I was wondering how much time one would need to visit Miami Univ, Denison, College of Wooster and mayb Kenyon. Will this take more than a few days? How would you do this if coming from the east? Thanks so much
Flying or driving? If flying check fares into Cincinnat, Dayton and Columbus. Remember to check Southwest on their own website. I would not do more than 2 schools in a day regardless of the distance between them so you will need 2-4 days depending on flights.
@Cheeringsection Thanks! We would definitely be driving.
Miami is the farthest south. I would start there and work your way back but check the websites for each school since they may only do tours on certain days. When were you thinking? Summer? Spring break?
@Cheeringsection Thanks again. Maybe the very end of Aug or beginning of Sept when the students are back at school and before our D starts school. I find it a waste to see schools without students present.
I’d fly into Cincinnati or Dayton and do Miami the first day, Denison and Kenyon the second day, and Wooster the third day. Or you can fly into Akron or Cleveland and flip the route.
Yes to @simba9 suggestion. Denison and Kenyon can be done in one day. But stay near the one you are visiting in the morning ( i.e., Granville Inn).
Check academic calendars too to see when classes start. And you don’t want to be there at freshman move-in, Labor day weekend or Parent visit weekend.
Thanks for the suggestions. We would drive, not fly though.
D and I needed Dramamine when we drove from Dayton to Miami U. Just sayin’
Wooster, Kenyon, Denison and Miami are sort of on a line – you could start with Wooster, then do Kenyon in the afternoon as they are about 45 minutes apart. I’d recommend the St Paul hotel in Wooster, a delightful European style boutique hotel, on the “hip” stretch of downtown Wooster with some great restaurants within 1-2 blocks. Gambier/Kenyon is about 45 minute drive southwest from Wooster, so an easy afternoon visit. Those two schools provide good contrasts – the larger campus and student body of Wooster vs. the intimacy of Kenyon. At the end of the day, it’s about another 45 minutes drive down to Granville, a charming village; consider staying at the Granville Inn (run by Denison, ask for rate applicable to visiting families) or the Buxton Inn (has discounts for Denison families, ask whether applies to visiting prospective families). Visit Denison in the morning and drive to Miami (about a 2 hour drive) from Granville, perhaps catch a late afternoon tour and info session, if available or just relax and do Miami the next day. Earlham is 30-40 minutes far from Miami U, if you want to extend the trip and see another LAC.
The drive from Wooster/Kenyon/Gambier is rolling hills, and you need to watch for Amish horse and buggies, so cannot speed through.
Check the admissions office schedules to see if they are having tours and info sessions. Some schools do NOT have them the first week or two of classes so that their tour guides can start the term without conflicts.
I don’t know the academic calendars of ANY of these schools…but you should check. Some schools shutter their admissions office between the summer term ending and fall term beginning for a couple of weeks too.
Where are you driving FROM because that would impact my route sugggestions for you.
My only suggestion so far…drive to each destination the night before…so you are there for the start of the day…and aren’t following a drive with college stuff in the morning.
I think @Midwestmomofboys lays out a good plan that could minimize time. If you have more time, you could make it three days and add either Wittenberg or Otterbein, or pick one university to spend the day at and let your child sit in on a class.
Thank you so very much for the feedback @SuburbMom @thumper1 and @Midwestmomofboys
Very helpful! Oh, and we’ll be driving from Manhattan if that makes a difference.
That’s a LONG drive.
I would suggest you plan to arrive at your first destination the evening before that college visit. Do only ONE college visit that first day…and schedule it in the afternoon. That way…you can arrive the night before after your long drive…sleep in a bit…and take a leisurely morning having breakfast…and looking around. Then go on the first tour that afternoon.
After that tour…drive to college destination 2. Next morning do a tour. If it’s close enough…you can do a second college tour in the afternoon. You will need to check times. Then proceed to destination 3 after the afternoon tour.
Do your destination 3 college tour in the morning. Again…if possible…you might be able to squeeze another tour in the afternoon.
Or…do that morning tour…have lunch…and start your drive home.
@thumper1 Thanks again:) I imagine we will spend the night in PA before heading into Ohio. We’re not the kind of people who can drive 12 hrs in a day, lol. We have so many places to visit next yr and some will require flights, so I figure it’s probably good to drive when we can. I appreciate your help!!
If you are splitting it up, you might take a look at 1-2 PA schools along the way. Bucknell, Susquehana, Muhlenberg, Juniata, Lafayette, Gettysburg, Dickinson could all be short side trip, depending on whether you go I 80 or I 76 across PA. I’m from PA, and until I had to drive from Philly to Ohio, I had no appreciation for how monstrously huge a state it is.
@Midwestmomofboys You are so right. It takes forever to go through PA. We already toured Bucknell and Dickinson. We saw Lafayette, but never toured so we would probably do that this time around. Gettysburg might be a good choice for D too. Thanks for the suggestions.
Trying to tour Denison in the morning and Miami in the afternoon doesn’t seem like a good idea. It’s too long of a drive between the two.
@citymama9 Be sure and report back on your trip. Would love to hear what you thought