Are you college touring this week, and if so, where?

[Anonymous]

This week RPI, Bucknell and Cornell

[Anonymous]

Going to University of Pittspurgh, Temple, NYU, Pratt, Wesleyan this week. Visited Northeastern, Boston University, Emerson, and VCU Arts. Looking for a particular program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going to Northwestern, U of Chicago, maybe University of Wisconsin...

We did those (plus Ann Arbor) last summer. Fun trip -- and convinced my kid that the Midwest could be a great place to go to college. Madison is definitely worth a visit if you can manage it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The chip on your shoulder about Harvard is readily apparent.

+1

Also, LOL about not living off campus. In one of the most expensive cities in the country.

I guess if you hail from Ashburn or the like, you find historic Cambridge "dingy."

She also doesn't understand the "Houses" and why you affiliate with a House after your freshman year.

We didn't fully understand or appreciate the Houses until DS got into Gryffindor. Now we get it.

[Anonymous]

We're thinking about hitting UMCP for ice cream at the Dairy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a middle schooler here. I won't have the money to go on college tours so do colleges put a negative next to your child's name if they don't visit the campus before applying. It seems to make more sense to save my limited funds to visit the schools he does get accepted to.

You can use the Common Data Set to figure out which schools care about expressions of interest and then find some way other than visiting for your kid to express it (e.g. Ask to be put on a mailing list, attend a local presentation/school fair where the college participates and stop by to talk). Not all schools care about interest and those that do recognize that not everyone has the time/$$/job flexibility to visit campus before applying.

[Anonymous]

I'm currently house-hunting in the town where DG has a faculty appointment next year. Touring the town, walking 'round campus...Does that count?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going to University of Pittspurgh, Temple, NYU, Pratt, Wesleyan this week. Visited Northeastern, Boston University, Emerson, and VCU Arts. Looking for a particular program.

Wow, we'll be on very much the same route. If you see the same face at several locations, that's us!

[Anonymous]

I was amused by the idiot father at Brown, who upon learning I was a West Point grad, asked whether I was expected to serve in combat. I told him all West Point grads a retrained to lead men in combat. We are not managers thinking up ways to sell the next cookie. I can't believe some people are so misinformed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was amused by the idiot father at Brown, who upon learning I was a West Point grad, asked whether I was expected to serve in combat. I told him all West Point grads a retrained to lead men in combat. We are not managers thinking up ways to sell the next cookie. I can't believe some people are so misinformed.

Seriously? Do you bring your own pedestal on these trips, or just expect them to be waiting for you on arrival?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was amused by the idiot father at Brown, who upon learning I was a West Point grad, asked whether I was expected to serve in combat. I told him all West Point grads a retrained to lead men in combat. We are not managers thinking up ways to sell the next cookie. I can't believe some people are so misinformed.

No one gives a shit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was amused by the idiot father at Brown, who upon learning I was a West Point grad, asked whether I was expected to serve in combat. I told him all West Point grads a retrained to lead men in combat. We are not managers thinking up ways to sell the next cookie. I can't believe some people are so misinformed.

I'm curious about why you needed to tell this story and why you needed to tell it here. Is civilian life not working out for you? Did Brown seem like some sort of affront to you?

[Anonymous]

Who said I'm a civilian?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a middle schooler here. I won't have the money to go on college tours so do colleges put a negative next to your child's name if they don't visit the campus before applying. It seems to make more sense to save my limited funds to visit the schools he does get accepted to.

When it comes time just make sure your DC gets on the mailing lists of colleges they are interested in and attends local visits. Most schools will do visits to local schools and/or college fairs in order to connect with kids. You'll be able to get this information on the college's website and/or through your DC's counselor. When my DD was going through the process her college counselor explained that school's do not necessarily expect families to be able to visit the schools themselves, but like to see demonstrated interest as best they can with the above suggestions. Of course, not all schools are concerned with demonstrated interest, but it's better to be safe than sorry because it's hard to tell these days which ones really do want the interest and the ones that do not care.

My other advice would be to try and visit some local schools (both in DC and the close in surrounding areas) in order to give your DC an opportunity to see what they may like (i.e. big vs. small school, urban vs. suburban or rural, particular programs, etc.). It won't take any more money than the drive to the school.

However, I would strongly encourage you to save the money for your DC to visit the schools when accepted. I don't think I would send my kid to a school sight-unseen. I think it's important for them to actually get a sense of the school, campus and surrounding area in order to make a good choice. It can make a difference about how they succeed in the beginning.

Good luck! And enjoy these last few years with your kid at home. They will fly by....

[Anonymous]

Harvard, Princeton, Yale. DS plans to aim high!