Have had a chance to compare the programs in detail? How similar or different are the specific classes and opportunities?
One thing to bear in mind if he does visit: students might be in the final throes of the semester. If they seem holed up in the library or overly stressed, I would not take that as a sign of the typical campus attitude.
I wouldn’t let a HS “Commitment Day” pressure him into making a hasty decision. The importance of that day will fade in about 2 weeks. 
Then it seems obvious go to school B, and happily accept the money.
But let’s assume from you name that you live in Massachusetts/RI, and the local school that doesn’t give merit is MIT or Harvard, and the remote school that does give merit is WUSTL. In that case I would be inclined to stick with school A, but picking school B would certainly be fine.
Let’s imagine that the local school is RISD, and the remote school is USC. I’d go with USC in a heartbeat, because the academic possibilities are SO much broader, and there won’t be anything for him at RISD if he changes his mind.
Exactly. It’s impossible to know what you are advising without knowing the schools. It’s like, “Oh hey, we can go to restaurant A or restaurant B. Restaurant B is further away but just gave us a coupon. Which one has better food for the money?” 
Misc thought: 1) I note that today is the last day of spring semester classes at my son’s school. Check the schedule. I would not think that exam week would be a good time for a last minute visit.
2) Evaluate the GPA cutoff for retaining the merit aid. A not insignificant number of our local kids are losing their (GA) Hope Scholarships at GaTech due to weed out classes.
3) Arch has a high workload and weed out rate anywhere. Which school has the better options of he decides to change majors?
“Commitment Day” sounds really stressful!!! My kids went to a public high school where maybe 90 percent went directly to a four year college but many were on waitlists after May 1. And a lot really made their final choice not based on prestige but on what they could afford. It seems kind of vulgar, like advertising the car you drive. BUt on topic; I am sure whatever choice your son makes will be the right one.
I understand what you’re saying re: names of schools. Sorry to be so hesitant. School A is Syracuse and B is University of Miami. Hope that helps.
We are in the process of requesting an extension now. Understandably, trying to reach something other than a voicemail on Commitment Day has been very difficult. I’ve left three or four messages already this morning. Also looking into flights for the weekend for a Monday visit.
Other factors include an uncle who recently moved an hour from the University of Miami who would be a support nearby if needed, should he attend there.
"Visits seem to be heavily emphasized on these forums, but it is likely that a large percentage of students do not visit their colleges before they arrive for registration and classes. Also, many parents have reported here that students can be influenced by superficial impressions on a visit, while not getting too much useful information. "
I’m going to disagree somewhat here.
Visits to colleges AFTER acceptances are in are much more important, imho, than visiting schools when trying to decide where to apply. Yes it is true that many students dont visit before move in day, but if the opportunity to do so is available , why not go? Students are choosing their homes for the next 4 years.
When DS visited 2 colleges during admit days that he had not had the opportunity to visit before, he ruled out one college within 30 Min and the second college after an over night visit.
I went to Syracuse…unless he wants Newhouse, IMO a waste of money (and snow boots) that I would not do if I could redo. B sounds great!
You will love your visit to Miami. I don’t what your son wants to major in, but the school has poured lots of $$$ into NS. I know many business majors there. Two relatives went there for medical school.
Tough decision. Syracuse is in top 10 for arch and UM is not (but maybe in 11-20 since that was not free). Not sure how important that is in the field. Can you get any info from Miami on job placement etc?
Clearly, the weather in Miami and perhaps the atmosphere is going to win over the cold northern winters.
Still a bit unclear on the money issue. You would also have to add in the cost of flying home from Miami several times per year.
Again, I don’t believe it is against the rules to deposit at S and then change your mind prior to paying the tuition. You just can’t deposit at both.
A lot of kids from my area go to both and are very happy. I don’t think it’s a life changing decision and haven’t noticed that more superior students go to one or the other, although no idea about architecture specifically.
@CrazyMomof3 this is not allowed. One can only matriculate at one school…no putting down an enrollment deposit means you plan to matriculate at THAT school.
To the OP…both are fine schools.
Presumably your son applied to U of Miami for a reason. He needs to remember that…and that could help him with this decision.
Maybe he’s a skier.
I don’t think that the overall ranking of these two schools is that different. They are in the same ballpark. Syracuse is known for creative writing and journalism/communications at Newhouse. Miami seems to me to be up and coming in terms of academic reputation. Certainly, the city of Miami would be more fun than Syracuse for most people, even balletomanes , and he would not have to be down there during most of their horrible weather, although there would be hurricane season. B-)
Knowing graduates of both schools, and grown up not too far from Syracuse, I would say go to Miami and don’t look back. If he’s a skier, he won’t have time to ski much anyway and he can go to Big White over spring break with all the money you will be saving. Life is so much more than school rankings.
http://www.today.com/news/woman-gives-95-000-job-new-york-city-move-island-t18536
Let us know.
@thumper1 Thx. Kind of like accepting 2 job offers at the same time. A bit unethical in my book, but the website I was looking at (not sure where it was) basically said to limit the number of schools you do that to because it would be expensive. I guess I thought maybe other people play the game differently than I do. After all it sort of made sense. Lots of kids commit to one school then get bumped from the wait list at another and drop the original school. Different scenario but still backing out on a commitment.
@profparent Don’t remember seeing that of fafsa. Good to know (not that it applies to my daughter. She picked her school and has no second thoughts). These kids are so lucky to have well informed people to help them avoid pitfalls and major mistakes with quick advice.
Crazymom…when getting off a waitlist is different. The student is NOT committing to two schools at one time. They are committing to ONE school. If they get off the wait list and decide to attend the waitlist school, they tell school one they won’t be attending (lose their deposit in most cases) and put in an enrollment deposit at the school where they got off the waitlist.
They have not double deposited,
Anyway…hope the OP updates us with the final decision…or progress!
@thumper1, I don’t believe that putting down a deposit absolutely means that you have to matriculate there. Kids put down a deposit, come off a waitlist, and go to that school instead of where they deposited all the time.
Schools are use to summer melt.
Purple Titan. I agree with you. But sending enrollment deposits to two schools…at the same time. Nope.
How much is the out of pocket for each school? What is the bottom line after scholies and aid?
Middle daughter started in arch with a 4 year B-arch, after 2 semesters she decided it wasn’t what she wanted. She should have looked for arch engineering instead. And this is after 4 years of arch electives in high school. She opted for a classics major and ended up pre-med/pre-dental. Was glad she was at a school which had many other majors to pick from and lots of other choices.
And like many of the others posters I think all mine would have picked U of Miami over S.
Good luck!
Kat