We have the 3 day weekend off next weekend and are struggling where to go for a college visit so am looking for some help! We are trying to decide between the following:Charleston,Boston,Tampa or Syracuse. Factors include weather,availability of hotels,how easy to get to from the midwest and if(for instance the New England area-colors) would it be to get rental car and get around. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Also,if there is a hotel in that town near a college you would like to recommend-please do.

Of the ones you listed Charleston would easily be my first choice for weather, etc. (assuming no hurricanes). For colleges though I would hit Boston.

I thought that Boston would be great for next weekend but my husband says that it is a big weekend with parade,etc. for them? Also,he thinks that all the tour buses for the "color tour" of New England would be stopping there. Anyone from that area that could give their imput?Thanks-

Why would one visit a college if one did not intend to "go" to said school?

If you are looking for a college to attend for higher education purposes...why would local hotels, rental cars and foliage be a determining factor in your education?

You are asking me to recommend a college for you...okay...Utah State. Try that one.

Ed

I am confused.

I suggest you check availability of hotels in Boston for the long weekend, although Boston proper is not really leaf peeping territory (more trees and scenic splendor north and west of the city) it is a busy time to visit the city - the weather is often glorious here in october. I wouldn't worry about parades slowing you down - I'm pretty sure there are some scheduled, but they would tend to be neighborhood affairs. You cant beat Boston as a base for college visits, but some of the other destinations you mention might be easier to arrange for this particular weekend. My suggestion would be to visit Boston during one of the drearier months (most of the winter through early spring) so that your son/daughter can get a feel for what it's really like to live here.

I would vote against Boston - too booked and expensive with foliage viewers. Since other 3 cities have only a college or 2 in each, check them off your list now and save Boston for a time when you have more advance notice to shop around for hotels, etc.

Availability of hotel near college might be an issue in other cities, though - as many college schedule parent's weekend for this long weekend.

PS - Take my kid with you on your trip - we are facing this starting in the spring.

I have to agree -- parades won't be an issue in Boston, but availability of hotels might be. Visit Boston during your spring break, which probably doesn't overlap with the breaks at the colleges you'll be visiting.

Also, depending on which schools you'll be visiting, you might not need a car at all in Boston. For schools right in the city and in Cambridge (BU, Northeastern, Emerson, Simmons, MIT, Harvard, etc.) a car is definitely a liability. Public transportation is the best route in Boston, and will give your prospective student that much more insight into the lifestyles of local students!

Not sure what kinds of schools you are looking at (which is probably, at the end of the day, more important than where is a good place to spend a 3 day weekend)...but maybe fly into Boston and then rent a car and drive westward, going to Amherst, UMass Amherst, Smith, Williams, etc. It's gorgeous out there that time of year, and the schools are fantastic.

I agree with Ed, I'm confused. I too, am looking for colleges with my high school senior and I never considered picking a travel destination and then picking some schools in that area. I thought you were supposed to pick schools that you might like to go to, and then visit them.

I just graudated from Clemson in Clemson SC. I would recommend that! Of course, I'm biased. Charleston is a very busy town. Clemson is relaxed and beautiful. Check out the webpage:

www.clemson.edu

"Ed" and "confusedtoo" I think you've misread the original post. I got the impression that the 4 cities named are places where "college mom"'s offspring has already identified colleges to look at, and they're just trying to decide which city to start with.

I do college counseling. Boston is a great college town, with many schools still coping with the winter weather and major airline flights home. Syracuse is less so. Can't speak to Tampa or Charleston. Depends on where your home is and how many times will the student come home. I think you must focus on the schools rather than the weather or transportation issues. If you fly into Boston I'm sure you'll be able to get hotels on the outskits of the city such as in Newton. Foliage seekers don't go there.

Collegemom, where are you? Do you see hte confusion you have created? Please come back and reassure us that all these trivial factors like weather and hotels are related to weekend plans, and not to college choice.

College Mom, avoid Boston over the Columbus Day weekend!!! Not only is parent's weekend at many schools (like BU) but it's also the weekend of the Head-of-the-Charles Regatta, the largest meeting of crew teams in the country! I think this would make finding a hotel nearly impossible at this late date.

On the other hand, at any other time, don't miss visiting Boston to see all our colleges, as well as Boston itself. I think I'd visit Charleston given your choices. What a lovely place...but what's it like to go to college there? Obviously I'm biased. I came to Boston as a freshman in '68 and I'm still here! It's a common story in this area.

The Head of the Charles in Boston is not Columbus Day weekend. It starts Oct 19.

Oops! My bad. Indeed the Head of the Charles is Oct. 19-20. I guess it's bad enough that it's a three day weekend in leaf season, and not H-O-C and Parent's weekend. In that case, do visit Boston!!!

College Mom-You ought to keep your nose out of it and let your kid decide where they want to go. Your kid is going to be spending 4 years there not you. NO wonder today's kids can't think for themelves or make decisions Mommy and Daddy do it all for them.

X - I agree with you IF the child is paying the $100,000+ college education.

Now, what I think college mom was asking is where there is good weather and availability of hotels, etc for the up coming 3 day weekend. NOT that she was condsidering the weather, transport, etc. in the decision on where the kid should go to college.

So, my thoughts are that all those schools, except maybe for Tampa, have popular college football teams. I'd check the school's websites to see who has a home game, and mark them off the list for that weekend.

Go to Charleston. Beautiful city with Citadel, College of Charleston, Charleston Southern, and the Medical University of South Carolina.

Excuse me people-let me clarify for those who did not understand my original post. My child DOES have a definite school in mind in those three cities;we have spent the last 2 years looking at many different schools cross the USA and the reason that I asked the post was that we are coming up to a deadline on applications and we thought that we would visit these last 3 schools.My child has a definite major in mind and NO, I do not chose schools for my kids based on hotels and tours.You got to be kidding? I also don't pick schools for my kids as I think that if you are spending 4 years there-you better feel something for it. I thought that what I was asking was in reference to those particular cities-would it be difficult to get hotels or rental cars with the holiday weekends.I appreciate the info from the posters who did not question my parental duties.(And you wonder why I have started posting under a different email address?)I think that if I was going to pick a city first and then tell my kid to go to college there-it would Paris or London.......not Utah State!