<p>Just came back from University of Michigan who charges $35 for visit each and we flew out from boston plus paid for hotel! Great school but a bit cult like. Northeastern did not charge and because she wants to work in Boston after college, she will probably go to Northestern. She will be nursing major.</p>
<p>cptofthehouse: I have to agree, the expenses of multiple visits has gotten out of hand, I can understand the colleges especialy the state U’s trying to tighten the belt with the addition of fees but some of these trips have been criminal for wasting a families resources.
One very long distance trip we made, the admissions department decided to cancel the days info session and tour because we were the only ones to register. They did give my student the interview and me a map.
Another long distance trip with an overnight visit, my student got a student interviewer and stood up by a proffessor/department head they had an appointment with. The proff did call with apologies after our plane landed.
These trips were valueless and expensive. The opportunity cost to a HS senior can not be recovered.
The idea that a student should find a college is flawed. A central clearinghouse where all stats are registered and colleges could make their offers would eliminate the “smoke & mirrors” of this process.</p>
<p>Our three college visits thus far have been by car, with the longest being a 5 hour drive from home. All programs were free but only one school “offered” lunch, wherein the meals were free to applicants/student visitor but $6.50 (discounted) per ticket for parents.</p>
<p>We had to pay for lunch on all our visits, but we haven’t had to pay a registration fee for any of them.</p>
<p>On a similar note, the charge for parents (can’t remember if it is for each one or both) was $40 for parents weekend. The college does provide a nice buffet-type brunch and a cider/snack event in the midst of all the other activities. Do most colleges charge for parents weekend?</p>
<p>Those “free” events are not actually free. Although there is no price tag on them, the money that pays for them comes from somewhere, likely from the application fees or a small piece of tuition.</p>
<p>So basically the different schools just put the cost in different places.</p>