by the college ) and one out-of-state public university visited by the family during spring break of her junior year. She had attended summer programs at the in-state public university during high school.</p>
<p>She visited the other out-of-state university in the spring of senior year since the school paid her airfare and lodging expeneses. She never did visit two of the out-of-state LAC's or the in-town private university. </p>
<p>She decided to wait until she received the financial aid award letter to determine whether to visit the two other LAC's or in-town private university.</p>
<p>The financial aid offered by the LAC she had visited was substantially better than the two LAC's she didn't and she was waitlisted by the in-town private university, so she never bothered to visit those schools. Sometimes we wonder whether her failure to visit a school twenty minutes from home was a factor in her being waitlisted.</p>
<p>We spent very little on college visits but our daughter got a sense of what the atmosphere at a liberal midwestern LAC was like as well as a midwestern and southwestern state university. She liked the LAC atmosphere better but decided to wait to decide whether to visit the other LAC's on her list until the acceptances and award letters were received.</p>
<p>It has been a year since we started visiting, ironically enough today we visited school we started with. I believe it is the longest project my D and I did together.
Several things I would like to clarify from our experience.
1. Visiting colleges is a learning process. Student is growing through process learning new things about him/herself. You migth think you will be ok with big classes lecture style but then you visit small class discussion style and relaize that exactly what you need. Inital visits could be local and varied to establish what your preferences are- big , small, LAC, religious, rural, urban, etc. I think many kids do not know what they like in the beginning of their search and I do think they need to visit first before they can really say- I can not see myself away from city life or classes of 35 is too big.
2.Once type is found, do some more research and visit several colleges of preferred type. I believe that where the myth comes in that student needs to find his/her perfect fit. Once you know what type of college you prefer, there will be several colleges that student will like and will succeed if admitted.
3. Depending on financial need apply to as many colleges as feel comfortable.
Student with high fin need should apply to many colleges IMO.
4. Sometimes small things that give initial bad impression is only outward expression of inner dissatisfaction student can not vocalize. It is important to remember to keep open mind though...
My D has developed relationships with several of her colleges by getting to know admission representatives, interviewing, private visits, open houses, science days etc. She wants to stay close so none of the colleges is more than 6 hrs drive, still many multiple visits did require lot of communication, coordination and time. Visits had to be planned far ahead to accomodate my work schedule as well, some of them she had to fly alone. She applied early October to all of the and added one more school later in December. She was accepted by every school she applied/ none of them superselctive/, received bunch of merit scholarships. Initally she had a list of 8 first and 2 second choice colleges.
Now with known merit aid and all info she gathered during her communication throughout this past year she is down to 4 first choices and couple of colleges did not stand a time test and she does not want to go there aid or no aid.
Should she have applied to these four schools only and do more initial research?
Did we wasted time by visiting and revisiting all those colleges that did make final list?
I do not have answer to this question. I know I do not see it as a waste because I got to spend some unforgettable time with my kid.</p>
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I know I do not see it as a waste because I got to spend some unforgettable time with my kid.
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<p>My D and I had incredible bonding experiences doing this. I wouldn't trade that time for anything.</p>
<p>Dd spent a week each at the Coast Guard Academy, the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy. She went it with them ranked in her mind--switched them completely at the end. She is making return trips to USNA and AFA for overnights. Since the academies are SUCH a different "college" experience, she's needs to have seen them several times. She's spent some time at her safety LAC, but the other two schools that she applied to (and was accepted at) she's never been to.</p>