<p>All of the colleges I am interested in are out of state, and I really can't afford to buy a plane ticket and go vacation there to see them. I was wondering if I could get with a group and visit colleges for a discounted group price? My school doesn't offer these trips, I've already checked :(</p>
<p>How far out of state? You might put off the furthest visits until you've been accepted and are sure they're schools you really want to go to. I can't see spending a ton of money on these "look see" visits either! There is at least one company with a website that does this - can't remember the name though, google for campus tours or something like that.</p>
<p>If it's not extremely far, bus might be an option - several friends of my D who bought NYC "shopping excursion" tickets from a private tour company for around $50 (we're about 5 hrs from the city), planning to take the subway or taxis to their intended Univ's there. Didn't work out so well, though, they decided to shop instead, lol!</p>
<p>Amtrak is a great way to travel if you're on a budget and have access to it. Also, network with your friends and acquaintances - we've offered to take several other kids with us when we visit colleges in neighboring states when their parents can't/won't get away. This might work well for cities that have multiple universities if you're comfortable doing the tour without a parent.</p>
<p>If you know kids at those colleges, or know kids who know kids, you can cut costs by staying with them. Some cities have access to very inexpensive "China town" buses. That's what my kids use around here. So if you fly to a city like NYC, you then have access to that network.</p>
<p>One school's admissions office told my son that once accepted they will pay for 1/2 of his plane fare for his visit, and someone from the school will pick him up at the airport.</p>
<p>There are some cheap substitutes for the in-person visit:
online virtual tours
DVD campus tours
calling kids you know from your high school and talking to them about their experiences.</p>
<p>while its useful to visit if you can, there are alternatives if you can't. You can contact the admissions office at schools you are interested in and ask to be put in contact with a current student who lives in your area; you can meet them for coffee and chat with them about the school. If you're a senior you'll probably have to hurry on this because the fall term is starting up soon and the kids won't be back until the holidays. You can also ask your HS counselor if they know any kids from your HS currently attending the schools you're considering, you may be able to get in touch quicker that way.</p>
<p>You can spend some time reading the online school papers and get a sense of what is going on at the school and what kids are talking about (eg. the letters to the editor).</p>
<p>There are filmed tours by companies such as Collegiate</a> Choice Walking Tours Videos - college videos, campus tours, college guides, college planning, college admissions</p>
<p>Lastly, if you start working & saving now you can earn enough money to visit your top 2 choices in the spring.</p>
<p>If you are able/willing to drive, stay at state campgrounds instead of hotels. The cost is enormously lowered, and most schools will have a state park within half an hour's driving distance.</p>