I mean visit each of teh following.

Pick an area -- Pennsylvania, or New York or new England, or whatever and visit one of the following over spring break: (1) a large university, (2) a small liberal arts school that is preppy, (3) a small liberal arts school that is more alternative. If these three choices tilt rural, pick a fourth school that is urban (or vice versa). Thats enough for spring break.

You must not be in Virginia. If so, it's really easy to see several types of schools that offer in state tuition -- so it's easy to say: Let's see JMU and Tech over spring break and later we'll do W&M, VCU and UMW or whatever.

Just visit a few campuses with differing sizes and reputations/focus to help DC get an idea. Otherwise it's really hard to know what you want.

Have an army recruiter talk to him

It is fine. Many students of various academic levels get that "deer-in-the-headlights" look. It is pretty amazing that it's so common. With kids today working so hard toward a goal - of getting into college - and then freezing-up as they get closer.

Since this is your situation, why not have the counselor advise what colleges others have gotten into with credentials similar to your daughters. Maybe counselor can mention a range - and they you can go from there, looking at similar schools.

Anonymous wrote:You don't start the process by narrowing things down -- you explore the possibilities and then narrow things down. I realize some counselors advise kids to decide general categories but thats just unrealistic and silly.

OP here. I get where you are coming from, but it's hard to research 1200 colleges without some filters...I'd be happy just to hear 'I want some type of engineering, maybe' or 'Florida is too hot' or 'I want to be able to come home between breaks'

You don't start the process by narrowing things down -- you explore the possibilities and then narrow things down. I realize some counselors advise kids to decide general categories but thats just unrealistic and silly.

Both DC didn't really narrow their choices until senior year. Just make sure they see a few so they have a frame of reference for future use. Senior summer is key. As is the fall of senior year. Our kids were not really focused until then.

OP,

My child waited as long as possible. Was all over the map. Happy ending! Got into first school early decision. Phew! You will get through it.

MD state schools. MD private schools. Schools in DC. Schools in East coast. Schools an hour away!

I applied to a small private urban, small private suburban, giant urban public, etc. Just apply to a bunch of options and pick once accepted.

My kid's a senior and hasn't narrowed down big/medium or urban/rural. She definitely was warmer climate. Unless she gets into Michigan. She prefers big unless she gets into Wake. So I wouldn't worry about a junior.

Maybe dc just really doesn't know what he wants? I remember my mom asking me over and over whether I wanted a big college or a small one, an urban one or a rural one, and I honestly had no idea. . It wasn't until I visited a bunch that I could say, I like that, I hate that. Have you visited some? I'd do local ones to start and see if that triggers any kind of reaction.

Have a meeting with the college counselors this month and DC still has not even narrowed school choices to size of school (1600? 20000?), or geographic preferences (town/city/beach/skiing)
Is this typical? When did your child start to show an interest in colleges?