<p>I suppose I was not able to express myself clearly; in any case, I did not say either "that kids who don't do college visits have a higher drop out rate than kids who do" or "that anyone who has the money to spend on this stuff would automatically do so". I did imply that those kids whose families took the college search seriously and invested time and energy in finding a college that fits - will have a lower probability of dropping out than those kids who did not even try to select a college and applied to wherever everybody went (without thinking) - but that seems kind of self-evident, no? I was talking about "finding a right college" vs. "applying without thinking" there, not about cost.</p>
<p>So, for some families the religious or cultural reasons are more important than the Chaucer society - aaand? what were you trying to tell? That different families have different notions of "fit" and different needs? Well... egm... isn't that exactly what I was saying?</p>
<p>I'll say it again: none of my own kids did any of the college visits - but there are families whose kids NEED those visits (and/or other things some of which cost lots of money) to find a college that fits THEM. And no, for those families it is not all a choice.</p>
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Which is why I still suggest that people not make judgements on how other families choose to spend their money.
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<p>That's exactly what I was telling abasket. I thought you were opposing my post? :)</p>
<p>while twins doubles the cost, it also nearly doubles the finaid, in comparison to two kids spaced four years apart. For example, a $50k efc for one child = zero need-based finaid. A $50k efc for two college children means that they both qualify for need-based aid. And, if attending one of the new no-loan schools, all of that aid is grant money.</p>
<p>the application process is BY FAR the cheapest part of a college education.</p>
<p>also in many cases you'll find the COA listed as lower than the true cost (depending on books, travel, meal plan, and those infamous 'personal expenses'</p>
<p>Hope you like your winter coat, you won't think of buying a new one for a while.....</p>
<p>Sue, about the winter coat, you are not going to believe this! I just cleaned out my guest closet this afternoon! I had not touched that closet in a long time. I have a second closet that has become my new guest closet, so the original one was accumulating some old jackets for the family (many years old). I would have ordinarily donated these, but I could not part with them since I thought that we might not be getting new coats or jackets for years to come! What you said about coats, really is holding true for our family!</p>
<p>See how difficult to plan 'family plan' years ahead. Unlike in poor countries where the food, clothes, etc. are the main cost in your income. Here because of food and clothes are so cheap, and housing you have to live anyway with one or more kids make no big difference. You'd think more kids in family almost cost you nothing more. The only BIG cost would be college tuition at years to come. Then you thought wait a minute, let's make a family plan to have kids seperated by at least 4 years apart, so we don't have to pay double tuition when kids come to age........years, years pass your kids come to age, only to find that now you have to pay FULL tuition for EACH one, had you have them apart by 1 year, at least you can have some kind FA for three years. How ironic that is?</p>
<p>While the cost of visiting colleges with each kid was real, I enjoyed those visits so much that I really don't consider them an "expense." They were a positive experience for all of us -- S1 and H, or S1 and me, or S2 and H, or S2 and me. Both H and I have wonderful memories of those trips. (And I think our boys do too.) Yes, they were pricey -- but they were also priceless!!</p>
<p>Just how I feel. We added in time to go to some amazing museums (examples: American Museum of Visionary Art in Baltimore and the Barnes Foundation near Philadelphia), tried out regional cuisines, listened to amusing books on tape and learned a lot along the way. Priceless indeed!</p>
<p>I'm looking forward to traveling with son-the-younger next year. Son-the-older had practically ZERO time what with singing and theater and sports obligations so we visited few colleges, figuring he'll visit if/when he gets in (he is/has traveled to several to audition, too). Son-the-younger is a less schedule constrained kid--a sophomore now and is interested in art schools and LACs/unis with good art (yep, I've started in on the Art Major thread and am still subscribed to the Music Major thread!) and with his older brother away, things will be more flexible. And he's not going to be looking at any super-selective colleges, which is in a way a relief. Our trips will be our fun, I hope, and not too far away, as he has an aversion to warm weather.</p>
<p>And now we get (kind of) the FAFSA/CSS thing.</p>
<p>Too bad it's too late to have a third child to use all this experience on...;)</p>
<p>Our college visits were family vacations also. What could be more fun than driving around the country stopping at cool places and checking out beautiful college campuses? We really enjoyed the experience, and the trips were fairly low-budget (as our vacations always are).</p>
<p>Two of my favorite cities we visited were Olympia, WA (Evergreen State) and Portland, OR (Reed and Lewis & Clark). Of course, we visited in the summer when it wasn't raining. The Lewis & Clark campus is particularly beautiful, I think.</p>
<p>Bethie, I'm glad you enjoyed your PN visits! You must have come on that Thursday in August mentioned by WashDad :). I enjoyed my visits, too. We came to Lewis and Clark on the rainiest, windiest spring day, but the campus was gorgeous! That, her talk with the coach, and the food convinced my D to send her application in. With the merit aid she got from L&C, our visit is more than paid for! Of course, February in LA/Claremont was fabulous (I took full advantage of our hotel's outdoor swimming pool), and nothing can beat Whitman campus on a sunny day! My East Coast trip was great, too, since I got to see my friend who moved to MA a few years ago.</p>
<p>As far as the prom expenses, D got a gorgeous dress for $100 (ah, what dress would not look good on an athletic young lady?), she already has matching shoes and tons of makeup, and earned her prom ticket through doing some fundraising for her school. So the prom financial damage is minimized in my house.</p>
<p>You think $2K is expensive? Try doing it from a student's perspective as s/he applies to grad schools! Unlike undergrad where a lot of applications are free, every grad scohol requires fees between $60-$90 per application! That's on top of $140 per time on GRE and Subject test (if needed), GRE test prep materials, maybe a visit if the school's very close by... And many people apply to between 6-12 programs. And if applying to MA programs, also fill out financial aid apps...</p>
<p>And that's all on a poor student's budget which is nothing to a parent's. And all the PhD aspired students can hope is that they will get full funding so that $1K or $2K is just a very small investment for a long, respectable career :) Otherwise, it's back to the drawing board... and flipping burgers for the next round of uber competitive applications.</p>
<p>We just visited local schools within a few hours drive.
First time we saw Reed campus it was a rainy November-freezing rain-:p
D had seen Evergreen in the spring ( grey), but when we went it was a sunny fall day.
Lewis and Clark we didn't visit until younger D was interested- must have been spring break- so sunny but cold.</p>
<p>I have a soft spot for Reed- it looked like the college of my imagination- only a bit smaller- The dog also heartily approved :)</p>
<p>How about this for a financial headache - just made flight reservations to take D to see several colleges that have accepted her but that she's never visited. Then Friday we learn she's a finalist for a scholarship at another school and must attend a finalist weekend to stay in contention that is scheduled right in the middle of our planned trip. And of course the penalty to cancel or change reservations is horrendous. I feel like a beleagured executive admin assistant these days trying to keep everyones calendars and swing trips and still find time to scold D to finish the crazy Presidential Scholar application with it gazillion essays. Looking forward to a couple of years of relative peace until D2's college applications start up.</p>
<p>Yes, the college trip adds up but it's <em>very</em> helpful. Frankly, I resent the $ to the CB. $10 just to send a score to each additional college! Give me a break! (And the cost to send the PROFILE was outrageous too at $16/ each.)</p>
<p>bluebayou, I know its rule, I'm not complaining at all. Just make an observation. ^_^. Fortunately and unfortuantely we only have one, and the education cost was percisely why our family plan 'stop right there'.</p>
<p>btw, yeah we treated college visit as mini family vacations most are in driving distance, we enjoyed very much.</p>