<p>I'll do that. But, maybe I'm missing something, but the college reports seem very sterile & uninformative (people there are 'friendly' and 'five stars;' food is 'good,' etc.). I've found something on Princeton Review (hard time finding it a second time) that sythesizes 'views of the students about their school.' I found that really informative and, when comparing the perceptions w/the schools I know about, it really matched. </p>
<p>I'll look through the CC trip postings again, though, and add ours (once fatigue wears off and laundry done...!). :-)</p>
<p>Jolynne: You are right some of the reports are dry indeed but others are newsy and full of good info. The best way to be newsy and specific is in the comments sections. there is one for each catagory and then several at the bottom which are specific to overall impressions, transportation lodging etc. Thanks for adding and best of luck with the laundry</p>
<p>re: parents attending/talking on college tours:
After attending a few tours, I felt that asking questions as a parent was okay, as long as it was not overboard. Your teen will either want you to ask the questions so they can stay quiet and not embarrass themselves or they want you to stay quiet so you don't embarrass them. Could go either way. I tried to get my D to ask the questions I thought of, but that really didn't fly.</p>
<p>Thanks, historymom & Youdon'tsay. I'll plan to put in some more 'chatty' reviews (before we forget everything).</p>
<p>I've been guilty of being one of the parents who asks (often several) questions at those group, info sessions (sometimes w/a crowd of 200 in an auditorium, much to son's mortification). </p>
<p>This time I did it differently. I whispered question to son (or passed note), asked if he wanted me to ask it (usually: "no!"). I explained why I thought it important & sometimes he asked it himself if he thought it worthhwhile (happened about 4-5 times, total, during our 6 school visits). I thought this public speaking seemed to help son w/confidence. </p>
<p>By the end of our visits, at the last school he was sitting one/one w/the head of a dept, asking questions and responding for about 45 mins (big development for typical teen, it seemed). I think he was getting really interested in everything, too.</p>
<p>Yikes! If my D realizes that a nearby Aveda salon could be a college search criterion, her whole list will change!! </p>
<p>historymom: Thanks for your Oxy visit report - very helpful. Have you been to Scripps yet? I'd love to see your Scripps report - it is high on my D's list at the moment. Thanks.</p>
<p>Double yikes! Meant to post that ^^^ on the "Parents of the high school class of 09" thread......that's what happens when you are reading 2 threads at once, and answering the phone, all while you are late for a meeting :)</p>
<p>If eastern Washington is a possibility you might look at Gonzaga and Washington State U. Many good students from western WA that want a change of pace look there and have good experiences. </p>
<p>WSU might be a WICHE school and they have many strong engineering programs with a smaller, residential school feel. Much different than UW that way. Can walk anywhere in 10 minutes between classes.</p>
<p>Gonzaga might be a good match, given the other schools on your list. D had a friend go last fall...val, NMS and engineering student. Could have gone almost anywhere. Another friend is there studying business...cocacola scholar...got into Duke and Stanford. They both love it there, especially the school spirit/sports stuff.</p>