<p>For summer visits, is it worth visiting colleges in which D has no real interest? </p>
<p>D and I will be visiting Trinity this summer. A friend suggested that we add nearby schools (Conn College, Wesleyan) b/c even though they are not on D's list, she'll get a feel for the type of campus she would like.</p>
<p>Good advice or a waste of time?</p>
<p>Sounds like a good idea, given the geography. If your D is a rising senior, her ideas may be fairly solidly based at this point. Still, it's not that much extra time once you're in Connecticut, so why not add those schools? I would think there are significant similarities among all three of those schools (all NESCAC, after all) so they might all be appealing for various reasons,though obviously Trinity is in a more urban setting.</p>
<p>I think it also sounds like a good idea but I wouldn't overdo it. Maybe a drive through, or a quick walk around campus would suffice to see if there's an immediate "ah, want to know more" moment. You never know, two of the schools that have ended up on my daughter's final list started off as added on visits just because we were going to be within driving distance.</p>
<p>It's a wash. Unless you're interested in the history of American architecture from the Civil War through the Watergate era, a visit to Wesleyan this time of year will only showcase a half empty campus with a lot of construction going on. Also, beware that if you're coming from Trinity, the main highway exit brings you straight through what is arguably the worst part of town. Ordinarily, it's no big deal; Wesleyan can more than hold its own when classes are going on. But, this time of year, Middletown can be eerily quiet and even a little spooky.</p>
<p>It depends where she is in her college search... if she doesn't really know what she wants yet, then it would be beneficial. But if she's a rising senior who has a clear list of schools, I'd follow carolyn's advice and take a walk through; spend the time you would have been taking tours there really checking out her high- interest schools. Also, as a side note: you might want to organize visits to her favorite schools from each admissions category (reach, match, safety) during the year when there are students around and things are in full swing. If it's not now, this list of favorites will probably be apparent by the end of the summer. Good luck... these college visits are actually surprisingly fun :)</p>
<p>When my older D was touring colleges we stopped at one school quite as an after-thought - it was merely geographically convenient. The school became her #1 choice and that's where she'll graduate from next year. </p>
<p>I just wouldn't do too many schools in one day...that was one mistake we made. D never seemed to like the school seen late in the afternoon. I'll be taking it slower with D#2.</p>
<p>Similar to wishingandhoping - when my daughter and I planned our college tour last summer, I added a few "along the way". After the trip, her #1 was off the list, and one of the "along the way" colleges became her new #1.</p>
<p>agree with the above posters, if it ain't too far off the path, a drive by and quick walk around can be worth it.</p>
<p>Maybe instead of two more LACs which, when empty, will be very similar to in feel to Trinity, you should add a UConn or other large school? Even if U Conn is of no interest, it might give her a sense of the layout of a campus for a much larger student body.</p>
<p>Also in the same basic neighborhood of Trinity: Smith, Amherst, Holyoke, Hampshire & UMass</p>
<p>Not too far off: Brown, URI, Providence College, Wheaton, Salve Regina</p>
<p>What does your D like about Trinity, and what does she think (at this point) "rules out" Wesleyan & Conn College?</p>
<p>Nyc, Id say it depends on your reasons. If your daughter is the one whos interested in adding a few more colleges, then by all means make the loop through Connecticut. If its her parents who want to expose her to a wider range and shes lukewarm to the idea, then Id say that a summer visit to these two campuses might be a negative. Since youre in New York, youd be better off planning a Fall visit when the campuses are in full-swing.</p>
<p>I took a look at your daughters profile and note that shes nixed Western MA. Too bad because she sounds like a good match for Amherst/Williams, which are also within reasonable driving time from Hartford. Williams is an especially good choice for the combination of math, art (peripheral architecture), track/field, no foreign language requirement, plenty of study abroad options., co-ed, not too hippy. Cant help with the warm weather though.</p>
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<p>I agree with w and h on both counts. My son had exactly the same experience. Because we live overseas we made all of our campus visits in one fell swoop (14 in all). At the end his pre-tour favorites were off the list and two last minute add-ons (including his ED choice) rose to the top. </p>
<p>These were all summer visits, which although not ideal, provided a solid impression of the atmosphere. I really like the one day, one campus routine. Take the tour, do the info session, interview if available, eat in the dining hall, shop on the main street, hang out on campus. Summer is admittedly sleepy at any LAC, but still, the culture comes through loud and clear.</p>
<p>If you decide to swing by ConnCollege and Wesleyan, Id add that both of these schools offer on campus interviews which were very helpful to my son in getting a feel for the place.</p>
<p>I think it depends somewhat on what is realistic for your daughter. If Trinity is a good match, but Wesleyan would be a big reach ... then what's the point? The last thing you would want is for the luster to be taken off of a college she likes and can get into, in favor of the college that spawned "The Gatekeepers". On the other hand, Trinity & Connecticut or more on par with one another, so a trip to see a similar college may help give your daughter perspective.</p>
<p>But then I agree with the poster above who wrote "only if your daughter is willing". I've heard too many stories of teens who refuse to get out of the car upon arrival.</p>
<p>As a daughter of parents who only wants the best for me, I appreciate the college visit tips. I also think it's funny to see the parents talking about the kids refusing to get out of the car. When visiting New York for a non-college reason, my father refused to go on a tour of Columbia because he didn't want his only daughter to live all alone in New York City. I fell in love with it, and after my mother saw how much I loved it, wouldn't let me go on the NYU tour, thinking I would like NYU (an even "scarier" school) even more. Ah, parents...</p>
<p>I fully expect to be trekking up north at least two times with D. (We live in the South, so it takes two days just to get to the North.) And we have to visit in the summer, as she has too much going on during the school year - and school for us starts August 1st!! This round we are hitting 9 schools (trimmed one) over a 2-week period and she'll be at a journalism program at the 10th school for a few weeks. </p>
<p>She will likely revisit the top choice(s) for an overnight in the fall. And then I'm hoping we're done...</p>
<p>D loves visiting campuses (she's a guide at her boarding school), so I guess we'll add the two other schools and focus on her favorites in the fall.</p>
<p>Wishingand hoping - I'm with you we made the trek North last summer. We only did it once in the car, but flew back for ED overnights in the fall - whew!</p>