So we are at that age where the kids have a long list of possible colleges. My oldest knows what he is going to major in. He has some special issues and I know his success in college will depend on finding the perfect fit. We actually already have the exact college in mind. He has read up on it and spoken to the admissions office and is super excited. But, he does need some back up schools for just in case he does not get in there.
My daughter, on the other hand, could do well anywhere. But of course, we still want the college that will be a great fit for her. She is not sure what she is going to major in, but she has some ideas. Originally, she wanted to be a doctor. But now she is thinking a nurse. She is very logical about it in that she said that a nurse would better fit with her long term goals of being a mom some day and having a family that she has plenty of time to spend with and such. Nursing school is quite specific so that will be a separate search from the other so this is much more wide open for her than it was for him.
BUT..here goes....what did your parents do with you, or you are doing with your children, or you just recommend, in looking at colleges? I was thinking that they could make a list of what they are interested in based on what they read on the internet and find out otherwise (other sources, such as school, books, magazines, etc). Once they have a good feel, they can give my dh and I a "short list" and we can try to visit them. With only 2 years to senior year for DS, and not a lot of money, we figured we can incorporate visiting colleges with family trips. We will be visiting my inlaws in Colorado in the spring and I know Colorado College is on the long list for both kids so we can visit there. I have family (and my sister) in Minneapolis so I was thinking if nothing else, I can send them to my sister's for a week when she has time and she can take them to visit some of the colleges. But that is not my first choice as I would like to have DH along. And I was thinking that DS should maybe do one of those perspective student weekends at his top choice college.
Does this sound good? I am hoping for good suggestions and ideas. We are not wealthy so tons of traveling is not going to happen here. But I think with the 2-3 years we have left, we could plan family vacations around locations where they want to/need to go to visit colleges.
My daughter, on the other hand, could do well anywhere. But of course, we still want the college that will be a great fit for her. She is not sure what she is going to major in, but she has some ideas. Originally, she wanted to be a doctor. But now she is thinking a nurse. She is very logical about it in that she said that a nurse would better fit with her long term goals of being a mom some day and having a family that she has plenty of time to spend with and such. Nursing school is quite specific so that will be a separate search from the other so this is much more wide open for her than it was for him.
BUT..here goes....what did your parents do with you, or you are doing with your children, or you just recommend, in looking at colleges? I was thinking that they could make a list of what they are interested in based on what they read on the internet and find out otherwise (other sources, such as school, books, magazines, etc). Once they have a good feel, they can give my dh and I a "short list" and we can try to visit them. With only 2 years to senior year for DS, and not a lot of money, we figured we can incorporate visiting colleges with family trips. We will be visiting my inlaws in Colorado in the spring and I know Colorado College is on the long list for both kids so we can visit there. I have family (and my sister) in Minneapolis so I was thinking if nothing else, I can send them to my sister's for a week when she has time and she can take them to visit some of the colleges. But that is not my first choice as I would like to have DH along. And I was thinking that DS should maybe do one of those perspective student weekends at his top choice college.
Does this sound good? I am hoping for good suggestions and ideas. We are not wealthy so tons of traveling is not going to happen here. But I think with the 2-3 years we have left, we could plan family vacations around locations where they want to/need to go to visit colleges.
I didn't suggest that. I transferred around a bit after graduating community college. The university I graduated from is the only one I did not visit before attending 
.
