Visiting Colleges- Does the order matter?

Parents Forum
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<p>I do believe that the order of visits does count but that it is almost impossible to predict student reactions and control for order.</p>

<p>Anyway, a couple of tips that made sense to me after doing quite a few visits last year follow:</p>

<p>(1) Warm up with a couple of schools that are of marginal interest. Students get better at visiting schools and interviewing with each visit, so good not to start with the schools he or she is most interested in.
(2) Don't do any more than 3 schools in a 2-day period. If time allows, and it probably won't, do one school per day.</p>

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<p>I like that schedule. The only time we combined two schools in one day was when they were right across the street from each other (Columbia, Barnard) or down the road (Smith, Mount Holyoke).</p>

<p>And frankly even that was rushed. Only way we could get so many schools in but it was rushed.</p>

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<p>Two schools a day is a bit much. We did it a number of times, but only when they were very close and only on the intial "let's take a look" trip. We did a number of "drive-bys" in under 30 minutes, when D would take one look and say "no thanks, time to move on." I know that sounds very superficial, but we only did drive-bys for schools that were marginal on her list, at best.</p>

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<p>I should have qualified my earlier post. The only 2-school days I scheduled included schools within an hour's drive of each other. Cutting a visit short at one school to drive like mad to get to a 4pm tour at school #2 may be better than not visiting (and is better where "demonstrated interest" is an admission factor) but it is not recommended.</p>

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<p>Dd visited West coast w/ boyfriend and boyfriend's parents Junior year spring break (Lewis and Clark, Reed, UofW., Evergreen, Willamette,) - she didn't think academics intense enough at L+C, too much smoking at Reed, UofW too big, Willamette too conservative and academics not intense enough, Evergreen, too much concrete. She didn't end up applying to any of them! Summer before senior year we visited Rice, then drove North and East and saw Oberlin, College of Wooster, Carleton, McCalester. She thought Rice was rather spread out and didn't seem "alive" and liberal enough, (but she applied, and is now attending and LOVING it!), Oberlin (non-commital), College of Wooster (town too small, students too homogenous and white), Carleton, (just LOVED it - in the long run, though, decided against it due to trimester schedule, intense cold, loans in FA package, and she just prefered Rice), Macalester (really liked it, expecially a program that allowed one to work workstudy hours at local non-profits). Although we were in Cleveland, she decided not to check out Case Western. She continued on w/ boyfriend's family to visit Bowdoin (no students around because it was the summer, but thought the campus was nice), Columbia (didn't like the city, didn't apply, ended up being stuck there and couldn't fly out to get home due to the power outage). Spring break senior year we all flew to Gainesville, florida to look at Univ. of Florida (which offered pretty much a full-ride for out-of-state NMS, preferential housing, advising, registration, stipend for study abroad, Hard to turn down!). Pretty campus, looked like lots of fun, but DD didn't like the alligators in the ponds on campus, and lots of the kids in the class she attended were not mentally attending, were chewing gum, reading books etc. Would have helped our financial situation considerably, but twas not to be. All in all, she saw lots of colleges she didn't apply to. I was glad she persisted with her Rice application, because at one point she was so frustrated with the app and her experience with the person who schedules the interviews that she refused point-blank to apply. Luckily she reconsidered, and is very, very happy there! With DS, now a sophmore, I think it will be a different experience. After trouping through so many colleges, he feels like he has been there and done that - and he wants a big school with a football program, not a LAC like most of the schools DD looked at. He'll probably apply, then visit if he gets in and the FA is doable.</p>

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<p>ANxiousmom - Thank you for that post - it was great to get all of those capsule summaries and I'm glad to hear that your daughter is happy at Rice.</p>

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<p>Carolyn, I am seeing some great deals in those areas for college. Ohio Wesleyan, Wooster, Wittenburg, Ohio U look pretty good there. Lake <<</p>

<p>Jamimom, Yes, our current plans are to fly to Chicago, visit Lake Forest then go up to Beloit in Wisc. then down to Knox and Augustana in Illinois, then over to Earlham in Indiana and possibly Wittenberg in Ohio. I haven't been able to get daughter interested in Wooster :( Then she wants to go back to see Goucher again since we only visited in the summer. A lot of ground to cover in 10 days but do-able I hope.</p>

<p>As I've mentioned, daughter currently refuses to look at any brochures or materials from colleges - she has decided that the only way she can "tell" is to visit. She says all the brochures say the same thing. Luckily, she has a mom who is looking at the actual academics of the schools she is interested in because for her it is all about "feel" :) My biggest worry is that she seems to have a very set impression of what that "feel" should be - what if she changes her mind or the "Feel" she wants now changes after she's visited at all of these schools? It will be too late to go traipsing all over the country to look at more schools. </p>

<p>However, she is thinking about going to the Earlham summer program in which case, we may be able to do a few more visits if necessary in Ohio and the mid-west over the summer.</p>

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<p>Hi Anxiousmom!! Glad you are posting again!!
Your observations about U of Fla were accurate-- a lot of fun but a mixture of motivation on the part of the students, though it is getting tougher and tougher to get into. Reading your post right after I finished reading the "how do you pronounce your name" thread reminded me of 2 funny experiences I had when I was in grad school at U of Fla. As I lived off campus, I wasn't very familiar with the on-campus housing. There were 2 dorms that had a shared student association. The dorms were Broward and Rawlings. The students in this student government wore t-shirts emblazoned with big letters to identify that they were in the Broward-Rawlings Association - B.R.A. I never had the nerve to ask. Someone finally filled me in.
The other incident occurred as a result of culture shock-- It was the mid 70's and I had just come down from the liberal NE. I was walking with a friend past the ROTC buildings. Now mind you, I had had no previous experience with anything military other than my dad's WW II stories. So, as we walked by the Air Force ROTC building, I turned to the other person and innocently asked "what's the AFRO - TC?". When they stopped laughing, they educated me :o
Glad our kiddo-s are loving Rice. And yes- tell your d. that the alligators did on occasion saunter up to the patio doors in Gainesville!!</p>

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<p>Jum626 AFRO-TC, how funny :)<br>
Yes, Daughter is so happy to be back at school, and she said it felt like going home.
The funny thing about the U of FLa. visit is that my tenth-grade son just loved it, and was ready to sign up then and there. He says that he wants to be a National Merit Scholar so that he can go to UF for free. (I told him that this was a FINE idea and that maybe he could read a book once in a while so he could build some vocabulary for the PSAT test! Lord knows that he won't be getting any merit scholarships for his EC involvement, which is absolutely zilch, nothing. I'm afraid it will remain nothing unless his school starts a poker and xbox gaming club! ;))</p>

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<p>anxiousmom-
Your s. sounds like a clone of my s#2. I suspect they play each other on xbox on line. I have threatened to buy my s. these books I found that are essentially novels with the SAT vocab words built into them. The SAT vocab words are highlighted on each pg and defined at the bottom. Seems like a good idea, but it'd only work with s# 2 if the book can be put under his pillow at night and will seep through by osmosis. I must admit that s# 2 is sounding a bit more interested in putting academics on a higher priority as he hears how much s#1 is loving Rice. I remind him what it will take to get in-- I don't think they offer any break for siblings (and if they did, I wouldn't tell him:) ) Amazing how one kid can be so driven, and the other so... relaxed . He claims he isn't a slacker, he just doesn't wear his effort on his sleeve. Well, maybe its on his underwear-- I'm still looking....</p>

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<p>jym626, I have an SAT vocab word novel I'll sell ya. I bought it for S on a whim a couple of years ago. (He's not the type to "review" for any sort of standardized test) Anyway, he did not like the novel. Said it was WEIRD because he could not concentrate on the story for all those bold words leaping off the page at him. He found them to be a distraction and could not get into the book at all - and he's an awesome reader. Long story short, he did just fine on SAT, PSAT, and all that, just doing it "his way."</p>

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<p>Tabbyzmom-
I wonder what the market is for those books on ebay?!? The only way I have gotten my s. to consider using books/study guides is to agree to let him burn them in the fireplace when he is done with them (and as we live in the south, the fireplace doesn't get used too often..) I figure we'll be o.k. if the bulk of the vocabulary words can be found in Sports Illustrated of the X Box magazine. Well, he does also read Newsweek, but usually only the political cartoon page.</p>

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<p>Greati idea, jym626, to go the ebay route b/c I'm in the south also and there won't be a great demand for firewood!!
Does S #2 like sci-fi type lit? My S discovered Neuromancer, White Noise, etc. and was hooked......just an idea if you are looking for reading material he might get into.</p>

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<p>My hubby loves sci-fi. I'll mention those books to him- maybe he'll have better luck getting our s. to read them, as if it comes from mom, it is instantly considered "nagging". :)</p>

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<p>I bribed my son: only allowed him to use his money to BUY an Xbox after he promised to read 1 book a month, and do his homework before playing. He read "Moon's a harsh mistress" and "tunnel in the sky" over Xmas and actually seemed to enjoy them - but has read nothing since, even with my nagging. "Ender's Game" is a good one that I'm going to press on him, and I'll suggest "Neuromancer" or "White Noise", too. Jym - I do know of several sibling pairs at Rice. I think they look favorably on sibs, especially if they apply ED.... but, like you said, better not say anything to him. I would LOVE to have both of mine at Rice, but I don't know if that's in the cards.</p>

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<p>My guys are 4 yrs apart, so, unless something unexpected happens, i 'd have one graduating Rice in spring '08 and the other starting in fall '08. So they'd never be there at the same time. I'd just keep paying and paying and paying... Sigh. And thanks for the book reccs, my h. told me to buy White Noise, as he's never read that one :)</p>

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<p>I will ask my S for more recs as he is really into this genre of literature. It seems very popular with guys his age. Will let you know.</p>

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<p>I haven't read this whole thread, but had to laugh at the title. The order definitely made a difference in my son's selection. One he narrowed the field, and was admitted to colleges, he had a hard time selecting his favorite. I think he would have been happy at all of them. With a few minor exceptions, there was a definite pattern to his preference however. The last school he visited, was the one he loved most. (I guess they may have done a great "sales"job???) I was sharing this with a friend who wisely advised that we take him to the school WE liked the best, for "one last look". </p>

<p>It did turn out that he went to the school he visited last!!!! (not on our suggestion, however!)</p>

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<p>kjofkw-
Thanks for bringing us back on topic! We wandered a bit. But before we let go totally of the digression, can I clarify if "White Noise" is the one by Don DeLillo? Is this the book the upcoming movie is based on? OK, after someones answers, we can get back on topic. Thanks :)</p>

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<p>Yes - that's the right White Noise - my son liked the book, although I have not read it. I did not know about it being made into a movie. Here is a quick review. <a href="http://www.penguinputnam.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,0_0140274987,00.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.penguinputnam.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,0_0140274987,00.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>