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I ask this question regarding schools (LACs in particular) that strive for geographic diversity.

I've seen alot of Westerners (Californians in particular) attending schools like Amherst/Williams, but the travel sounds killer. Are these mostly the kids rich enough to constantly travel by air or do these schools aid in any way? Is this aid reserved exclusively for academic hotshots?

I was just curious because I'm searching for more colleges to apply to (I'm a junior) and I want to see if I can consider some of the gnarly schools on the west.

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 07:38 pm: Edit

Travel costs are something important to think about. From what I have seen, students aren't going to get extra money to travel home.

What may happen is that students find ways of making it home for Xmas and the summer. This may even mean taking Greyhound home. Plane tickets those times of year tend to be sky high and booked very early.

Thus, if money is very tight, think long and hard about whether you want to go far outside of your region. Realize that it's unlikely that your parents will be able to come for Parents' Weekends or that they will be able to accompany you and help you move in at the beginning of the year and help you pack and go home at the end of the school year.

If you get homesick and want to enjoy a three day weekend home for Veterans Day or Easter, that probably also will be impossible.

Phone bills also could be sky high if you want to call home a lot.

Lots of the top Eastern schools give need-based aid up to your demonstrated level of financial need, but that doesn't mean that one would have $ for luxuries like getting home to the West Coast more than at most twice a year.

Also think about whether your family would be able to manage to come to your graduation. Not only is the transportation expensive, but hotel prices in all college towns are sky high at graduation (and also when students are moving in and moving out). It could be very sad to graduate but not have your proud family able to see you get that diploma.

By Koopatroopa (Koopatroopa) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 07:46 pm: Edit

That's just something that's been bugging me lately. Well, back to my seemingly endless college search.

BTW, all the advice is very greatly appreciated, Northstarmom! It can be so hard to find Good Samaritans these days.

By Mzhang23 (Mzhang23) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 08:26 pm: Edit

Travel aid is normally included in a financial aid package, at least at Princeton.

By Iska (Iska) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 11:22 pm: Edit

I think Scripps (Girls colege at Claremont) explicitly gives travel allowance, depending on how far you have to travel to attend (e.g. East Coast). True?

By Ariesathena (Ariesathena) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 10:37 pm: Edit

Travel costs are included in calculating the total cost of college attendance... but I think those costs are, as NSM points out, only for things like travelling home during Christmas break and at the end of the school year.

Most of my friends who came from far away (FL, CA - I went to school in MA) booked their plane tickets very early to avoid the high cost. Sometimes they would have to miss a final if that final were scheduled after their plane departure (mostly during fall semseter). They stayed on campus during Thanksgiving if money was tight. Often, I had friends over for Easter as they could not travel home for the holiday.

By Mzhang23 (Mzhang23) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 10:51 pm: Edit

In addition, colleges will give you travel aid to visit them once you've been admitted. Don't miss out on admit weekends because of cost. Call up the admissions office first and find out if they'll give you money. Most colleges will pay for if not subsidize your travel costs.