<p>Our college visits were special times together. We were sort of marking the coming changes, same as you, shoot4. But the furthest, tbh, was a 5 hour drive. (Not counting UVA when headed there for other reasons. Oh and a road trip she made with a friend’s family.) All I can say is- ha, cpt, maybe don’t do UVA first. It’s beautiful and I love the whole area, was afraid it would throw off D1’s opinion of every other place she saw (and it’s so unpredictable with admissions results.) That’s just imo.</p>
<p>There are also trips that bring kids to the northeast- one I have heard of brings kids to see a few Ivies. I believe it’s sponsored by a college-bound type group and, as someone said, the kids work toward the costs. Probably chosen by application. For some kids, it really is their only chance to visit- and can be very valuable. Not just in seeing the schools, but in the info they gain. Don’t know more. Perhaps some individual colleges can answer that.</p>
<p>Yes, it was for one person, from Seattle to the southeast and included airfare, bus for the tour itself, accommodations and all food. They saw 8 or 9 schools and some local historical sites. The parent was quite ill and could not travel and it was the only way the young man could go on any kind of tour. He did choose and was accepted one of the schools he visited.</p>
<p>shoot4mom, that is why I sometimes accompany kids on these trips. They may come at a developmental moment when a student (usually a daughter) has decided that her parents are the dumbest people that ever lived and that everything they like is crap. Visiting colleges with a third party is a way to avoid the downsides of sending the child alone, without an experienced adult to offer perspective, and of going together in the midst of adolescent drama.</p>