<p>We took a family trip this weekend and as a side to it, visited two colleges casually. Driving on our trip - about a 4 hour trip - it was AMAZING how many colleges we "passed" on the highway - must be cause I'm so in tune to the whole college thing these days!!!</p>
<p>So, give a list. Where you've visited this summer and maybe where you'd like to visit yet this summer. </p>
<p>We have one in college and are starting our "look" for son who will be a HS junior this year.</p>
<p>VISITED:
Butler
Franklin College</p>
<p>YET TO VISIT:
Xavier
Mount Union
Maybe Ohio University
University of Michigan</p>
<p>the places we were going to visit this summer Occidental & University of Redlands & Humboldt, along with University of San Fran, have all been scratched because of travel costs :(</p>
<p>I totally understand that. I wouldn't doubt that the whole gas crisis will definitely affect college choices for many. </p>
<p>On a positive note, if you are starting the college search early, you can at least use the possible selection of colleges closer to home to at least "introduce" college searching and things to look for : size, urban/rural, etc.</p>
<p>I found really inexpensive airfare to Florida a few weeks ago. At the end of this month we will visit all of the college's on D's Florida list:</p>
<p>Florida Atlantic University
Lynn University
Florida Gulf Coast University
University of South Florida
St. Leo University
Florida State University
University of Florida
University of Central Florida</p>
<p>One is a drive-by and other others we have either morning or afternoon campus tours scheduled. It's going to be non-stop driving from one to the other, with a weekend stopover at my in-laws for a visit.</p>
<p>D is interested in hospitaltiy/event management, so all of these schools in Florida have degrees in this field.</p>
<p>We have not ruled out in-state schools, which we can do on a Saturday in the Fall.</p>
<p>I was going to hold off visiting until after she applied and was accepted to the Florida schools, but the inexpensive airfare and the fact that I didn't want to take her out of school in the Fall/Winter of her senior year.</p>
<p>Just returned from a driving trip where we visited:</p>
<p>UC Santa Cruz
Stanford
California State University, San Francisco
Mills College</p>
<p>Despite the lack of students at a few of the campuses, it was worthwhile to take the tours and hear the admissions officers. The trip was definitely worthwhile because it got us out of the smoky valley air.</p>
<p>This summer, Rice and Wash U. We can get to Rice via Southwest airlines, which is reasonable, plus got a free night hotel stay with points
Driving to Wash U, and again got a free night hotel, this time at a Marriott.
D had interviews at both schools, and there should be some students around ar Rice when we visit.
Wash U is having an all day open house so it should be more informative than a regular tour/info session.</p>
<p>Wish S was a rising junior instead of a rising senior and we had more time for planning visits. Up til recently, he's treated college research like homework --- something to be put off until the last minute before it's due. Well, it's due now. We have to have a list to even look at airfare and mileage costs. Even the CA colleges "up north" require budgeting and planning since he wants to go somewhere out of So Cal. </p>
<p>To answer the question: Going back East at the end of August to visit family and so S1 can fly out of NY for his study abroad semester, so we can do some college visits around that time. S2 wants to look at Brown, BU, and NE. Then NY, for Cornell, Colgate, URochester. A stop in the Midwest to visit UMichigan and WashU. </p>
<p>Rice is on the list, but I want it to "show well" so I'm looking for a three-day weekend in October to take a look when the weather is nice. </p>
<p>Other colleges (UCs mostly) may get no visit and we will see what happens and visit if he's accepted. </p>
<p>BTW, a friend is a private college counselor who recently attended a conference at H for admissions counselors. She said that the admissions reps are well aware that skyrocketing airfare and gas costs are going to affect the ability of families to visit in person. I suggest emailing colleges to let them know that you'd like to visit, but can't and please send any specific relevant info about programs, housing, etc.</p>
<p>When we deliver our college-bound son to LA in August, we'll take the rising junior to see the Claremont Colleges, USC, and maybe Occidental. She has some free time and would like to visit more colleges this summer. I would really like her to visit Davidson, Washington and Lee, and maybe another southern college or two, but I fear that we northwesterners would wilt in the summer weather. I'm also not sure whether it's worth a special trip to see colleges that aren't in session, but it's going to be tough to fit in future visits during the school year because of her sports commitments. Sigh...</p>
<p>Ah, we are getting ready for the first part of the "Thelma and Louise" daughter/mom college tour (Brad Pitt is staying home). Here are the summer colleges..</p>
<p>Rhodes (overnighted, D loved it)</p>
<p>Allegheny
College of Wooster
Juniata
Franklin and Marshall
Denison (thank GOD for the $48 Philly to Columbus flight)
Dickinson
Muhlenberg
Goucher</p>
<p>then later on an overnight at Davidson - gotta be done in time for the start of XC practice...</p>
<p>Rachacha: Can you say more about Rhodes? It is on my list of possibilities for my son, but the large percentage of students in frats and sororities worries me some. (He is definitely a non-conformist type.) I don't think we will get there this summer but he might still apply.</p>
<p>We saw Coastal Carolina University last week. Niece will attend as a freshman this fall. It's not for son, but we did want to check it out and let our rising junior have a taste of the touring experience. We were impressed.</p>
<p>I'd like to request that all of you who have taken "official" tours enter a write up about them on this site in the "College Visits" section. I browse through those pages a lot and am often quite dismayed to see some schools haven't been updated in over a year. Thanks.</p>
<p>DougBetsy, most of the schools we visited aren't on CC's list of schools that can be evaluated. We requested that they be added, but to no avail. Some - like Tulsa - really should be on the list.</p>
<p>Bates & Bowdoin. Apparently my son is perfectly happy going as far away as he can go from us while still remaining in the US. Even Alaska and Hawaii would be closer than Maine.</p>
<p>Took rising junior D to UIUC and Northwestern. May still go up to UW-Madison this summer. UMinn-Twin Cities, Indiana-Bloomington, Carleton, and St. Olaf's have been scrapped for right now due to gas prices. I prefer seeing small schools during the school year, anyway -- otherwise, they may seem "dead" to the kids. Would like her to consider Illinois Wesleyan, Olaf's, Augustana. She would like to go see Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Definitely just giving her a feel for big/small, urban/suburban/rural, close/far away.</p>
<p>abasket -- Very curious to know what you thought of Butler.</p>
<p>With the cost of gas and plane fares these days, it will be interesting to see if some schools will still show a preference for applicants who have demonstrated an interest by visiting.</p>
<p>I'm certain large unis will never track interest, but I hope other schools consider interest - - though it does seem unfair to those who just can't afford to make the trip.</p>
<p>Just finished - Missouri S&T, Stevens Inst of Tech, RPI, WPI, RIT, Allegheny, Rose-Hulman. I think son has eliminated a couple, so he'll have a fairly short application list (less than half the size of my daughter's!)</p>