<p>tracyvp - Sounds like a fun trip you have planned! We did a similar trip five years ago for my D who is now a senior at UMich. One thing to be aware is that there are not a lot of MT classes on Fridays at UMich - but you could see the facilities and probably have a meeting with Laura Hoffman. And maybe see a show? When in April will you be there? </p>
<p>That does seem like a lot to do CCM and Otterbein in one day - but you could definitely do short visits at both schools and maybe get a tour - you just probably wouldn’t have time to sit in on classes. You should allow about two hours between campuses, to be safe. </p>
<p>And stagedoor22 - I am guessing that those unsmiling faces at CCM were not MT kids - since you said you didn’t see/meet any on your visit there? We found the CCM MT kids to be very friendly and smiling on our several visits there - so am just wondering about that observation?</p>
<p>When planning a visit trip you may want to think about at which schools you will audition on-campus and which you will do at Unifieds or another regional audition. </p>
<p>One reason for the visits, of course, is to narrow down your list. If there are schools you are pretty sure you will audition for, and plan to audition on campus those visits could wait until you audition. You may want to prioritize visiting schools that you do not know as much about, are not sure about yet, or where you will not audition on campus. </p>
<p>Also check the colleges spring break schedule. Most colleges have spring break week in March. </p>
<p>Have a fun trip! 20+ years later I still remember the fun my mom and I had on our college visit trip. :)</p>
<p>My D and I are planning our last pre-audition college visit trip in late August. We have quite a variety-one BFA, one BA and 2 non-audition BA’s (Ithaca, Temple, Muhlenberg and DeSales). We are building in some sightseeing/fun time into the trip. Does anybody have suggestions for fun things to see or do near these schools, or good places to stay? Thanks.</p>
<p>MTMama - we were in the building where the admissions office is for CCM. Sitting in the hallway before and after the admissions session. Just people watching during class change and then during the tour of the facilities. Would imagine there was a mix of CCM students as some were carrying instruments. Her remark when we left was, “I didn’t see one person smile during the entire time there.” To her it seemed a very serious, sterile environment. D knows several kids in the program and they love it. Everyone walks away from a campus visit with a “feel” for the environment based on what they see and experience during the visit. That was just her experience and her impression.</p>
<p>Oh - okay - you said above you did not see students at CCM - that was the confusing part. Was wondering how you observed that they weren’t smiling if you didn’t see them! And yes - if you were in the CCM building then you likely were seeing CCM students - but maybe not MTs. There are lots of other musicians that share that building. Thanks for clarifying!</p>
<p>tracyvp, re: your post #17 - From Pittsburgh to State College, about 2 hours door to door. From State College to center city Philadelphia, about 3-3 1/2 hours door to door. This will depend on the time of day. If you hit Rt 76 off of the PA Turnpike from about 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, it will be longer due to rush hour traffic.</p>
<p>Once you are at your hotel in Philly, Temple and UArts are about 15-20 minutes driving time (but only a few miles) from each other on Broad St (Rt 611). Realistically, give yourself 40 minutes once you are in your car to drive from UArts to Temple, get into a parking lot at Temple and walk to Temple’s Theater Department. If you want to see Muhlenberg on Friday, leave Philly after 10:00 and give yourself an hour and 45 minutes to drive from center city Philadelphia to Muhlenberg’s campus.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for the great advice. We are sort of re-thinking this trip, actually. My D just doesn’t feel passionate about visiting any of the schools ahead of time (I think she’s really just consumed and a bit overwhelmed with an overly packed schedule right now) and thinks she’ll be content to see schools either when she goes there to audition or in the happy event that she’s accepted from an audition at Unifieds, when the time comes to decide .</p>
<p>Plus it frees up some $$ to get some more coaching, training and tutoring (for the SAT) so I really can’t complain too much!</p>
<p>I still think it would be nice to see some of them but quite honestly, I think a trip in the dead of winter with 6 feet of snow and more blowing might be of more value for this Southern California beach girl than a trip in the beautiful springtime!</p>
<p>I can understand that tracyvp…but in that area-you can still get snow and actually chances are it won’t be that warm. In Mi I have sat through plenty of opening days for the Tigers that it has snowed and even cancelled due to the winter weather still. My D and I are getting excited for the trip-we ordered our tickets to see Rent and have scheduled a couple of campus visits with also a plan to drive by a few others and walk around on our own. Good Luck to you and your D</p>
<p>I am going back to see my D in Rent and am a bit worried about the weather as I am in Calif. and just not used to driving in heavy rain/ice/snow. Hoping for great weather but will enjoy the visit in any case! I understand what you mean tracy about visiting in cold weather so they get an idea of what it is like living in cold. When my D first moved there she called me and told me that it was SO cold!!! I started laughing when she told me it was in the 40’s- told her she was in for a shock when it really got cold. Glad to say she has totally acclimated and doesn’t mind the cold now that she has learned how to dress for it. Have fun on your trip broadway!</p>
<p>A visit in April most likely will not have snow or ice. Average low temps are in the high 30s to low 40s and the average high temps are in the mid 50s to mid 60s. Snow and ice would be unusual. With this kind of weather, the students will be out on the lawns sun bathing! LOL!</p>
<p>We have our tickets for Rent on Monday the 18th and then on Tuesday we are seeing The Alice Project at Carnegie Mellon. Our worldwind tour will be Penn State, Seton Hill and Carnegie Mellon, then we will go by Point Park and on the way home Baldwin Wallace. My D is getting really excited about it.</p>
<p>Broadway- There’s not much to see on the outside of Point Park (except some neat architecture close by), but it’s worth taking 5 minutes and running in the building that has the bookstore -take a right and go to the big lobby in front of the main dance studio and peak in there. The main dance studio there is a jaw-dropper. The library which is another building is also fun to peak in fast as it was an olde bank - looks like a bright, white version of the Mary Poppins bank! Anyway, just saying that the interiors are updated and cool…</p>
<p>thx classicalbk-I think I might have an 1 1/2hrs before I have to leave so I might try to call and see if someone can give me a quick tour on Wednesday morning before I have to leave.</p>