Visiting both mid July. Would rather be near Georgetown U. Is there parking on campus at AU? Looking for something under $150 that might be near the metro stop for AU.

Thanks,
Kathy

While these two schools are not really that far from each other, there really isn't a hotel nearby that is also Metro accessible.

There is a Days Inn on Connecticut Ave that would be a short drive to AU (and there is parking there) and you could find something near $150.

Quite truthfully, DC isn't very big and even if you stayed in Dupone Circle, you would not be far from either (and, in fact, there are Metrobuses going to both schools from Dupont Circle).

AU has a visitor's parking area off Nebraska Avenue, NW (main campus). I presume it is for people visiting to look at the campus as a possibility.

As some of you know, I think those college tours are a waste of time until you see where your child is admitted. I do advise that you speak to your child's guidance counselor at his high school. They often can dish out good advice as to where they are likely to be admitted.

In my case, for example, kid #1 (a National Merit Finalist) had a lot more options than kid #2 (B+ high school student but not as outstanding in the testing department at all). We live in VA. Kid #1 had been admitted to UVA and William & Mary and went to W&M. W&M is, by the way, a state school--which many non-Virginians do not realize.

So, we started to go through the college marathon with kid #2. It would never have occurred to me to have him apply to W&M because I thought he would not get in. The high school guidance counselor at his public school told us that because he was a male, he probably would get in (fewer boys are interested in liberal arts schools these days and balancing the sexes at a school is often part of the admissions process). Well, that guidance counselor was correct. Kid #2 ended up going to W&M and having a wonderful experience and a good scholastic record as well.

I urge everyone to take a hard look at the good schools in your state before even thinking about forking over $35,000 or more for a private school. Often a big piece of wanting a private school is snob appeal. After all, the "prestige" of a college is often viewed as directly proportional to the distance from home (The farther away, the more prestigious.).

I went to a state university for a BA and then to a school all of you have heard of for a law degree. The second school may have been "posher" but I probably did not learn anything more than I would have at a less prestige place. AND, everyone has to be realistic about his finances--and your kids have to be talked turkey about that. I cannot believe that parents just let their kids pick and saddle themselves with huge debts after graduation. Unless they are going to make immediate big bucks (and the job market ain't so great these days for new college grads), kids are often oblivious to the debt factor. You have to make sure they become unoblivious.

In my case kid #2 wanted to major in theater and wanted to go to NYU. In view of the limited earning potential initially for theater majors we told him "no" from the get go. Who wants a kid owing mega amounts of money when he graduates and to have that worry on top of just getting a job in theater? Worked for us.

So, I am a huge fan of state universities for at least the BA--and maybe beyond too. They are a much better buy for your money than the "name" schools. It also makes for fewer schools to visit on one of those college tours (and less distance to travel).

What a GREAT comment from Lauren! I couldn't agree more!

Except that it didn't have a thing to do with the original question.

Lauren,

I have an athlete, so your comments are really totally inappropriate in our case. I have done my homework in the college search. I'm sure you meant well, but. . . .

I hope that someone, somewhere reads those comments and finds them useful. I suggest that you may have a lot of fun on the college discussion area of the Princeton Review site. There are lots of opinionated people there, especially on the students site.

KL

My daughter attended AU. There is NO metro stop near the school..it is about 1 mile away, so plan on driving to the school. They have a very elaborate orientation program - impressive! There is some limited parking on campus for your visit, but most people park across the street on Nebraska. There is a shuttle bus (for students) that takes them from the campus to the nearest metro stop at Tenley circle.

dolciani,

Thank you for your very useful information. I found a great deal at the George Washington University Inn that offered the second night at 50% off so grabbed it. At least it will be convenient to GWU and we will just deal with the parking situation at AU.

Kathy

What Laura says about state schools is very true, however, if you can get a scholarship to one of these schools (academic or athletic) that's fantastic! (especially for the parents)

I went to school at AU - and no, it wasn't expensive because I qualified for a special program that my employer offered back in the late 70's.

AU generally has no parking problems so I wish you well with your college search. Both schools are good as well as UVA and Penn State.

CTKathy-I was appalled by Lauren's email. Not really seeking to get in the middle of a heated Fodor's discussion but this one bothered me that much. First off, I don't think it's appropriate to start telling people what they should be doing when it's not THEIR child. If state schools worked for Lauren and her family, great-but it might not be right for others. There are many options available. It also does not mean that you are a snob if you go to a private university. I mean, what is that about? Second, maybe to Lauren the college tours are a waste of time, but as a guidance counselor at a high school where most of my students go on to both public and private universities (and very reputable ones at that), it is ESSENTIAL to take the tour and attend a group information session if you live within driving distance of a college campus. Since Lauren does not leave Virginia it seems that she does not know that the number of students applying to college these days has risen dramatically and the competition is fierce. I assume you live in Connecticut (as do I) so you can drive to DC. It would work against your child if at the very least you did not make the effort to visit. All of this you know, but hopefully others will learn in time. Plus, wouldn't you want to visit a college campus BEFORE you apply to see if you like it (esp. if you can drive there)? If you apply to a bunch of schools, never visit, and only have those to choose from, once you visit you might hate them all! Better to shop around before you buy, don't you think? Good luck with the visits and to your child.

In fact, there have been many discussions of college tours and choices of colleges on this board -- I'm guessing a search on "college tour" or some such will pull them up -- and believe me, there are many opinions very different from Lauren's.

I happen to think smaller schools are a better deal for most undergrads other than those who are completely decided and in a realistic way on their probable career (I figure that's about 10%). And there is some research that suggests that total lifetime income is often enough higher for those who went to private schools than those who went to public schools that it offsets the difference in tuition -- you might consider it an investment.

But more significant for this board is the question of visiting colleges before applying. I don't think everyone agrees with Lauren on this point, but let me say that I've interviewed 100s of high school juniors and seniors and sent my own through the application process. It's very very rare that any kid's mindset in April or June of junior year (when they are shopping) is anything like what it might be in April of the senior year, when they have to make a choice. It always, always seemed a very good thing that they had visited several colleges in one, preliminary "filtering" trip before they even started the application process -- otherwise they have no image or concept of the many ways colleges "feel" different. And it was just as important -- on this I agree with Lauren -- to visit the schools you actually get into to make your final choice.

In our son's case, he actually visited his final 3 choices 3 times: once over the summer, once for a fall interview, and once for their "prospective freshman" weekend. Fortunately they were clustered near each other so it didn't bankrupt us, but I feel strongly that although 3 visits may be excessive, 2 visits really isn't.

OK, now I also happen to know both the AU and Georgetown campuses, and I'd say you're better off following some of the suggestions here -- e.g., staying in the Dupont Circle area and just taking a cab to either place. Cabs in DC aren't expensive. Georgetown is not easily accessible by public transportation, but AU is, and G'town is close enough to Dupont Circle/Foggy Bottom.

Enjoy the trip. It'll be hot, but it'll also be an opportunity for some of the best time you'll ever spend with your kid!!! Stay cool.

When we visited AU in April, we took the campus shuttle from the Metro (and back) and found it very convenient; it runs about every 15 minutes, and of course the very process of taking it gave us insights into the AU student experience!

We stayed at the Embassy Suites at Chevy Chase, which is just one stop up the Red Line from AU and sits literally atop a Metro station, so even though it's a bit out of the center of the city, it's very convenient in its own way. IIRC, a cab back to the hotel from G'town cost about $15.

Good luck, ctkathy. There is a Holiday Inn in the Georgetown Area and you might be able to get a decent AAA rate. But also check out a couple of places closer to Geo. Wash. Univ. because you may find them less expensive than DuPont Circle and pretty convenient to Metro and Georgetown: St. James Suites, a DOubletree on Penn. Ave., and check out AA rates.

You might even consider staying in Rosslyn right across the Key Bridge from G'town -- hotels are cheaper there and there's a Metro stop right in the middle.

BTW: I think Lauren's experience with a guidance counselor was an exception -- they often have far too many students and they may or may not know anything about schools outside their state. I've also run across many counselors who have a chip on their shoulder about particular colleges and direct students away from them, even if they would be a good match with the student. Caveat.

Thanks, guys, for the support and info. My daughter is an athlete and will be participating in a tournament in Virginia Beach from July 2-6. (UGH) Last year we visited Wm & Mary, UVA and James Madison, and talked to the coaches at each school, toured and did the information session. This year we will do more schools as she is a rising senior. I have two kiddos who are music majors and one athlete, and these students do not fit into the 'normal' admission process. Athletes are invited to maximum of five official visits in the fall by colleges that are recruiting them, so that would be the equivalent of visiting after admitted but not quite. Unfortunately, my daughter is only allowed two days off from school in the fall semester to visit colleges so visits must be done now. Normally, I would prefer to visit when school is in session like we did at Brown.

I got a great rate at George Washington University Inn--$129 first nite and $47 for the second. Promo on quikbook. Hope it is nice.

KL

I think you'll be happy -- very good price!

Soccr-I think your opinion about guidance counselor hopefully resulted from your own personal experience and not some kind of overall view. Yes, some schools do not have enough counselors so their caseloads are too big and then students don't receive all the attention they need. However, not ALL of us are this way! It is difficult at times but some of us do manage to make it work. In addition, some of us also do have open minds and direct our students towards schools that would be good matches-even if we are not big fans of the school ourselves. I've visited hundreds of schools and didn't love all of them. However, if I met with a student and his/her interests were compatible to one of those schools I would certainly suggest it. What's important is to keep an open mind and think about the needs of the individual student-every single one of them. Some of us do actually try to do that.

ctkathy,
I noticed that your first message said you would be visiting Georgetown University. But then you said you have made a reservation at a hotel near George Washington University. You do know that they are two separate universities, don't you? People do sometimes get them confused, so just wanted to be sure you know that. There is a metro stop near GWU, but there is no metro stop in Georgetown. You might be better off finding a hotel within walking distance of Georgetown U. (unless it really is GWU you are going to) and then driving to AU since it sounds like you can park at AU and I think parking would be must more of a problem at Georgetown.

GWU and Georgetown aren't that far apart, and that's a great rate. I think it's a very good choice because it's right next to a metro stop and that will be useful for seeing the city otherwise. I think it's a better idea than getting a hotel slightly closer to Georgetown. Parking in Georgetown isn't difficult if you can get into one of the university's lots, maybe a visitor can. During the day, it probably wouldn't even be that difficult to find a place on the streets fairly close to the university, to be honest. I do it fairly often myself.