In the opening post, the OP asked for:
And many posters have offered advice. But they are essentially giving guidance on what color to paint the walls when it’s not clear if you should even buy the house.
I am challenging whether the OP has asked the bigger question: ** What is the intent of seeking an undergraduate degree in the US? **.
Within my expat bubble, what I have observed is that 1st World parents typically send their kids back home for university (for the undergraduate degree) because that’s what makes the most sense. The few who opt for the US, do it for posh name schools or for athletics.
I don’t agree w other parents here that, in and of itself, an American style education is worth every penny.
If it was me, I’d visit a few schools that are rational options, and mostly just enjoy the vacation (and bring a car windshield mount for my smartphone).
Just surfacing after a long(ish) flight …and trying to connect the various messages …and points of view…
Re the focus on US (expensive) / UK (cheaper for similar level of education) …while this may be highly subjective and up for debate …I do think the US universities provide a flexible, unique and rigorous undergraduate education…usually in a lovely campus setting, which can be an experience in itself. This wasn’t my view to start with, but have to admit, having mostly American friends I have been influenced quite a lot. However, the bottom-line is my D/S would also like to seriously pursue the US route for broadly similar reasons…hence the US trip…
The financials are a ground reality. Another reality of course is that a credible option in the UK would cost much less.
So the thought process is broadly:
- explore (during the planned trip) and apply to select group of US unis - with both strong academic/development opportunities...as well as tangible level of support/opportunity for career options back in the UK (assuming that's the base scenario for work permit etc reasons)
- apply to UK universities in parallel (my D is quite clear re which UK universities she would apply to)
- Depending on where she gets in US/UK ...make a call later in the process (but have to admit to some bias towards the US)...
Not sure if the above makes some sense to the experienced posters here …any feedback is welcome…
So, for the upcoming trip …we would ideally like to see c.10-12 colleges, and mix it up with some sightseeing etc as well. All the feedback / ideas are very welcome …as let’s us tweak plans etc before we start locking bookings etc…
@sly123 …thanks for the suggestion …did you consider UK universities as well or are you based in the US? Wondering did you have to go through the US vs UK debate as a family …
@GMTplus7, @PurpleTitan …couldn’t agree more …need to be extremely prudent about the choice/expense…especially as we are not a wealthy family and it would be a substantial investment…if I assume both my D and S would end up studying in the US. The “saving” grace is we had invested over two decades for this potential eventuality …so we have built up an adequate education fund for them. Clearly though …if they want to continue on to do their Masters, it would need to be something that they would need to fund on their own 
Having said that, I can think many other productive use of the capital (including a potential Masters)…so there’s not a mentality of “it’s there, so let’s just spend it…”
@prezbucky …thank you for the best wishes…based on the help and guidance have received on this forum is…I feel much better prepared for the trip and looking forward.
We would certainly like to explore Northwestern…and trying to firm up on the Long list …
@momrath, grad school is a possibility (but not sure how to factor in to the decision mix at this stage)…but certainly the parents I know whose kids went to the US…a number of them, stayed back to complete their Masters before moving back to the UK / Europe …certainly something to keep at the back of our mind …
@Sue 22…thank you for the lovely suggestions …would go through in detail when am back (as currently Travelling and difficult to make proper notes) as reading on an iphone …makes a big change from trying to read up on lonely planet for sightseeing ideas
Re the Maine colleges - is it easier to fly into Portland from Chicago or is Boston the better bet?
Just so you’re aware, in the US, graduate level education in the STEM fields often comes with full funding, even for int’l students.
When I was a grad student, I received a full tuition scholarship plus a teaching/research assistantship that paid a stipend adequate to live very modestly. The int’l students in my department got the same deal.
Not all First World binational families pick their country 's university system, even if it’s cheaper. Some programs may be insanely competitive, others may be decrepit. Some families don’t equal “going to good lectures, 10hours a week” to a good education and would rather have their child learn from 18-student seminars, with lots of back and forth; have the opportunity to do research; benefit from a good career center; participate in a residential community rather than commute from home or an apartment; meet new people from different walks of life, rather than stay with their high school buddies. Some students are interested in many subjects, or want interdisciplinary perspectives, rather than classes in just one subject - and they dont want to start back at the beginning if they discover their 17year old self didn’t really grasp what they were getting into. It may also depend on the country 's culture or environment (I wouldn’t send my gay kid to university in Russia, no matter how good the math program is. What about being Jewish in Hungary or an aspiring journalist in Poland?)
It’s likely OP’s family will have about 12 days to devote to college visits. It’s important to visit a variety of them - to compare uChicago and Northwestern while visiting Chicago makes sense. Carleton and Grinnell may well appeal to OP’s son but they are not likely to fit into the itinerary easily, so it then becomes a case of the OP getting info, deciding whether it’s worth visiting, or not.
OP, I’ll you be driving accross the Midwest? (Chicago to NYC would likely take you about 20-22hourq straight, but you’d stop along the way obviously :p). Or would you be flying?
I do recommend taking some days for NYC and DC if you can fit them.
@MYOS1634, we were initially planning to
- fly into Chicago
- fly to Portland or Boston ...see the Boston and Maine colleges
- drive down to haverford ...colleges enroute etc
- then flying back to nyc
However now with the feedback from the forum …trying to revisit our long list for some tweaks as well as the travel plans …so very much WIP
Flying directly to Portland from Chicago is expensive if you opt for a non-stop flight, and time consuming if you choose multiple connections. You have BC and Tufts on your list, so you may want to fly into Boston and drive up to Maine.
@GMTplus7, thanks for pointing this out …would certainly make it that much more feasible …certainly for my S he would be looking to do STEm related grad studies …
And many PHD students also get full funding. At the graduate level, funding isn’t related to family earnings but sheer talent.
(Note that LACs do extremely well in STEM and general PHD placement).
@entertainersmom, sometimes forget how big the US is…thanks and preference would be non stop …will explore the Boston options …
“Not all First World binational families pick their country 's university system, even if it’s cheaper.
-snip -
It may also depend on the country 's culture or environment (I wouldn’t send my gay kid to university in Russia, no matter how good the math program is. What about being Jewish in Hungary or an aspiring journalist in Poland?).”
@MYOS1634, all very true, but not for the UK (some years ago, all the countries you listed would not have been considered First World. Would still have doubts about Russia these days, G8 or G20 or whatever).
Though the OP has made it very clear what his kids are looking for, and what their criteria in the end will be. Agree it makes no sense whatsoever to look at completely unknown LACs. If you look for a internationally marketable degree, you have to look for the international name brands.
@sue22 …we might end up doing something like that …essentially staying at one of my friends place…his S stayed at our place for about six months during study abroad etc …so feeling less guilty about barging in
Thanks @lookingforward …planning to stay at a friends place at nyc …beginning to think we will run out of the 3 weeks period v v quickly
From Chicago to Portland, I would suggest flying Southwest Airlines nonstop from Chicago Midway Airport to Manchester, New Hampshire. There are many daily flights between the two, and the prices are low. Manchester is a smaller airport that’s very easy to get in and out, and you won’t have to fight the Boston traffic getting to Portland.
@merc81, thanks for pointing out, will relook at the stats / profile … Based on what I saw as profiles on this forum …have to say think the bar is v v high …to see what some of the posters have achieved by junior year is just amazing … Frightening in many ways
The top UK unis and courses are very rigorous, but much more focused on a single or at most 2-3 subjects. Method of assessment (and instruction) quite different as well.
Note that students entering good PhD programs are funded. Funded Masters programs are harder to find, at least these days (and typically are at giant publics that need the extra TA manpower), and never are for professional degrees like an MBA or JD (though partial/full scholarships to those programs are possible; the more money and more likely the further down the totem pole you go). Granted, you may enter a PhD program and leave with a Masters after 2 years.
@tigerle, I would argue that on the OP’s original list, while chock full of terrific schools that many Americans would respect, there aren’t many international name brands besides UChicago. Recognition of the quality of LACs by non-Americans (outside of a handful at the very top like Williams/Amherst/Wellesley, and even they likely trail a state flagship like UIUC) is quite low. Even Tufts might struggle.