<p>Soozie – thanks for your thoughtful reply. Just to clarify, I said my son wants to “look at” some Southern schools not restrict himself to those. That said, I think he will probably have some self-imposed geographical limitations (e.g. Pittsburgh to the west – although I’m trying to get him to consider Chicago). My son is a good but not exceptional student (i.e. National Honor Society and SAT scores in the 1900 range currently – retaking this Saturday). He is very artsy and musically inclined (i.e. plays guitar and sings, performs in an improv comedy troupe, etc.). He is blessed to be a tall, good looking kid and has had no trouble being cast in every production he has auditioned for (including Providence-based community theatre). I think the best fit for him would be a school in an artsy community that would enable him to pursue performance opportunities in the areas cited above. Although he seems drawn to big city environments (e.g. Boston, New York, Philadelphia, etc.), I’m trying to get him to broaden his perspective on this. It’s a constant challenge to be supportive and provide some guidance and direction while remaining impartial. I just want to make sure he’s not missing out on a potential good fit because he has some pre-conceived notion about certain programs based on little or no information. At the same time, the whole process would be easier if we had a manageable list to start with (including some non-audition choices). I’m a big fan of visiting schools (preferably when they are in session). But this may not be feasible since the fall will be busy getting applications ready and trips mean additional expense and time away from work. We will probably do some visits this summer and a weekend or two in the fall – we’ve already done a few (during February and April vacations this spring). While the decision is his as to which school he feels best fits his needs, there will be family financial considerations to weigh as well. I’m still trying to get used to the idea that I have a child old enough to be going through all this…</p>