<p>H and son flew from Wis to Boston to see places there then rented a car for a few days to do schools south of NYC. H and I drove out there last fall for a vacation- suggest finding a close suburban hotel with T station access (our hotel had a shuttle to a T station) for the family so you can see Boston while son investigates schools.</p>
<p>The other part of your post - things to see to make the trip fun? When you are in Manhattan, have a dinner at Ellen's Starlight Diner. We went to NYC with our mother daughter book club when my daughter was 13 or so, and a few years later I took my son to NYC when he was 12 or 13, and then again with my parents when my niece was 18 and my daughter 16 - each time, the teenagers were entertained by Ellen's. It's convenient in midtown. Waiters and waitresses dressed in 50's diner clothes sing pop hits and songs from Broadway musicals to you as you eat not-too-overpriced burgers and classic milkshakes. If you go there when it is not too crowded, there is a large chance that a cute singer will stop by and sing to your teenagers - the girls swooned over a guy singer and my son was a little bit embarrassed but was entertained by a girl singer. Fun photo op. I would especially recommend this for a day when you are eating a very late lunch or an early dinner. Friday and Saturday nights are crazy there. And they do serve alcohol, if the parents are looking for a glass of wine after a gruelling day visiting colleges. The diner is on Broadway not too far north of Times Square; our book club girls said that the waitresses could write home and truthfully tell their HS friends "I'm singing on Broadway!"</p>
<p>I'm probably embarrassing myself here, but the main difference about Wagner is that I've never heard of it. (I have heard of at least half a dozen other school in the NY area that may or may not have better stats.) But Fordham is an obvious safety for someone with great stats who wants to stay in NY. And I assume you just left off Columbia, unless he hates the Core Curriculum?</p>
<p>people that go to wagner for the most part love it. its a beautiful college but if you are looking for a more urban school or a school easily accessible to a city wagner is not it, NYC includes all of its boroughs Staten island where wagner is located is far removed from the city life of manhattan and travel for a student is difficult.</p>
<p>Why don't you let your son visit Wagner along with the other schools? It will give him the opportunity to decide if he wants to be in he city or close, yet a bit far.</p>