Help us plan PA college visits, please...

njcentconf
Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:03:08 +0000

Oh, I hear you about who’s having fun with this! When my younger one leaves in August, she thinks I’ll become the crazy cat lady.
Good you are starting a bit early. We did the loop about the same time with my daughter. We found that two in a day is the most you can do, and really only if there’s an early morning tour, then you leave campus by noon, and the other campus in only an hour or so away to catch the afternoon tour. She took notes at each school, and we talked a bit after each one. I would say, if you get on the campus and your child just doesn’t feel like it’s a good fit, don’t bother with the tour. Will you miss the opportunity to find the school of your dreams? Maybe, but if you are visiting several schools in just a few days, you might be happy to narrow it down somehow.
We found that these tours worked to help identify what characteristics worked for her. Try to spend enough time at one or two schools to get a flavor of the surrounding town.
For each tour loop that we did (one to Boston, one to PA/CT/RI, one to NY for Cornell and Colgate), I put together a chart with available tour times and dates, which ones needed a pre-registration, and then mapquested to get directions and times. From that we set up hotel rooms, choosing the cities or areas that seemed more fun.
If you child plays sports or has a specific major of interest, get in touch with someone there to talk to them during your visit. If you know someone at any of the schools, try to have them meet you, even for just a cup of coffee. If they have a friend who is majoring in something that interests your child, see if they can join you.
Enjoy! I’m off to feed the cats…