<p>CMU has something called “sleeping bag weekends”. Can you get on a bus or train? They consider interest in their acceptance decision and have a formal process once you are accepted to allow you to submit competing financial aid/merit offers to see if they can do better. </p>
<p>Also check the various schools on your list to see if they are traveling the country making presentations. I believe a bunch of them do. Some travel in consortiums so you may be able to hit a bunch at once. Since you live in a rural area you may have to travel to a larger city but again…train or bus. </p>
<p>I think one of the bus or train lines has some kind of discount program for students visiting colleges. Check it out. It takes a lot of planning to fit all of this into your school schedule (even if you had your parents helping out and driving) so start planning now if you want to fit some visits in during the school year.</p>