Here to say that I am all about visiting colleges before you decide on which college to attend. So the college season is upon us and I have been blessed by a wonderful daughter who thought she would not get in to any colleges.
So this summer the search began for the perfect not to close but close enough to drive in a day, kinda medium size, not really partying but still experience life, not really city but nice town size college, most importantly coed college.
And so the search began...well we found her top 5 within 5 hrs from home. We had Marshall University, IUP, Concord University, Shippensburg, and Kutztown. Ok so we start applying which means money... We take the ACT which takes money... we pick the top two on the list and if she doesn't get in then we will go from there.
Ok mom that's a great idea.... Two weeks later college #1, Marshall's letter arrives... Yeah I made it I got in, me I never thought....Facebook and telephone and texts go out all over the country she has made it in.......one more week goes by and letter number two comes.... All heck breaks loose college#2 its a yes to IUP. Yeah, so I say really no Facebook, no phone calls no emails????
I see the stress in her face but she goes up to finish her school work. So I am sitting waiting and she comes back down the stairs.
"Mom do you think that I just picked two easy colleges to get into?"
Now I thought to myself that the goal was for her to pick the top two colleges in her search not the easiest but I went with it. "Well honey, if it would make you feel better than let's pick out a couple more colleges and apply." She is in hook line and sinker. (maybe I was just a sucker)
We sat and did another search. She found Memphis University and jokingly I mentioned Ole Miss. We had fun that night researching the online campus blogs, the pics, the website, the youtube, etc.. Next thing I know we are sending both applications and you will never guess what came next.
Two more admission envelopes in the mail. I thought she was gonna pee herself. So the nail biting decision was where should she go and why???
I being of not sound mind at the time obviously said, " Well let's go on some visits and see what you think?" She jumped right on that one. Who doesn't love a road trip every now and again. Problem was it wasn't just one but several.
OH I did not think it would turn out like this. After all I applied to one, was accepted, and went. No picking, or touring.
This post started a year ago and I just am now getting back to you....
OK well there were four to choose from and four acceptance letters. Homecoming weekend, Halloween and the Tournament of the Bands in Hershey PA coming up soon. Someone (that would be me) had this crazy idea to mesh an already busy weekend together along with a trip to not one but two colleges. Yes, I am obviously an over achiever. Now I did not plan originally to include any additional kids to this trip but I though Hershey and well let's see if the park is open.
Our weekend starts with the Homecoming Game, day was gorgeous but night was not. A freak storm hit on Friday evening at the game and we patiently were waiting on the kids to get off the football field. Swirling winds, snow, and ice blowing like a tornado tunnel in Kansas. The moms in the concession stand said that I should take off early. So I pack my rental 4-wheel drive with my two kids and a ride along kid and we head to PA. Mind you that it is 9 p.m. when we leave WV and head out on our 5 hour trip. The girl riding with us is going to visit her parents in Hershey then we are bringing her back to school by way of PENN State, IUP and WVU. I know what your thinking Penn State and WVU are not in the mix, but I thought they could get an idea and decide before we travel south. ONCE AGAIN DUMB MOVE ON MY PART!!!
We drive through hours of snow, sleet and ice to get to Hershey no one is happy. We meet the other Ru's parents at around 3 a.m. Now I am tired and just want a bed. They however are cheery and excited and want to talk to me and thank me for bringing her up to them. So after awhile I head back to the hotel room. Only to wake up a few hours later to my other two kids talking about all the snow and ice outside. Did I dream last night??? No!!! Phone calls start coming from my daughter in WV who this trip is planned for. MOM we may not come. Why??? The Band director did not know whether the roads are safe enough to drive on. Well obviously they were or I would not be in a hotel in PA with my daughter in WV waiting to go to colleges.....OK well keep me informed. Finally a call and they have decided to come now to make a decision on what to do. So I get up and get ready. OCT is not suppose to have snow let alone a foot of snow. Luckily I have four wheel drive and we are off to the outlets to buy coats for my kids who did not think to bring coats for a weekend in PA.
The Band shows up from WV and we proceed with practice then on Sunday we go to the Tournament of the Bands in HERSHEY stadium (the old one). We have to arrive early due to the cancellation of some bands not being able to get here. We are bumped from the 5th band to the 1st band showing. Not good when the field is covered in snow and ice. We sit in the stands that are ice and snow covered and prepare to watch the band. This is what we have been waiting for all season. The start and they could see the lines on the field or they were slipping and sliding because of the ice and snow. It was like watching a rehearsed YouTube video but with live action. I felt so bad for the kids in the show. They had fun that is all I can say.
Monday morning and the buses head back to WV minus one very excited daughter. We pickup RU and head to PennState College at 7 a.m. no official tour just giving the girls an idea of what a D1 school is like. So the snow has melted and the sun is out. We are all having a good time. We get to State College and park on the downtown street near campus. The two seniors get out, I ask them if they want to walk around a little and meet back up. NO we will stay right with you. So here I am a 9yo, 16yo, and two 17yo's looking in different directions. So we start walking the campus and the street with all the novelty shops. She is in love with the guy from Starbucks, then the guy on the street then the shop with all the Penn State stuff. So we pile back in the Jeep an hour later and head to IUP. We have an appt with IUP at 1pm for a tour. We get there and she is deflated at the size and location a little. We find the bldg and check-in. Two kids in the car watching videos and two in the tour with me. Well I listen to the person talk and make sure the girls are asking the questions they need to ask. The tour "guy" shows up and I am politely asked to leave that they can handle the walking tour themselves. WELL Really. I go outside and check on the other kids. They want to look at the town. So we go off on our own adventure and explore the town. Which is wonderful.
Two hours later we get a call that the tour is over and we head back to pick them up.
The talking did not stop. This is the one. She has chosen IUP. NOT one doubt. So we head back to WV via Morgantown. Now Morgantown is the home of WVU in case you all didn't know. We get to Morgantown about dusk to almost dark. The 9yo asks when are we gonna be home. I say midnight. She bursts into tears. NO we wont be able to trick or treat. REALLY!!! so we pull off in Morgantown and find a neighbourhood and dress her up in a zombie costume and send her down the road. An hour later she is satisfied and back on the road again. Hours later we are close to home and Ru's home away from home. I have someone meet me to pick up Ru and we head to our house.
Sarah has finally decide. I thought.... Then it was well we should visit Marshall just in case. So we head to Marshall a couple weeks later. Take a day off of work and school. We arrive for the tour and half way through the tour she decides anywhere but here. So we try to sneak out of the tour. NO such doing. We were stopped at the door where she proceeds to tell them that she has a doctor appt she has forgotten about. WE graciously are handed a ton of papers and a backpack. Off to 5 guys and then back to Lewisburg.
Two schools down and two to go. We decided December 1 would be a great time for the trip to Memphis and Ole Miss. Had to be in Memphis on Dec 2 for a 1pm tour and Ole Miss Dec 3 for a 9 am tour. ROAD TRIP just me and Sarah. Well we head to Memphis but first we stop in Nashville for the evening. Great time but not enough. Then we wake up making sure that we get on the road early. We see signs for Loretta Lynn Ranch. Just to look we pulled off. It was a great time and we got back in the car and headed to Memphis. We found it barely in time. The tour was great. I finally walked with her and we looked and enjoyed the time together. She had changed her mind and found Memphis to be the college she wants to go to now. I said OK but remember that tomorrow we see Ole Miss. OK mom we will go but I am def coming to Memphis. That afternoon we ate wonderful BBQ nachos (potato chips instead of nacho chips) then walked around Beale St. We head to Oxford MS so we can be up and ready for 9am. We pull into campus and the campus was lit up with lights everywhere I believe for her it was love at first sight. Just four hours earlier she was headed to Memphis University but now she is in love with Ole Miss.
The tour was awesome, the campus is to die for, and OLE MISS here she comes. Now it is July and she is still going to Ole Miss. She has made the Marching Band. She is a Music Major. And she is leaving home in three weeks. I will miss her but glad that I am finished with college visits until next summer when the boy starts his search.
So this summer the search began for the perfect not to close but close enough to drive in a day, kinda medium size, not really partying but still experience life, not really city but nice town size college, most importantly coed college.
And so the search began...well we found her top 5 within 5 hrs from home. We had Marshall University, IUP, Concord University, Shippensburg, and Kutztown. Ok so we start applying which means money... We take the ACT which takes money... we pick the top two on the list and if she doesn't get in then we will go from there.
Ok mom that's a great idea.... Two weeks later college #1, Marshall's letter arrives... Yeah I made it I got in, me I never thought....Facebook and telephone and texts go out all over the country she has made it in.......one more week goes by and letter number two comes.... All heck breaks loose college#2 its a yes to IUP. Yeah, so I say really no Facebook, no phone calls no emails????
I see the stress in her face but she goes up to finish her school work. So I am sitting waiting and she comes back down the stairs.
"Mom do you think that I just picked two easy colleges to get into?"
Now I thought to myself that the goal was for her to pick the top two colleges in her search not the easiest but I went with it. "Well honey, if it would make you feel better than let's pick out a couple more colleges and apply." She is in hook line and sinker. (maybe I was just a sucker)
We sat and did another search. She found Memphis University and jokingly I mentioned Ole Miss. We had fun that night researching the online campus blogs, the pics, the website, the youtube, etc.. Next thing I know we are sending both applications and you will never guess what came next.
Two more admission envelopes in the mail. I thought she was gonna pee herself. So the nail biting decision was where should she go and why???
I being of not sound mind at the time obviously said, " Well let's go on some visits and see what you think?" She jumped right on that one. Who doesn't love a road trip every now and again. Problem was it wasn't just one but several.
OH I did not think it would turn out like this. After all I applied to one, was accepted, and went. No picking, or touring.
This post started a year ago and I just am now getting back to you....
OK well there were four to choose from and four acceptance letters. Homecoming weekend, Halloween and the Tournament of the Bands in Hershey PA coming up soon. Someone (that would be me) had this crazy idea to mesh an already busy weekend together along with a trip to not one but two colleges. Yes, I am obviously an over achiever. Now I did not plan originally to include any additional kids to this trip but I though Hershey and well let's see if the park is open.
Our weekend starts with the Homecoming Game, day was gorgeous but night was not. A freak storm hit on Friday evening at the game and we patiently were waiting on the kids to get off the football field. Swirling winds, snow, and ice blowing like a tornado tunnel in Kansas. The moms in the concession stand said that I should take off early. So I pack my rental 4-wheel drive with my two kids and a ride along kid and we head to PA. Mind you that it is 9 p.m. when we leave WV and head out on our 5 hour trip. The girl riding with us is going to visit her parents in Hershey then we are bringing her back to school by way of PENN State, IUP and WVU. I know what your thinking Penn State and WVU are not in the mix, but I thought they could get an idea and decide before we travel south. ONCE AGAIN DUMB MOVE ON MY PART!!!
We drive through hours of snow, sleet and ice to get to Hershey no one is happy. We meet the other Ru's parents at around 3 a.m. Now I am tired and just want a bed. They however are cheery and excited and want to talk to me and thank me for bringing her up to them. So after awhile I head back to the hotel room. Only to wake up a few hours later to my other two kids talking about all the snow and ice outside. Did I dream last night??? No!!! Phone calls start coming from my daughter in WV who this trip is planned for. MOM we may not come. Why??? The Band director did not know whether the roads are safe enough to drive on. Well obviously they were or I would not be in a hotel in PA with my daughter in WV waiting to go to colleges.....OK well keep me informed. Finally a call and they have decided to come now to make a decision on what to do. So I get up and get ready. OCT is not suppose to have snow let alone a foot of snow. Luckily I have four wheel drive and we are off to the outlets to buy coats for my kids who did not think to bring coats for a weekend in PA.
The Band shows up from WV and we proceed with practice then on Sunday we go to the Tournament of the Bands in HERSHEY stadium (the old one). We have to arrive early due to the cancellation of some bands not being able to get here. We are bumped from the 5th band to the 1st band showing. Not good when the field is covered in snow and ice. We sit in the stands that are ice and snow covered and prepare to watch the band. This is what we have been waiting for all season. The start and they could see the lines on the field or they were slipping and sliding because of the ice and snow. It was like watching a rehearsed YouTube video but with live action. I felt so bad for the kids in the show. They had fun that is all I can say.
Monday morning and the buses head back to WV minus one very excited daughter. We pickup RU and head to PennState College at 7 a.m. no official tour just giving the girls an idea of what a D1 school is like. So the snow has melted and the sun is out. We are all having a good time. We get to State College and park on the downtown street near campus. The two seniors get out, I ask them if they want to walk around a little and meet back up. NO we will stay right with you. So here I am a 9yo, 16yo, and two 17yo's looking in different directions. So we start walking the campus and the street with all the novelty shops. She is in love with the guy from Starbucks, then the guy on the street then the shop with all the Penn State stuff. So we pile back in the Jeep an hour later and head to IUP. We have an appt with IUP at 1pm for a tour. We get there and she is deflated at the size and location a little. We find the bldg and check-in. Two kids in the car watching videos and two in the tour with me. Well I listen to the person talk and make sure the girls are asking the questions they need to ask. The tour "guy" shows up and I am politely asked to leave that they can handle the walking tour themselves. WELL Really. I go outside and check on the other kids. They want to look at the town. So we go off on our own adventure and explore the town. Which is wonderful.
Two hours later we get a call that the tour is over and we head back to pick them up.
The talking did not stop. This is the one. She has chosen IUP. NOT one doubt. So we head back to WV via Morgantown. Now Morgantown is the home of WVU in case you all didn't know. We get to Morgantown about dusk to almost dark. The 9yo asks when are we gonna be home. I say midnight. She bursts into tears. NO we wont be able to trick or treat. REALLY!!! so we pull off in Morgantown and find a neighbourhood and dress her up in a zombie costume and send her down the road. An hour later she is satisfied and back on the road again. Hours later we are close to home and Ru's home away from home. I have someone meet me to pick up Ru and we head to our house.
Sarah has finally decide. I thought.... Then it was well we should visit Marshall just in case. So we head to Marshall a couple weeks later. Take a day off of work and school. We arrive for the tour and half way through the tour she decides anywhere but here. So we try to sneak out of the tour. NO such doing. We were stopped at the door where she proceeds to tell them that she has a doctor appt she has forgotten about. WE graciously are handed a ton of papers and a backpack. Off to 5 guys and then back to Lewisburg.
Two schools down and two to go. We decided December 1 would be a great time for the trip to Memphis and Ole Miss. Had to be in Memphis on Dec 2 for a 1pm tour and Ole Miss Dec 3 for a 9 am tour. ROAD TRIP just me and Sarah. Well we head to Memphis but first we stop in Nashville for the evening. Great time but not enough. Then we wake up making sure that we get on the road early. We see signs for Loretta Lynn Ranch. Just to look we pulled off. It was a great time and we got back in the car and headed to Memphis. We found it barely in time. The tour was great. I finally walked with her and we looked and enjoyed the time together. She had changed her mind and found Memphis to be the college she wants to go to now. I said OK but remember that tomorrow we see Ole Miss. OK mom we will go but I am def coming to Memphis. That afternoon we ate wonderful BBQ nachos (potato chips instead of nacho chips) then walked around Beale St. We head to Oxford MS so we can be up and ready for 9am. We pull into campus and the campus was lit up with lights everywhere I believe for her it was love at first sight. Just four hours earlier she was headed to Memphis University but now she is in love with Ole Miss.
The tour was awesome, the campus is to die for, and OLE MISS here she comes. Now it is July and she is still going to Ole Miss. She has made the Marching Band. She is a Music Major. And she is leaving home in three weeks. I will miss her but glad that I am finished with college visits until next summer when the boy starts his search.
