<p>How does a kid do this? We have very limited means and haven't been able to see many of the schools my son is interested in. He's seen some on the west coast where we live, but it's not possbile for us to make a trip to OH just to visit Kenyon, for example, or to MN to visit Carleton, and yet he's very interested in these schools.</p>
<p>Any idea how to help them understand that they are very high on his radar in advance of, or at the time of applying?</p>
<p>Send the admissions people flowers....show the love.</p>
<p>Do these colleges have "chat" sessions? Also, if your son has any questions, or wants to contact someone who might be able to clarify something for him- he could email and let them know he can't visit and has a question...</p>
<p>doubleplay is right on...</p>
<p>My D has not been able to visit some of her top choices either, but has had an ongoing dialogue with admissions counselors. Try to attend a local info session if possible--"some" schools consider this showing interest.</p>
<p>Thanks. I don't know what chat sessions are. Is that like an online chat or something? I'll tell ds to check on that and see if he can find something like that. </p>
<p>It's very hard for us to go to local info sessions, because we live 6 hours away from the nearest city where they're held. So far all the ones we've learned about have been mid-week. He'd have to miss classes to go, and we'd end up getting home at 2 or 3 in the morning, with classes to attend the next morning. I mean, if we hear of one of his real top choices coming, we'll probably try to figure out the 12 hour drive involved, but it's not a very good option for us. I will tell him to sniff out these "chat sessions" though... and to send flowers. ;)</p>
<p>I'd advise you to sign up for email alerts or newsletters from the colleges you're interested in. They'll notify you in advance when they hold the online chats. Not all schools do these online chat things, so visit the websites to find out. </p>
<p>So, I guess info sessions are out, and I'm guessing you don't see a host of colleges visiting your HS either.</p>
<p>Any chance you could work a multiple visit trip around a long holiday weekend like Columbus Day or Election Day--do your schools close for the Jewish holidays? We've received "invitations" to several info sessions for these dates in particular for the upcoming fall.</p>
<p>And, I think chocolate beats flowers ;) anyday!</p>
<p>--Ask if your college offers interviews with local alumni. If not, see if they have any current students from your area whom your child could contact with questions.
--Have your child reach out to professors in his area of interest with good questions, for example have many students in your discipline gone on for Ph.D.'s in the subject? Are there opportunities to do research as a freshman/sophomore?
--Find out from the admissions office who the admissions rep is who covers your high school and who will read your son's application. They are usually organized geographically. Have your son use this person as his main point of contact.<br>
--In every email with the school, close it with something like: Thank you very much for your assistance. I continue to be extremely interested in attending xyz college.
--Some schools have an optional essay on "why do you want to attend xyz college." If not, you could use the "any other information" section of the Common Application, or a cover letter, to demonstrate your interest. Talk about the college, not about yourself, to show that you've done your homework. I am interested in studying Environmental Science because your faculty includes many leading scholars in this field. I like your campus because your dormitories have members of all four classes and freshmen are not segregated from upperclassmen. You get the idea.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>and many colleges ignore all this "show interest" stuff, especially the true elites.</p>
<p>IMHO, this is one of those areas where all too many follks are trying to "game" the system. Geesh, since when is having an interest, shown by getting information and sending an application, not enough? It seems to me that for the few schools where it matters, they tend to tell you.</p>
<p>So why not have your kid email the adcoms and ask if it even matters? If they track this stuff? before you waste a lot of time and mental effort on something that may not matter.</p>
<p>Can I assume from your name you are located in southern OR? You might check out this site: <a href="http://www.pnacac.org/default_files/CollegeFairs.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.pnacac.org/default_files/CollegeFairs.htm</a> It is for college fairs in central and southern OR</p>
<p>I don't know exactly how limited your means are and i do not want to seem insensitive to your situation... but here is my suggestion:</p>
<p>I ended up doing my college exploration on my own (lived at boarding school far away from parents). During one of our long breaks I actually went to a bunch of schools in the midwest (MN and WI) on my own and often ended up being the only kid from away who attended the admissions sessions unaccompanied. I actually think this was to my advantage: it showed independence and not having parents around meant that I got all the attention whenever I went anywhere. I planned ahead, stayed in dorms, took public transportation/Greyhound to get from town to town. It certainly was a whole lot cheaper than having a parent get a plane ticket and hotel rooms for a week. The trip was still costly but it could have costed so much more... and it was well worth the money as I ended up absolutely hating what I thought would be my top choice school...</p>
<p>The info sessions are essentially all the same. Seen one/seen them all.
My wife's coworker in Albany had two sons go to Carleton. Our DS had his essay reviewed by eldest. Ours went to a school in PA. Never went on any tours or visitations. Virtual tours 6 years ago was good enough. When acceptances came, we asked around and found parents (who had children that went to accepted schools)-DS was not interested in their opinions or attended our meetings. Meetings was really to placate our feelings and involvement. All parents were happy with their kids choice. We have the advantage in that we are in the upper Willl. Valley.</p>
<p>Spend the time to go to a couple of info sessions. Skip the classes-no big deal, teachers understand. After the second info session, you will discover that it was the same as the first but only the name changed.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Some schools have an optional essay on "why do you want to attend xyz college." If not, you could use the "any other information" section of the Common Application,
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Don't use the Additional Info section of the Common App to talk about any specific college! They've changed the Common App this year, so that it can't be changed after you've sent it to one college. What you send to one, you send to all this year. </p>
<p>The cover letter is a great idea.</p>
<p>Once you know who the admissions rep for your area is, your son can be very uprfront with him/her in an e-mail: "Unfortunately, I am unable to visit your school due to distance and finances. What sets your school apart? What is it that you would want a prospective student to know that's not on your website?" etc.</p>
<p>And then don't worry too much. Schools understand when kids can't visit because they're too far away. My d is going to a college she didn't visit until after she got accepted. We're leaving next week.</p>