Agree with the visiting starting locally. We have taken her to a number of campuses to gauge a few things (Baylor, UT, A&M, Trinity, CU Boulder, DU, USD). Will also visit SMU/TCU soon. Right now, she still seems interested in med/large school with some preference for more of a city/urban location–but not hardwired. Ideally looking to keep it near 50K or less/yr after merit and won’t push to send her to a school she doesn’t want to go to.
You asked about why finance. I think she is focused on business in general so a well-rounded business school program would make most sense.
Clearly she is still young and could change and has a decent idea here of what it would be like in finance. She is not interested in I-banking…more corporate finance (thus “high-powered” business school probably not a must).