My daughter and I visited Clemson last summer as an afterthought. She wanted to see UGa and UNC. When she looked at a map, she saw Clemson in between and said “what the heck, we are driving very close.” As soon as she walked on campus she loved it. She had already seen VaTech, UGa, and UVa. We stopped at UNC the next day, then UWV and Penn State. By the time we got home Clemson was still her top choice. She later visited Indiana and Purdue.
Fast forward to crunch time and she is doubting herself. So another few hundred dollars for gas and hotels for a second look. My wife is driving down with her tomorrow for a set of tours, meetings, auditions, and general looking around.
She is so stressed out right now. Most of her friends have made their decisions. Hope this trip reassures her that Clemson is the place for her.
I have followed your other posts re Clemson, financial aid, etc., and feel we are on the same journey. We are OOS and made our first visit last year during Spring Blitz. Had also visited many other schools and DD felt Clemson was such a good fit for her. We returned in the fall for football game and whole experience sealed the deal.
These great kids are under such pressure senior year, and spend so much time with uncertainty about where they will be accepted and then waiting for the financial aid to see what is affordable. A return visit is a great idea and she’s fortunate to have this opportunity.
I hope your DD finds her reassurance on this trip – one way or the other. Best of luck on this final leg of the college decision process!
Thanks so much. We really wanted to make a football game last fall. My daughter is in her marching band and wants to march in college. She was invited to march with the Tiger Band at one of their games but it was same weekend as one of her senior class events. I really think that would have sealed it back then.
What sealed it for me was seeing her reaction compared to other colleges. She lit up when were are the tour and everything about the campus made her smile. My wife and I both went to Penn State and my daughter was set on following us. On the way her from Clemson she was in tears. When I asked why she said because she felt she was disappointing us because she liked Clemson better. I told her she has to make her experiences and can’t live my life over. I also told her $60,000 less for Clemson was nothing to cry about:)
We are heading there in a couple of weeks for the first time. We are also OOS, and are visiting Univ. South Carolina too…both are on our D’s “narrowed down” list (along with UMD and OSU), so we are very excited to be finally visiting. Hopefully her decision can be made soon…its been such a long process.
@tedysmom Good luck with trips. It is always nice to see things first hand. The pictures in the brochures and websites make them all look wonderful. It’s not on your list but UGa looked like it was abandoned in some areas, overgrown with weeds, cracked sidewalks. Could be why Clemson looked great the next day.
Thanks! Can’t wait to see them. UGa “couldn’t” be on our list (our oldest S is at GaTech - Bulldawgs and Yellowjackets don’t get along 
)
A look from the other side… our OOS S applied last year and was accepted into honors. He chose Clemson over two “prestigious” universities. I inquired recently whether he was satisfied with his choice. His response, “Absolutely. If anything, it has exceeded my expectations.” He glows when he talks about Clemson. In addition, we somewhat unexpectedly have become a “Clemson family.” It is a very special place – warm and welcoming as well as academically stimulating. Good luck!
Well, I just got a text from my wife saying that my daughter bought some Clemson gear on the way out of town.
We now have a Tiger in the house (to go with the two Nittany Lions).
Just sent in the deposit.
Congrats! That’s awesome. We are visiting next weekend for the Spring Blitz, can’t wait!
@tedysmom So, how’d it go. Any decisions? My daughter just set up her orientation and housing preferences. She is getting very nervous now that she realizes this is really happening.
@daveverdo, yes, finally. She decided on Ohio State. Loved Clemson, such a beautiful campus! But in the end, she decided on the big, city feel of OSU. (and their financial aid awards also helped, too )
Best of luck to her. My daughter wanted a big city campus until she saw a few and then decided maybe smaller was better.