As those of you who read part one of this series know, my family's spring break consisted of a death march, er, tour of colleges across the United States. As you can tell from the fact that you're reading this: I survived (barely), and I think the kids did, too (though we may need to double-check). I also came back with some hard-won wisdom. Here goes:
Nineteen Colleges in Two Weeks Is Too Much: It sounds obvious in retrospect, but I was so focused on - OK, obsessed with - the goal of giving the kid a broad perspective, that I thought that limiting the trip to two or one colleges per day was "taking it easy." Truth is, we all would have gotten more out of the trip if we'd done just one college a day, with more break days in between, since doing things like hanging out at the student center, sitting in on a class or having a chat with a professor can be much more eye-opening than a tour.
Info sessions and tours are great places to gather clues on costs and savings at each institution: These official "meet and greets" can be mined for pertinent intel, especially on costs. Financial aid is discussed at every info session, and it will vary greatly by school. These sessions also are helpful for teasing out the corollary costs of an education - but you need to take note of the details. For example, at one school, any student receiving financial aid was automatically given free textbooks at the college store, no matter how much aid he or she was receiving. At another school, loaner textbook programs for all students significantly helped with what could be a hefty expense. One very generous school felt that internships were such an important part of the educational process that the college puts the student's work-study salary toward unpaid internships (that certainly beats working in the dining hall). Even such items as printer costs at the library - some schools charge students, others give this service for free - will add to what you and your child will ultimately pay for college, so ask about all these hidden extra costs when touring, as they will add up.
Locale matters: Inevitably, those schools located near or in a major metropolitan area tout the cultural and professional opportunities available to those living in those places, while schools in more natural settings boast of their "outings club" and tight-knit student community. Weighing which type of option is best for your child is key to finding the right school, and you really won't get a visceral understanding of how a school's setting impacts its student life until you visit. We found it valuable to spend time not just at the school, but in the areas immediately surrounding it.
Take notes about weird stuff so that you remember each college: This tip comes from my daughter, who is looking ahead to having to answer questions on applications that ask students why they want to go to that particular institution. She found that she was better able to remember which school was which when she wrote down an oddball observation from the tour (examples: At school X, students do ice carving at the winter festival; school Y's tour guide was really excited about the fondue party he'd attended the night before). Let's hope she's right about this tip.
My secret goal for this trip was to have my daughter fall head over heels in love with just one school, as the odds of getting in if you apply early to one can double. Alas, that didn't happen, but something just as valuable did: We realized that there are extraordinary schools across the U.S. and that she'd likely get a wonderful education no matter where she ends up. I'm hoping that that realization will make the rest of this process a hair less stressful.
Note to the reader: Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip. The information in this column was accurate when it was released, but prices are competitive, sometimes limited and can always change without notice.
Pauline Frommer is the creator of the award-winning Pauline Frommer's Travel Guides series. She co-hosts the radio program The Travel Show with her father, Arthur Frommer. Find Pauline's books online at www.frommers.com/pauline.
