<p>Wow! Thanks for taking the time to answer, guys!
I think it's a combination of not seeing her and being far away if something happens, although it's very much a psychological thing in both cases because I am healthy (no allergies, chronic illnesses, etc) and she knows that even if I was closer, we would see each other the same amount. I had an argument with her about this the other day and she pretty much said that it's knowing she has the potential to just drive and see me that would make her feel better, not actually doing it. devilsrule, I think the problem is she thinks I'm too independent, not not independent enough! and emerald, I've told her I think Reed and Oberlin are really unique schools, but she insists there's nothing I can't find in the Northeast and that I'm just looking in other places because I know it bothers her. It's really hard to reason with her on this. And I have made the case for discount airfare actually being cheaper and quicker than gas and driving, but she won't go for it. I really do think it's an all-in-the-head kind of thing, which is what makes it so much harder, because no logical argument can really overcome that. cheers, I've considered just applying without asking and leaving the headaches for later, and this might be a last resort, but I don't want to antagonize my parents any more. I just wish they would listen to reason.
Maybe I'll show her this thread as nothing I say has had any effect.
Thanks again!</p>
<p>Yep, she's a control freak. Go with plan B. :)</p>
<p>(I just wrote that in case you do print the whole thread out and show it to her!)</p>
<p>I should talk! I went to college 30 miles from home and came home at least once a month with a laundry bag!</p>
<p>Good luck, Eclipse.</p>
<p>===</p>
<p>Jamimom, Smith to the airport is no problem when she's flying in/out of Hartford, the closest airport. </p>
<p>However, for the longer stays at home, she's flying out of Boston (maybe should have considered NYC) because she needs to be on a plane large enough to have a garment bag closet where she can stow her French horn on the floor...no way it can go through baggage. Worst case, she'll take Greyhound into Boston coming here...not so bad. But coming back she doesn't arrive into Logan until 7:20 in the evening and <em>that</em> is currently proving to be problematic. Right now, I'm far more wound up about it than she is: she says that she will manage and that right now she has to worry about finals.</p>
<p>Smith is a half hour from the Hartford airport. On holidays, Smith runs a bus for students. At other times, my D takes the shuttle van for $40 one way. Reservations can be made & paid for ahead of time. I wonder what Grinnell students do? We visited there & seems like it took an hour to drive from the Des Moines airport.</p>
<p>try to find out what your parents' are really concerned about. If you can address their concerns, you'll be in a better position to negotiate with them. Even changing the 5 hours "driving time" to 5 hours "travel time", which might involve flights, would dramatically open up your options w/o particularly contracting theirs.</p>