Did anyone send your kid out of town for college tours by themselves?

[Anonymous]

For visiting when deciding where to apply? We decided to do only local and virtual visits since DD had no idea what she wanted, and she could sample most types of schools within a couple hours of DC. She went on a couple of tours with friends, but mostly with a parent.
Admitted students days she did on her own if it could be done as a day trip or if we could find suitable, safe accommodations that would let an 18 year old check in. If not, a parent came with her.

[Anonymous]

I have! My kid and their friend went together. They toured a handful of schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
My kids would be Ubering from the airport to the college and back. Not exploring the entirety of a city by foot (or by Uber). If the college is located in a city that is so dangerous that a teen can't leave an Uber and walk a 1/2 block to Admissions then it's not a school I want them attending (and I attended Hopkins undergrad and would be fine with them doing this in Baltimore.) Just wondering what else I might be missing. Thx!

Have them bring a friend for company

[Anonymous]

I've been on visits where I've seen students doing a visit and interview without parents. I've always thought that it must be impressive to admissions staff that a student is invested enough to do it all themselves, rather than being dragged there by parents.

I did one interview and visit to a nearby safety school when I was applying to college and ended up having the best and most grown-up conversation with the admissions director of any interview I had. I was treated like an adult, maybe in part because I didn't have any adult with me.

If your kids are good with it, seems fine. And maybe more than fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not, no. Then again I know very few college towns that are not either dangerous or super rural

What?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not, no. Then again I know very few college towns that are not either dangerous or super rural

Huh? Which college towns are anymore dangerous than any other town in the US?

I mean, I wouldn't allow my kid to explore DC alone much less some other dangerous city, so I don't get your point at all.

Is your kid 11?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
My kids would be Ubering from the airport to the college and back. Not exploring the entirety of a city by foot (or by Uber). If the college is located in a city that is so dangerous that a teen can't leave an Uber and walk a 1/2 block to Admissions then it's not a school I want them attending (and I attended Hopkins undergrad and would be fine with them doing this in Baltimore.) Just wondering what else I might be missing. Thx!

I went to Hopkins too and while North campus is OK, you absolutely can get mugged within 2 blocks of north campus. The medical campus is obviously much more dangerous.

I assume you're saying that you wouldn't let your kid attend Hopkins? Because if makes no sense that a kid can handle living amidst the dangers of Homewood as a freshman in college but can't walk a half block 12 months earlier as as senior in high school. ??

[Anonymous]

I did this going alone on my first plane flights from a small town to Cambridge MA. It was great. Showed me I could be independent and capable.

[Anonymous]

I would not do this. I wanted to see what they were seeing. It helped me support them through the decision process.

I am sure it is very hard with twins. Like much if their upbringing must have been. It is what parenting looking like during this stage. It is one year. Can you take personal time off of with? No vacation this year? Limit the number of distant schools they visit?

Good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not, no. Then again I know very few college towns that are not either dangerous or super rural

Huh? Which college towns are anymore dangerous than any other town in the US?

Philadelphia. Chicago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not, no. Then again I know very few college towns that are not either dangerous or super rural

Huh? Which college towns are anymore dangerous than any other town in the US?

Philadelphia. Chicago.

Those are cities that have colleges, but not college towns.

Also, those cities don't even make the Top 10 when you look at crime on a per capita basis. So, more accurately it would be Atlanta and St. Louis that are #1 and #2...which again are cities in which there are colleges, but not college towns such as Bloomington or Chapel Hill or State College where the university dominates the town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not, no. Then again I know very few college towns that are not either dangerous or super rural

Huh? Which college towns are anymore dangerous than any other town in the US?

Philadelphia. Chicago.

So you wouldn't send your kid to a college in either?

[Anonymous]

My California kid got into Berkeley and UVA. He flew to days on the lawn solo. Independence. Save a little money. He freaking loved the place. So in order to save $1000 by not joining him, I spent $150,000 extra on college. 😂😂😂

[Anonymous]

For you Op, I would. Especially since you're open to ED. If money might be a huge issue, I would want to be along to evaluate myself, have more of a financial sense of pros/cons, and most of all to manage expectations of our kid. For you, send them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My California kid got into Berkeley and UVA. He flew to days on the lawn solo. Independence. Save a little money. He freaking loved the place. So in order to save $1000 by not joining him, I spent $150,000 extra on college. 😂😂😂

Love it!