Help us plan PA college visits, please...

ctParent2006
Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:51:57 +0000

Well coming down I would hit either Lafayette or Bucknell first with whichever one you don’t hit on the way back. That would be either

Bucknell, Dickenson, Gettysburg, F&M, and Lafayette

or

Lafayette, F&M, Gettysburg, Dickenson, and Bucknell.

Naturally others to check along the way are Lehigh, Muhlenburg, Moravian and others (Drew in NJ or the Philly schools if you go that way)

I don’t know if you can do two a day on this trip but you might squeeze two in on one of the days. Lancaster has lots of places to stay and I think there are some near Gettysburg but am not sure about the other three areas.

In general it is difficult to fit in two schools in one day unless they are very close together. Each tour takes 60-90 minutes and it is usually a good idea to sit in on the 60 minute info session plus wander about on your own and also check out the surrounding area. So figure 3.5 hours counting parking etc. If you hit one school at 9 you can do lunch and just make it to somewhere close by (thinking two city schools really), which these really are not except maybe if you drive fast Gettysburg and Dickenson, for the afternoon session. A fair amount of interesting tourist locations in Gettysburg and Lancaster.

Check the tour and info session schedules at all these schools and the travel time between and you might make it. The problem is that if the morning school turns out to be worthy of more time you won’t make the afternoon school.

Also check the campus calendars at each college for the days you will be there as there may be some events worth going to at night. Even if a college game or performance doesn’t seem all that interesting to your child they are probably low cost or free and give you all the chance to observe the students in their “natural habit” a bit more.

Good luck.