<p>H and D had every intention of visiting Univ of Montana in early November. Due to work it didn't happen. My D wants to go in December. She has also since added Montana State Univ to her list. Obviously they would visit both in the same trip.
Is it absolutely insane to go visit a college in Montana in the winter? My D thinks it is great since they can add some snowboarding on to the trip. My D also wants to check out horse barns while she is there.
We have never been to Montana and live on the Central Coast of Ca. I don't know if it is better she see what winter will be like or visit in the Spring and be shocked next winter when snow arrives.
Also how easy or difficult is it to drive from Missoula to Bozeman in winter. Also if you wanted snowboarding where would you go?</p>
<p>Missoula to Bozeman is something like a two and a half hour drive on a major highway. Assuming it’s cleared on a regular basis, it should be fine. </p>
<p>There is snowboarding about 45-min/1 hour from Missoula, but I think the better place to go is at Bridger Bowl, half hour away from Montana State campus (on a free shuttle for students.) I would assume it’s open by then, but right now there isn’t enough snow yet, according to my son, a freshman at Bozeman. </p>
<p><a href=“http://bridgerbowl.com%5B/url%5D”>http://bridgerbowl.com</a></p>
<p>For your California daughter, visiting the campuses in the winter may be a good idea, since the winters there are so much harsher (and longer) than what she’s used to. It will give her a more realistic idea of what it’s like.</p>
<p>katliamom- thank you. A PM to you was going to be my next step. If is due to you that she took a 2nd look at Montana State. If she decides to major in equine science their program looks pretty cool.</p>
<p>Having done quite a few visits with two kids (including some in winter), I can tell you the <em>only</em> one DH volunteered to do was the one to UVM. Yeah–they snuck in a little skiing. I think it sounds like fun.</p>
<p>I agree with the above posts-it is a good idea to go in the winter since she will be able to see what the weather is like then. S goes to UM in Missoula and I would have to agree that the skiing/snowboarding might be a little better at Bozeman but both have hills very close. Even a couple places between the two towns to ski. The Interstate is maintained well during the winter months and rarely closed. Just need to drive carefully in inclement weather.<br>
S probably wouldn’t know much about horse facilities in Missoula but he might be able to find someone who would.</p>
<p>“I agree with the above posts-it is a good idea to go in the winter since she will be able to see what the weather is like then.” - Yep. In fact, it would be a bad idea for a CA kid to not see Montana winters if Montana schools are on the list. But… school might not be in session - that could be an issue.</p>
<p>S3 and I had a great winter visit to MSU a few years back. We flew into Billings and the drive to Bozeman was fine. We liked the school and its friendly students, and the scenery was just gorgeous. I recommend Montana Ale Works for a great brewpub dinner spot.</p>
<p>MyLB- Vermont is on her list as well. She wants to snowboard on that visit as well. H is scheduled for rotator cuff surgery at the end of January. Not sure if they will get any snowboarding in on that trip.
It is hard getting the visits in. Montana and Univ of Montana last day of classes before finals week is Dec 9th. My D has a community college class that will have a final so have to find out when that is. January Univ of Montana is on break till the end of the month.
Thank you all for the info on the highway.
Tylerspapa- Both Montana schools have club equestrian teams. She will have to contact someone from each team to try to make a visit to the barn the club uses.</p>
<p>Trip is going to happen. Any suggestions as to what type of rental car to go with? H is experienced in snow driving.</p>
<p>Get a 4 wheel drive just in case the weather is a challenge</p>
<p>adding- they will not be snowboarding after all. Flying into Bozeman and out of Missoula. Most of the driving will be on the interstate.
Also I need to book them motels. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Hi mom60 … I was just in Bozeman in Feb. this year as my son toured the school. We also spent time there with my sister and her family so got to also experience skiing, nordic skiing, and some really cold weather. I’m from Vermont, and I love it, but Bozeman and Montana are a giant version of Vermont from a mountain perspective. We rented a Subaru and had no problem getting around. I considered renting a larger SUV, but honestly, the Subaru was fine and it also is what many Bozeman people seemed to have as well. </p>
<p>My son already got an accept to Montana State … as an out-of-stater they also offered him some merit $'s based on his ACT, so he is very glad to have his first accept already. </p>
<p>PM me if you have more questions about Bozeman or Montana State. My B-in-L is a professor there and has a good sense of the personality of the campus as well.</p>
<p>In Missoula, there is a nice place within walking distance just accross the river from campus-Double Tree Edgewater. I usually stay either there or at the LaQuinta but Double Tree is close.
4WD or AWD is a good idea just in case the weather turns. S is wrapping up this week and has finals next week. Then 5 weeks off to study for MCAT.<br>
You didn’t say exactly when they were coming to Montana, but Griz are home for a playoff game this Friday night so motel availability could be an issue then. Of course attending a game there with 25,000 noisy Griz fans is quite an experience.</p>
<p>We are also from California – our D only wanted to look at schools in the Midwest and East Coast. We visited 4 schools scattered around the Midwest during a February driving marathon. Weather was cold with some snow. It was good for her to see what she was getting into. </p>
<p>On our visit to The University of Iowa, she instantly connected with the campus even though the tour day was cold and blustery. She is enjoying it there and she did not have much trouble acclimating to the weather. </p>
<p>By the way, for the posters in this thread who mentioned UVM, I was also recently there – it is a very nice campus and Burlington is great!</p>
<p>Tylerspapa-they are in Bozeman now. Leaving for Missoula in the morning. I think they are having a tour of Univ of Montana on Friday. I guess that is why I didn’t find any rooms within walking distance of the campus. I will be interested in hearing my D’s thoughts. I have heard that the cold isn’t yet bothering her. I don’t think they have had any wind.
Tylerspapa- do you have any opinion on the low rate of freshmen retention and the low graduation rate?</p>
<p>mom60,
Are they going to be in Missoula on Friday night? The game would be a great time if they are able to get tickets! If I didn’t have to work, I would be there but I guess I will have to watch it on TV.
I ran your question by S and we both had the same opinion. I think the rates are due to freshmen going off to college when they aren’t really ready. A few groups they seem to fall into are:</p>
<h1>1. They aren’t ready to be responsible for themselves and go to class and do the work.</h1>
<h1>2. They get caught up in partying (which leads to #1)</h1>
<h1>3. They really don’t have a direction and simply went because their parents expected them to but they aren’t willing to put in the effort needed.</h1>
<p>I don’t see any problems with serious students that want to pursue an education. S is in his 3rd year there and has lots of like-minded friends. He was involved in restarting a fraternity on campus that had closed 10 years earlier when it went to a no alcohol in the house policy. The “animal house” mentality members weren’t interested but they reopened with people who were serious students who’se lives didn’t revolve around drinking. Not that they don’t occasionally have a good time and party, it’s just that to them, their education is the top priority and partying is what you do occasionally. They have a real sharp bunch of guys. Everything from premed to and astrophysicist to 8 members of the student senate to a campaign manager for a governor candidate.<br>
I hope they have a good time and while I’m partial to Missoula, both are very good schools.</p>
<p>From the feedback so far she is liking MSU and bozeman better. She is loving the scenery.
I don’t think she has been to a football game in her life.</p>
<p>We visited Minnesota LACs in February. I would concur on the SUV. Also, be flexible and build some extra time in just in case. Our trip happened to fall on the day the blizzard shut down all the airports and roads in the upper midwest. Rather than fly out Sunday, we didn’t get there until Tuesday night. We ended up still spending the time we wanted at the favorite school, then improvised and shortened up at the “comp” schools. In the end, it was great for D so experience the sub zero (loved it!) and we had a fun, memorable visit.</p>
<p>Tylerspapa- after the tour today she is changing her opinion about U of Montana. As a Montana resident how would you describe the differences between the two schools and locations?
The cold appears to not be bothering her. They have been 4 days and I have not heard one complaint about the weather.</p>
<p>Did they hike the M?<br>
Both towns are similar-mountains all around, lots of winter activities, similar size college towns. Missoula has a larger population and is closer to a city of any size(Spokane 3 hours away). As far as students from Montana, I believe it is split pretty evenly. Overall you will see more of the well-off yuppie-type (do they still use that term?) in Bozeman where you have more of the hippie types in Missoula. Bozeman has an excellent engineering program where Missoula has pharmacy and law school. Both would offer a good education.<br>
My son told me that his girlfriend was involved in the equestrian club her freshman year and he does know some people involved. If your daughter has any questions or wants any one to talk to about it, I could pm you his phone number. Actually, if they are still in town, they could get in touch with him today.
I hope they had a good time in Montana.</p>