So, we’ve been planning college visits for our third child, Tessa, who is currently a junior in high school. We have a few rules regarding colleges. They must be in-state public universities, or you must get scholarships so that they cost the same as in-state public universities. Although we don’t say to not look out of state, we generally haven’t. I currently have one child at Ball State (public) with no scholarships and one at Valparaiso University (private) with an incredible scholarship. The public still costs less, but they are both in the same range. I personally don’t want to drive more than 5 hours to get to any college, and I don’t want to pay for airline tickets for every break. So, I guess it must be within 5 hours drive, and less is better. So, our spring break is filled with college visits. Tessa is already overwhelmed. We originally planned visits to the big universities. But when she panicked and was worried that she wouldn’t like a big school, we added small schools to the list. And since Tayden (currently a freshman in high school) is stuck going with us for his third round of college visits, we are trying to add fun, inexpensive, and creative things to do on the trip. When did it get this hard???

I have to ask, did your parents take you on college visits? Mine didn’t. Can you imagine trying to do that for 12 kids? My mom told us that we had to live at home for the first two years, so we were relatively limited, although Chicago has a bunch of colleges. I wasn’t creative enough to look in the city, so I went to Benedictine University, since I didn’t have a car, and I could ride my bike, catch a ride, or walk for the three mile distance (thank you Larry for always getting me to school – at least one way was taken care of). After the first two years, I stayed at Benedictine, not entirely because of Travis. I was diving, and doing quite well at it, and I didn’t want to give up my team and sport. And, of course, there was Travis. And by then I had managed to acquire a car by totaling my parents Plymouth Horizon while driving on black ice one evening. After they got the money for that embarrassment of a vehicle, they let me have it, complete with the bumper imbedded in the front grill (better than on the ground) and the turn signal taped on with orange duct tape. Eventually the muffler fell off. It was a perfect four speed manual transmission with an AM radio and no air conditioning. And it took care of me for two years. And with no muffler, you had to play that radio real loud with the windows down in the heat of summer. I was a force. Occasionally, it would spew large plumes of black exhaust, but I never concerned myself with that.

Okay, I got way off task here. My point is, we didn’t explore our “college options.” We went to college locally at first, and for some of my siblings, they moved onto ISU or U of I or NIU. Some moved from COD to DePaul, but still lived at home, so that’s still local. And I don’t recall anyone visiting any of these distant locations. They applied, were accepted, packed sheets, towels, and clothes, and went to school. They had to steal the sheets and towels from our house, because we had none to spare. Although the towels were threadbare to the point of having holes, and the sheets were ugly (think orange and brown flowers) and obtained from garage sales. But they were better than no sheets and towels. I don’t recall any discussion of which college any of us went to. And those lucky enough to go away didn’t get any budget for additional bedding or amenities. Take what you could get away with and buy the rest.

Despite my meager upbringings, I have gotten caught up with the college hunt. It’s gotten worse with each progressive child. Tayden told me he isn’t looking at ANYMORE colleges after Tessa leaves. He is going to Ball State because it’s the cheapest. DONE!! Tessa, on the other hand, is overwhelmed with options. She asked, “How many colleges are there in Indiana anyway?” There are 89. We can’t possibly check 89 colleges. So, we visit the biggies, and stumble on the small ones when they happen into our mailbox on a day that I happen to be paying attention (hello Trine University) or when a friend attends (hello Marian and Goshen Universities). And still the options are insane. When does it end? When do we go back to the local college and a Plymouth Horizon? I don’t have the answers. And judging from my friends, I am not alone on the crazy quest. Please let me know if you have a simpler solution to the insanity of college choices, for I am having trouble seeing past my current plans. And we’re off…