<p>During spring break we are going to revisit my son's top 3 colleges. (Earlham, Willamette, and Whitman)</p>
<p>To prepare, he has requested course catalogs from each school and spent some time on their respective web sites. We are taking the tour, he is meeting with an admission rep, arranged to sit in on a least one class and at two of them set up a meeting with a professor.</p>
<p>We are taking an extra day at each location in order to spend some time exploring the area around the schools.</p>
<p>Any tips on what else to do generally or at these schools specifically would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Has your son already toured the inside of the dorms. I remember touring one school with my son that he liked UNTIL he went into their dorms like dungeons. </p>
<p>Also, try to eat at a couple of the schools dining venues and visit some of the off-campus hangouts.</p>
<p>If you’re taking an extra day, try to arrange your son’s overnight at the school in a dorm. Spending some hours casually with students will provide additional insight.</p>
<p>sounds like you have a good plan and your son is taking the initiative. my kids wanted time alone at each school and i think it helped them to focus on forming their own impressions and opinions w/o the pressure of a parent around. i wandered, they wandered, and we would always meet up later for meals. the challenge for me was to stay quiet and listen. these are three great schools – good luck!</p>
<p>strongly recommend what vossron said - try to arrange an overnight on campus for your son. It makes a huge difference in his ability to get a feel for the social life of campus and whether it’s “him” or not.</p>
<p>My D and I had some extra time during our Whitman accepted students visit so we went to Colville Street Patisserie a couple of blocks from campus in the afternoon. There were a bunch of Whitties there studying and my daughter struck up a conversation with them–what other schools did they turn down, did they like Whitman, that stuff. She really liked those kids and their answers (and those pastries!!) and I’m convinced that’s when she decided Whitman was her school. I recommend Saffron for dinner. Also, Whitman theatre shows are very popular and the tickets get sold out fast. If you can score some for your visit, that might be good.</p>
<p>…and what warts said about consistent note-taking and comparisons…</p>
<p>and also a suggestion for you to drop him off and stay out of sight while he’s there. IMO, that works best as the student can often discover more on his own.</p>
<p>At Whitman, try the pizza at Sweet Basil - there will be lots of students there, and check the website to see if the improv group or the a cappella group are performing - both great. The new rec center is also open. If your kid is into outdoorsy things, be sure to see the gear rental for students in the basement of the student center - truly amazing and will make parents jealous! Along with the new climbing wall :)</p>
<p>At Willamette, be sure to eat at Goudy commons as the food is really, really good - if that’s important to your student. If you’re lucky the weather will be nice and the stream through campus inviting.</p>
<p>I third or fourth the idea of an overnight in the dorms</p>
<p>Have a great time!
I want to go to college!</p>