<p><em>sigh</em> I was just looking at airfares, and it's approaching $400 for r/t on the admitted student weekends. (Usually it's in the $250 range.) Unless we know the last Friday in March, it'll be even more. I don't want my son to choose a school he's never visited, but affording the is going to be really hard for me. </p>
<p>I know that a few schools (Stanford, for example) give travel scholarships to low EFC students for the admitted student weekend travel. Does anyone know if Chicago does? I'm trying to decide if I need to start eBaying stuff now so I'll have money for if he's admitted.</p>
<p>I'm not sure if they do, but since he's never visited, I think it's worth giving the Admissions office a call. Explain that he's never been able to visit the school for financial reasons, but he's very interested in attending. They may be able to help you out or at least give you some options. Where are you from? Southwest often offers reasonable fares into Midway, if you're from a place they serve. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the response. Southwest is really badly sold out those days -- it's as low as $119 for them from here, but none of those seats are available. I had wanted him to visit in January, but just couldn't afford it. I managed his visit to his other big choice by making it his birthday present -- he spent his birthday weekend at that school, which was evidently really fun for him. </p>
<p>I guess I'll talk to them once we find out if he's accepted! I have a feeling they won't, though; I've found UChicago's Financial Aid office to be very rigid to deal with, compared to other schools he's applied to. When asking for a noncustodial parent statement waiver, every other school has been fairly helpful, but Chicago's response was, "We don't give such things." They said that I could provide letters explaining why there wasn't one, but that they would not remove the obligation to have it, and that the aid could be affected. </p>
<p>So I guess I'm anxious, because I have a feeling the answer to this question is no. <em>sigh</em></p>