<p>Countingdown: We ended going to our son (actually meeting him in a city to which the college has a holiday shuttle) one year and now it has become a welcomed tradition. We have other family in the city so we do some visiting we need to do regularly anyway and my son has really appreciated not doing the flight, a more relaxing break, and we see more of him then we would when he is home for such a short time and all the hometown friends are around to socialize. He says Thanksgiving is "too close to Christmas break to be worth the trip"</p>
<p>Deb, may I suggest something that I told my son: "I'll give you one free visit. If you need me, I'll be there, don't worry about the distance, time involved or the cost." </p>
<p>This was recommended to me by a friend with college aged sons. None of our kids has used this free pass, but it made all of us feel much better to know that it was an option. Once the freshman year started, they were very busy and happy with all their activities.</p>
<p>It takes us 25 hours, at the least, to get from our airport in Asia to S's state, but I would go, if he asked me to.</p>
<p>My D also had second thoughts about attending such a large school (Penn State) with little financial aid instead of my much smaller alma mater where the aid package was spectacular. It was more of a "do I really want to be a small fish in a big pond or is being a big fish in a small pond better" type of deal. I'm happy to say she gave the big pond a chance and has been happy ever since. She also now considers her school "home" and can't wait to be "home" in just over a month.</p>
<p>As for your D and her boy, she should ask herself this: at her age these things usually DON'T last and if she made her college decision based on this boy, and then they break up, would she still be happy?</p>
<p>I say give the original college decision a chance. Her gut instinct to attend this school is probably the right one.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>