<p>"the plane tickets from Southern CA to east coast are really expensive"</p>
<p>How much are you going to spend over the next four years?</p>
<p>My guess is the plane tickets are pretty cheap in comparison.</p>
<p>Don't forget that these schools want you to come. So call the admissions department and ask "Are there some current students I can talk to?" Tell them what some of your current interests are (academically, ECs), and see if they can get you some people to talk to. </p>
<p>My d. has been getting phone calls from students at some of the schools she's been accepted to. </p>
<p>Another non-campus related thing to do is to sit down and look at course catalogs. Try to see what the distribution requirements are, and how you might fill them. You'll find a wide range of requirements at different schools, and now that you are considering going to some of the schools, see what you might really take your freshman year. You may be shocked (or delighted) to discover language requirements, math requirements etc.</p>
<p>Also, if you took APs, what the AP policy is - will you get credit, or will it help you place into a higher level class. Getting credit helps you reduce cost - its less courses you have to take.</p>
<p>
<p>How much are you going to spend over the next four years?</p>
<p>My guess is the plane tickets are pretty cheap in comparison.
</p>
<p>Obviously, they are cheaper in comparison.
They're still not cheap, though, and my parents aren't willing to do extensive traveling that also conflicts with schedules. </p>
<p>Also, my parents really question the importance of visiting. In their opinion, I should be able to choose which school I want to go to from home. Visiting one or two places is already a stretch for them, and I can't really push them any further (though I have tried).</p>