<p>I've read a lot of threads about experiencing colleges by visiting. I agree that visiting is important, but my S and I have already visited 2 of his top choice colleges. The rest are way too far, and we just don't have the money to drive cross-country. By visited, I mean we went with his brothers who attend those schools (1 in each). With them, we saw dorms, ate in the cafeteria, went into a lecture hall, walked around the campuses, and he answered all of our questions whether academic or campus-life related. All other questions are found online, and some blogs are literally dedicated to answering questions, giving tips, and more- all of which we took advantage of. Do we still need to visit campus? Thank you!</p>
<p>If visiting campus isn’t an option, it wouldn’t hurt to try and organize an alumni interview (if its a large school) or admissions interview in your area. Theres no need to go out of any limit (particularly financial) to do a tour, but showing interest in a school in some way always helps before application. Even simply emailing an admissions officer to talk about organizing an interview and having them say “unfortunately we don’t do interviews, i look forward to reviewing your application” means that your name is in their database before application (make sure you check the school website first, if the question is answered on the school site this just makes him seem lazy). </p>
<p>You don’t have to visit at all. But really if your child is going to go to a college, it might be good to see it first!</p>
<p>I would suggest you wait until after acceptances are received. Then decide if any of these far away schools are top choices. If yes, visit. </p>
<p>I personally did not want my kids to attend a college without first seeing the place. This was particularly true for my kiddo who went across the country to college.</p>
<p>You can wait and see if he gets in - then if he is strongly considering the school you may want to visit. If the school wants to see demonstrated interest you can ask for an alumni interview.</p>
<p>Like others above have said, my son and I visited the schools near us and waited for acceptances, then we visited the one far away that made fiscal sense. I also second that your son will need to employ other means to show interest in the far away schools. </p>
<p>One warning about waiting for acceptances to visit: regular admission acceptances will arrive typically in mid March with some arriving earlier in March and others later in March. You’ll only have about six weeks to visit and choose. By the time acceptances roll in you won’t have time to make plans to visit during the typical late March spring break. If you got a high interest early admission then that’ll make it easier.</p>
<p>Iowact–I’m a little confused if this is the parent or the student posting. (Your other thread reads as if the student is writing it). </p>
<p>From looking at your other thread, I see that you are 59 percent below the poverty line. Questbridge is a program designed to help kids who are low-income apply to college. I am no expert on it. Search this forum or start a new thread with “questbridge” in the title.</p>
<p>If you do get admitted to a dream school far away, it is possible they would pay for you to visit. I have read about that on this chatboard. But that would be after you were admitted.</p>
<p>Also: Go on tours of other schools near your home (even if he does not want to apply to them specifically). So if your son’s brothers go to large state universities, then visit a smaller liberal arts college in a town, or an urban downtown campus or a mid-sized Catholic university (if that’s on his radar). What kinds of environments does he prefer? It may help him eliminate choices.</p>
<p>You actually don’t have to visit at all. My son wants to go to a school that is urban or possibly suburban. Besides that, he would be fine in any location, weather, architecture, size, layout. He is pretty easy going. Some colleges want you to demonstrate interest by visiting school but you can also meet that requirement by meeting with a college rep locally in your own town or requesting info by email to the school etc…</p>
<p>We visited after acceptances. Son had seen many colleges before, unofficially, and had attended a college fair for 1 school. He had a few local interviews. So, ok to wait for the visits. Son had spent a few weeks at 3 colleges for summer programs, and neither U made his list. No rural colleges made the list, either.</p>