<p>Actually, you can head south on I-77 to Charlotte from I-81 in western Va. I-77 goes within five miles of Davidson near Lake Norman north of Charlotte. </p>
<p>Wake Forest is only a slight detour on the way down I-77 or off I-85 between Charlotte and Durham/Chapel Hill.</p>
<p>I wouldn't go to Chattanooga to get to Atlanta. Chattanooga is west of Atlanta so you're doubling back. It's a straight shot from Charlotte on I-85.</p>
<p>It sounds from the initial list of propsed schools that the OP's daughter is not looking for a very small school, in which case both Davidson and W&L would be poor additions to the itinerary. If the omission is more the result of just not knowing about these two schools, however, then it might be a good idea to add at least one of them to the mix, but only if the prospective student is thinking of applying to other small schools. But a student who doesn't like the idea of going to Bowdoin or Williams isn't likely to favor Davidson or W&L either. In any case, Davidson is about a mile off I-77 (there's a Davidson exit) and not even a half-hour from the Charlotte airport, so very accessible and therefore probably the easier of the two small schools to visit, though a trip through the Virginia countryside to see W&L is very appealing too. </p>
<p>Regarding regional flavor: Small schools do tend to be somewhat more regional in feel than larger ones, but to those of us who live in the north it isn't noticeable because it is what we are used to. That is not to say there isn't a southern tilt at the southern schools but I don't know that it is a problem per se, just part of living in a different region, and educational in a sense. Courtesy doesn't equate to sexism, and dressing up for parties doesn't preclude athleticism, studiousness, or the desire to wear shorts and t-shirts (remember, at this time of year in North Carolina sweats are often too warm, and shorts and t-shirts take their place--not yet the case in Maine:). </p>
<p>There have been long threads about regional preferences in schools over the past few months, if the OP or others want to pursue the aspect of the discussion that relates to cultural issues rather than travel planning or type and size of school.</p>
<p>mattmom: Thanks. I was trying to think of a way to respond to some of those earlier postings about the [perceived] Southern culture of some of these schools, but you beat me to it...and did a much better job than I would have :-) Well put.</p>
<p>IDad is right, but some of the trip from Atl to Charlotte is is rough driving, about half bad, half not so bad. We're not talking NJ Turnpike, or westbound on the George Washington Bridge at 5pm like we stupidly did last summer, but exhausting driving, it is a long drive if you are accustomed to NE distances.</p>
<p>I would suggest going no further south than Charlotte, and doing Atlanta in another trip, particularly if she finds she likes the South and wants to add some other schools. I don't know too much about about W&M, but Emory is one of the least "Southern" of all these mentioned - think Tufts in atmosphere, different strong depts - and Atlanta may be the easiest place for you to get to.</p>
<p>cangel, so tufts is like Emory? I thought that Tufts was maybe more intense and a little less lively socially, more like a larger Swarthmore, but I must have the wrong impression of Tufts. I am curious because my junior's guidance counselor mentioned Tufts to him because he's apparently decided he wants urban, urban, urban. I told him just to apply ed to NYU and be done with it.</p>
<p>Heidi, I agree that Tufts may well be a little more intense and less lively socially than Emory, that's probably a generalization of many Northern to Southern schools. I was trying to pick a Northern school that is in the ballpark with Emory size, location wise, etc. But I wouldn't think of Tufts as a "larger Swarthmore". Ariesathena, where are you? She is a recent Tufts grad who posts here, she may have insight.</p>
<p>Heidi:
We are located near these schools and have extensive recent contact with them, including knowing young people there now and older alum. Keep in mind that Wm and Mary has inflated standards for out of state students, very high test scores and as of last summer will make Evaluative Interview appointments with trained seniors an option....which should not be taken lightly as the school is highly selective. I wouldn't send a child in for that interview who did not already feel clear-headed and specific about Wm and Mary.<br>
Emory is a bit farther away, but we also lived in Atlanta twice. You are not set up for private messages. If you open that up, I would be happy to tell you more details. Many southern institutions welcome/seek geographic diversity chances, so I hope you find a couple of our region's schools to your liking. Best...</p>
<p>Hi faline2, I wasn't the op, someone named movinmom was so you could try pm-ing her; I just butted in to ask cangel about Emory vs. Tufts!</p>
<p>Route 81 is a great way to get to most of the Virginia and NC colleges. If you are driving down Route 81 in Virginia you drive right through the campus of JMU. You will go right past W&L and VMI. You can also cut over on 66 if you want to see any of the DC schools, starting with George Mason.
64 will take you to UVa, Richmond and W&M.
77 to the NC schools.
If you stay on 81 all the way to Tennessee, you can see VaTech, Roanoke College, Hollins, Emory and Henry and eventually UT.</p>