<p>We’ve been embroiled in this process for the past 8 years with three kids spaced out so that we’re never really “done” - it’s always time to gear up for the next one. In that time, all vacation funds have gone to pay for either college visits or getting kids back and forth to school. It’s been money well spent - despite the stress and aggravation of never quite knowing where we’re going and being unable to manage our time so that we can have an actual sit-down meal somewhere. (On one memorable journey, d2 and I went 36 hours subsisting on Diet Coke, hotel-room coffee, gummi worms, and crackers.)</p>
<p>With our current senior, we’ve visited 8 schools over 3 trips (2 schools have been seen twice, to permit interviews). She eliminated 2 schools from her list after visiting, and there are 2 schools on her final list that she hasn’t seen yet.</p>
<p>I think the question of affordability is a smart one, and I hope that admissions departments are aware that it is a concern for many parents, not just those below a middle-class income. Our travel funds are not, um, inexhaustible. It’s fine for schools to look for expressed interest, but sometimes even a very low-cost trip is just not possible.</p>