<p>While half of my schools are in-state and I should be able to visit them this fall, the other half are basically on the other side of the country. Visiting these schools (all of my reaches and one match, if if makes a difference) will almost certainly be out of the question; plane tickets and hotel reservations tend to be pretty expensive and my family can't really afford it. Should I still consider these schools? Three of them are in big cities, which would be a very big change for me, and I'm hesitant to make that kind of a change without being able to visit first. However, they really are the schools that I like the most so far.</p>
<p>I know with one of the schools my daughter applied, the college gave a $500 travel allowance to admitted students who were greater than x miles away. I’m not sure how common this practice is though.</p>
<p>If you cannot visit then at least go onto the websites and go with virtual tour and look at pics. Also go onto Youtube and type the school. Colleges have many videos that can get you the feel of the campus and people</p>
<p>Make every effort to arrange a meeting with a regional admissions representative. Colleges understand why someone can’t travel across the country to visit the campus, but they might wonder why you couldn’t travel an hour for a local presentation (if you have no obvious conflicts). If you do have a commitment that interferes with a local admissions event, I suggest contacting the admissions office to explain and offer your regrets. You can ask whether they have any alumni/ae interviewers in your area, also. You will demonstrate an interest, along with individual initiative, this way. </p>
<p>In general I think it is good to visit a school before committing to attend. If finances are an issue you can wait to see if you get admitted and then try to visit your top couple of choices. In the meantime, you can do things like get on the mailing list, go to a college fair and stop by the school’s booth, ask for a local interview with an alumni/regional representative etc. to show interest in the schools. You might also want to visit an urban school closer to you so you can get a sense of what a city campus is like.</p>
<p>I think you should still apply to the ones across the country but definitely do not commit without visiting. Wait until decisions come out, see where you are admitted, and then just visit those places. </p>
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<p>If u cannot afford a single visit now, how will u be able to afford 4 trips per year (i.e. thanksgiving brk, xmas brk, spring brk, summer vacation) for the nxt 4 years?</p>
<p>@MOMINWIS @happy1 @Ranza123 Thanks, I probably will apply and then seriously look into flying out if I end up admitted :)</p>
<p>@GMTplus7 I won’t be going home for Thanksgiving or spring break while I’m in college, and getting flights home for winter and summer breaks is a very different situation than putting down the cash to visit somewhere I MIGHT go to school. Going back and forth will be a necessity if I go there; right now my parents view college visits as a luxury that isn’t absolutely necessary.</p>