<p>I'm posting this here and on the parents forum, because it is both general and specific. One of the reach schools on DS list is Fordham U. They are having an open house in a couple of weeks. We could afford to put DS on a Bus which would leave at 11:00 pm and arrive at Penn Station at 7:00 am. </p>
<p>He would get on the subway or a city bus to Fordham, attend the open house at noon, maybe see some things (he's been in NYC before) and then return to Penn Station to board a bus home that evening. Of course, I would be a nervous wreck, but that's neither here nor there. Has anyone done anything like this? Sent a 17-yo to visit a school on his/her own?</p>
<p>Not sure if this is relevant to you, but I’m 17…so don’t have the parents persepctive.</p>
<p>I’ve done two of these. Visited GW, for example, and did an entire day on my own in DC/the campus. I’ve also flown out to a school and spent the weekend, on my own. My parents have a lot of trust in me and I’m really independent.</p>
<p>Don’t take this the wrong way, but trying to make a point— Less then a year from now your kid is going to be on their own. If they/you can’t handle being a bus ride away for less than 24 hours…you’ve got a long ways to go.</p>
<p>We recently sent our D on a plane to Houston to visit Rice. She came home alive and well and very proud of herself for being independent. I think it also spoke volumes to the admissions folks who seemed quite impressed that she was there alone. I say go for it.</p>
<p>Just curious though, doesn’t Fordham offer an “overnight visit”? Then he could spend the night and leave to come home the next morning.</p>
<p>Word of caution…you stated Fordham was a “reach” school for your kid. Without knowing the details, you need to examine if its a wise investment of time and money. Look at the profile of admitted students the last few years and see where you fit and make your best judgement on the likelihood of being admitted. Nothing wrong with reach schools. We all have them and sometimes you get in and attend and thrive. But often you either don’t get in, or you get there and its not what you expected or its a struggle to survive academically. I am a big proponent of match schools. Where you are squarely in the middle 50th percentile…or even upper edges of that middle group and nearing reach…but a strong likelihood of being admitted based on stats and scores. </p>
<p>If he is taking the red eye bus, is there a reason for that and not flying in? If its money, that is another consideration. </p>
<p>Fordham offers an outstanding weekend for admitted students, before they are obliged to make known their decision in May. That is another option. Wait and see if he is admitted and then if so, attend that weekend with him. Just a thought.</p>
<p>While I am sure Fordham admissions takes into consideration the level of interest by any applicant, you should be aware that in the final analysis, it comes down to stats and scores, plus recommendations and EC’s, in that order. Not based on whether you attended an information program for high school seniors. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks to all. DS has decided it is unwise to miss one of his EC obligations on the weekend of the open house, so he will wait until after acceptance to decide whether a visit is in order. ghostbuster, his SAT and ACT scores place him well into the top 25% of accepted students, but it will be financially prohibitive unless he gets a decent merit scholarship - that’s where the reach part really comes in.</p>
<p>Okay, sylvan. I hear you. Its a money issue, not an academic standards issue. Fine. IF his SAT is above 1400 and his gpa above 3.7 and his class rank is high enough, he stands an excellent chance of getting a scholarship to Fordham. And then file the FAFSA and CSS and see what the TOTAL package is for him.</p>
<p>I STRONGLY recommend he apply non binding EA by November 1 and file the CSS online immediately and send it to Fordham. You will be notified before Christmas of their decision and a likely offer of financial aid, to be formalized when you file the FAFSA and submit tax forms etc in the Spring. The early bird gets the worm.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>