<p>It’s easy to know what the brand name schools are like. Take the time to check out the smaller schools in these areas you intend to visit, that you might not be aware of otherwise. There’s plenty to read and see online about UMass, Williams, etc, but it’s a little harder to find info/pictures for schools that could be the nice safeties to keep in mind.</p>
<p>We did a similar this is what college campuses look like loop in one day, only centered on Rutland. We also combined it with sightseeing and shopping. If I were starting in White River, here is my loop for the day:</p>
<p>Start with Dartmouth, do a drive through, then make sure you stop at the Dartmouth Bookstore. Then on your way back to the interstate going north, stop at the King Arthur Flour flagship store in Norwich (They usually have some fine baked goods and coffee, too.)
Head up to Burlington. Have lunch on the waterfront or downtown at some point. Visit UVM, Champlain College and St Michaels out in Winooski.<br>
Head south to Middlebury and admire the jaw dropping loveliness of Middlebury College. Realize why it costs so much. Stop by and visit the Frog Hollow Vermont State Crafts Center. </p>
<p>Now if the weather is good, go for some adventure and head east straight up the mountain and cross over the Green Mountains on some of those roads that are closed in the winter. You will see some flood damage from last fall. With the trees not yet budded out, the vistas should be great. Once over the mountain, head for a visit to Norwich University in Northfield (optional) and admire the stamina of the students for getting up and down those hills. Then head back along the interstate or the back roads depending on your level of energy.</p>
<p>If the clouds are low, or it has snowed up high in the mountains, head south along route 7 or 22. For small colleges, you can visit College of St. Josephs in Rutland, or Castleton State in Castleton, or Green Mountain College in Poultney. Head back east on Route 4 (lots more flood damage, but the roads are fine now) and stop for supper in Killington, or at the Long Trail Ale plant and restaurant in Bridgewater, or in Woodstock.</p>
<p>Now with this schedule, you will not be going on tours or meeting with admissions, but this was a good introduction for our son the summer before his junior year. Plus it got us out of our car often enough so our butts werent numb. Once you start visiting in earnest with the tours and everything, keep it to one college a day combined with one touristy type thing. For example last spring we matched Delaware Valley College with Washingtons Crossing State Park; St. Marys College of Maryland with a blue crab feast at a local fish house; University of Mary Washington with the battlefields at Fredericksburg, and we aimed our trip home through Pennsylvania Dutch country and got son an Amish quilt for College.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your comments. Well I’m now wondering what tours/info sessions to take. Not sure if any are more memorable than others. Here’s the list of schools: UMAss, Darthmouth, UVM, Middlebury. I’m thinking that there won’t be time to go to Williams. But will look at the map again. We will head to New London from White River on the way home. Thinking of stopping at Conn College or if there are any better suggestions could maybe add another stop in along the way. Thanks again.</p>
<p>Honestly, after the first few, we quit info sessions entirely. For us, they weren’t worth the time. But that’s a personal decision. And, you can decide about Conn College at the last minute. It’s a stop that could make sense later, if you are thinking of a Brown and Boston tour.</p>
<p>Ok, I may be the odd one out but the “info sessions” are total snooze fests. Personally, we skip those as much as possible. We meet with the admissions people, take a tour, meet with a professor/adviser and go home. I have yet to learn anything new in an “info session”.</p>
<p>We somehow managed Williams and Dartmouth the same day. They were useful contrasts.</p>
<p>Yes, but no time to stop at Midd then. I agree. A useful contrast.</p>