@lkg4answers I am not sure about other schools. I guess it probably is something not that common.
Had to jump in here. Went on our first two tours this week. First we went to Case Western. They were overwhelmed by the amount of people that showed up. Walked us down to the auditorium for the admission speech. Okay speech. Then they divided up into groups. Couldnât here the girl too well and she was moving backward while talking at a hectic space. There was a land to cover but TBH it wasnât very good. Went to U of Michigan today for a tour and it made Case look like total amateurs. Admission officer talked. Good speech. Went on tour. Girl walked stopped to talk and walked at a leisurely pace always asking the group if they had any questions. Was very impressed.
Headed to CWRU for their open house on Friday. They better be polished if they hope to compete with the great tour guides, blooming campuses, and sunshine we have seen already this week in VA and NC. 
@Nicki20 Agree about the variation in tour guide and admissions speech thing - but the thing is, I am trying to not hold it against colleges. One talk I was not impressed with was at Stanford!
I donât necessarily hold it against them either. But the tours are supposed to informational. I think some are going to hold it against CWRU combined with the location of the actual school and tarea. Iâm a Chicagoan so that didnât necessarily bother me but your look for beautiful scenario itâs not the most. The school does seem to have lots of diverse things to do outside the class and I believe the hospital itself is a selling point.
My niece is currently there and loves it. She went there for pre-med.
We went on two tours of the same school with S09 and S13. The tour with S09 was excellent and he attended that school. Great informational session and tour. The tour with S13 was awful. Terrible tour and information session. If that had been our only experience with the school we would have been so turned off. All three of my sons ended up attending and graduating from that school.
@Waiting2exhale hi! I saw you too. Yes I have a DS20. 
Regarding using AP credit to graduate early, I view it as one type of âmerit aidâ for that reason! Itâs saving us a year of tuition!!
Just got back from a trip to the Pacific Northwest. While there, we took D20 to visit the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and the University of Washington. D loved everything about UOâŠthe campus, the people, the close proximity to the small, college-y downtown. Downtown Eugene seems grittier than the last time I was there, but it didnât bother D at all. D didnât really care for OSU, since we toured it right after UO and it didnât seem as exciting as UO. The campus community at OSU felt welcoming and friendly. UW was beautiful and grand. However, it was almost too big/urban for D and she said she couldnât see herself attending there. Iâm ok that she doesnât like UW, though, as the chances of her getting substantial merit $ there are very low.
Eugene has always been gritty I think. I went to college in Salem and that was the rep even back then.
Our Spring Break trip is all planned now. We are a leisurely college visit family, not a 2 schools a day family.
We will fly in to ABQ, visit UNM, have a free day in Santa Fe, visit Colorado College, do some hiking, then visit University of Denver and have a free day in Denver, fly out of Denver.
Thinking of our friends in class of 2019 today. This yearâs results are brutal.
^^Yes, itâs tough out there. I canât believe our kids are next in line. Gulp.
@ebh47: âWe went on two tours of the same school with S09 and S13. The tour with S09 was excellent and he attended that school. Great informational session and tour. The tour with S13 was awful. Terrible tour and information session. If that had been our only experience with the school we would have been so turned off. All three of my sons ended up attending and graduating from that school.â
I can speak to something a little similar. My oldest kid toured the university where his sister, the next kid in line, now attends. She really loves what she does inside and outside of the classroom and I am so glad she landed where she did. But, when I had taken the older to tour and visit just a few years prior, we both had such an awful experience. Between the unending sports and stadium talk of the parents and guides (two groups very near each other had spontaneous breakout sessions), and the unbearable climatic conditions, it was a no-brainer that son would never fit in there.
I marvel at the fit my daughter has found there, though.
What a difference a kid makes.
Hi @ebh87 - my daughter is a sophomore at U Oregon so let me know if you have any questions. She loves it. I was just talking to her about it today and even though she is trying to transfer to one of the UCâs, the ONLY reason is UO doesnât have her preferred major. She said if they did she would be totally happy staying there. Sheâs made great friends and had some awesome professors (and some not so good too of course, but some really caring ones). Yes, Eugene is gritty and there is some petty crime students need to be aware of if living off campus but overall itâs been a great school for her.
Iâm in Montreal now, visiting my D18 at McGill. Last week I was in Columbia, SC with S20, visiting UofSC. Itâs been interesting to see these two schools back-to-back. On paper, they have a lot in common: large public universities, about the same size, compact walkable campus in an urban setting. But WOW, they are so different in vibe/personality/culture. S20 would be miserable at McGill, and D18 would be miserable at UofSC. This is why we visit!
@ShrimpBurrito Go McGill! Yes - when I went to McGill, I barely realized that the campus population was so huge. Everything was easy to get to. Yup the vibe is very different.
We just returned from Mizzou with D20. She loved it, and it will remain on the list, although as a safety for now in case she decides against nursing, or to take a chance with non-direct-admit. Beautiful campus. Good school spirit. The best college-town weâve seen yet. Also, the best rec center weâve seen yet, just edging out AZ, USCar, and UIowa. Plus, she would qualify for in-state tuition based on stats. If they had direct admit, itâd be a slam dunk.
We are thinking of going to TCNJ open house tomorrow. We live under 3 hour drive. We read good things about the college including its small class size, high retention and graduation rate. It could be a safety. I dont want to insult anyone who dreams to go there but is TCNJ too below for a kid with 99gpa and 1540 sat?
So, I think I introduced myself awhile back and then disappeared, so Iâll do it again and stick around this time. Honestly, my D20 isnât a typical CC kid at ALL. That makes my life harder though, so Iâm gonna take all the advice and support I can get. We also have a D19, who had an easy application round- sheâs a questbridge scholar, Jack kent cooke scholar, and was accepted ED into her favorite school. D20⊠well, here we go:
We homeschool, so we have that hurdle to jump- and I have to mention that she doesnât test particularly well. She has slow processing speed and some memory issues/brain fog due to her autoimmune disorder, so sheâs never gonna be rocking it out of the park with the ACT/SAT. Because of that, we also arenât doing any AP or SAT 2 tests- why even set her up for more stress that isnât absolutely required and wonât yield her much. She just started DE and will likely have about five classes under her belt by graduation, but only 2-3 completed for grade verification by the time apps go in. She is a serious dancer- she dances in a youth ballet company, so she practices about 22 hours a week and rehearsals an additional 5-12. She also has a steady job in a daycare center two days a week, volunteers at the local library, and has a 4.0 (we use curriculum with built in grading/tests).
She has celiac, so a school where she can eat safely is important.
She wants to major in elementary education and either double major or minor in dance/performance or choreography- she would like to be a kindergarten teacher and teach ballet in the evenings.
Her wants- and this is where it gets tougher because CA schools are both ridiculously competitive and not incredibly homeschool friendly (UCs require two subject tests from all homeschoolers): she wants to go to school in CA. Sheâs willing to accept coastal NC or FL. Non-religious, or at least not overbearingly religious (Jesuit, for instance, is fine)- sheâs an atheist and wouldnât go to church. Must offer a dance program. Must not be so selective that she doesnât stand a chance. If private, must participate in yellow ribbon: she has my husbandâs full GI bill, but otherwise not much help from us- my D19 qualifies for nearly full aid (we owe $2k) from her meets-full-need school.
Any help, any advice would be lovely. Testing accommodations are not an option. Getting her into an accredited high school program to finish may be.
Thank you!