Nine colleges, seven days, zero problems; Wake Forest, University of NC Charlotte, Davidson, Virginia Tech, U of Richmond, UVA, GWU, Georgetown, Catholoic

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Wow and what a week it has been! The best part; 7 nights in our RV, from spot to spot like authors on a book tour, we can't stay long we have to keep the schedule.  

The schedule of campus visits and camping spots arrangements as complex as a master chess game. 

Though hectic the trip has been full of laughter, hopefully more laughter then tension as we try to make it to each school on time and figure out parking, find the building we are meant to be in on the unfamiliar campus, not so easy. 

Our first night like all good trips started in a parking lot but not just any lot we found a Cabella's the gold standard of parking lot camping. Some of these high end parking lots offer electricity and dump stations (I know impressive).  Sunday morning finds us Up first thing to continue the endless drive to Charlottesville.  I took over the driving and all was going well until I noticed more than one sign advertising the ominous road signs " out of control truck ramps"  I saw one pop up and then another, this made me, never a confident driver of the RV, well uncomfortable would be an understatement.  Then came crosswinds signs and  falling rock signs as we hurtled down a windy and step mountain road, riding the brakes. There were no less than 4 of the these ramps off to the side of this road. Anyway if your reading this we made it. 

Our first campground was CaroWinds an RV resort attached to carowinds an amusement park, that although small had a pretty impressive amount of roller coasters.  Cara led the charge and Michael kept up, even  facing down the sling shot! The video proof that they actually loved it.  While Mark slipped off the  RV in one of the shuttle buses without a backward glance.  It was a beautiful day for the park, but parks shmarks, it was college tours we were after!  And off to the races we were the very next day. With a tour of  UNC Charlote. 

UNC was a let down to me, Michael and Cara, but not we should point out to Mark who held his ground that he liked it, but he is not planning on going away so what is he talking about? I think he just likes to argue.   We had time so we went to Wake Forest.  We didn't get a tour but we did feel the love. It was amazingly beautiful and I can't imagine working their everyday, all that oxygen and beauty, you have no excuse to be cranky... yeah maybe not a fit for me after all.  We had love for the school from me, Michael and Cara.  A non starter for Mark. They have a law school and a medical school and some tough entry bar. We completed the self guided tour and headed back to the campground.  We stopped for a snack and  after an extensive conversation with the 7-11 owner we headed back to the dogs and ordered some late night and relatively crappy pizza. 

With no rest for the weary we were off to Davidson the crown in the jewel of our most southern stop. 1800 students in another beautiful setting, vibing wealth and intellect. Needs blind and meets need sounds like a win and it was at first and then it wasn't.  Well maybe Cara.  But maybe not. These small liberal arts schools are a bit over our heads to be honest. We are not sure how it pans out but according to Matt and their outcomes page the future is bright for these kids  However it dropped off the list for Michael. 

I had to come back and edit for this, how could I have forgotten our memorable night in the Walmart parking lot.  The by far strangest tradition of RVers is the camping in the lots of Walmarts.  Nothing beats the oddness of sleeping in your RV in a public space.  However it takes about 10 minutes to make a temporary set up and then you are actually cozy with your beds, toilet, lights, snacks it gives you the undeniable feeling of "getting away" with something. However there was not enough electricity for coffee, I was forced to cross a four lane not pedestrian friendly highway for coffee from Wendy's, only to find out that only the drive through was open.  I tried the drive through on foot like a fool and for salt in the wound  I got no response and went back empty handed.  There was much stress related to accessing permission to park the RV on the Virginia Tech campus, but we got it together parked the whole kit and Caboodle on the sprawling campus and hopped on one of their shuttles to the admissions office.

The tour guide was cheery and fun, but overall  the information lacked depth. We did speak with the ROTC recruiter. He was friendly, all American and spoke honestly about commitment, deployment, benefits and drawbacks. He did not seem there to sell us, but to inform.  The engineer department has an outragedly low admission of 7% beating out MIT, and as a state school could possibly be pricey for us.  We left with mixed feelings.  It is big, but seemed to have a friendly, can do vibe. Its far and only guarantees housing for one year.  Getting home would be tricky.

Up next UVA and Richmond  We were staying at KOA which is always dicey.  The sites were meh, no privacy. but the bathrooms were worth writing home about.  Also Dr.Ho's humble pie.  First good food we had on the trip (ok, Cracker Barrell is always a winner) and we got to eat there twice.  Also a great dog walk and a broken down basketball court that we did take advantage of with a rousing game of "school" 

I think the above picture is Richmond but I could be wrong, either way it looks pretty damn collegiate.  Michael liked this school maybe it was the fancy meditation room that captured his heart. We split up for this tour, who knows why.  It was very green and leafy, felt like money and seems to have strong academics though once again I am lost to the academic goal.  Like most more liberal arts schools I never quite understand the curriculum.  But let me be honest, I think that is a cop out, to say I don't understand it so I dismiss it they all have  "daddy has a job for you after college".  These students are getting a great education and even if they begin with a career in education themselves it may be a stepping stone to more in long career, superintendency? professor? Educational policy? 

  I loved UVA but I may have been the only one

 I thought the vibe was preppy and great academics.  I love that American history vibe honestly.  A plus of course was seeing Shane.  It is a big school with great buildings but you know it is good to let it go, because there are so many places to consider 

.On to Washington DC and Cherry Hill campground.  Decent site and we ordered breakfast to the RV and actually got to play a few arcade games to break up the endless college tours and talk . We pulled in at 11 and were set up by 11:30, thanks lets face it to Steve and his endless efforts 

10 AM had us on the grounds of the perpetual fan favorite of Catholic University.  The vibe there is always so happy and light, its hard to put your finger on it. The head of the electrical/computer engineering department as well as the grant writer who had been a bio medical engineering major took so much time to chat with us.  Of course seeing Jared was a highlight. He seems to love the school and has created his own little world within the community. He really only had positive things to say.  We always leave with Catholic in our sites but some doubt as well.  I believe if Mark goes away this would be a good school for him.  That said I think one of these smaller liberal arts school would be good for him also. 

 We could have spent more time at Catholic but off to Georgetown we went for our 2 PM tour.  We were lucky enough that Emily Cheesman stopped by to say hello.  She gave great insight into the school and its culture.  It was such a treat to see her! 

Mark and I were not digging Georgetown, which sounds absurd because you know, its Georgetown.  But it seemed hectic and competitive in not the best way.  Though that of course is just us, many kids love to have a proving ground. 

Mark and I were more thriving on sitting in the shade chatting and eating peanut M&Ms.  The other more ambitious members of our family enjoyed the tour.  The guide I heard was awesome with aerospace engineer parents and a brother that began college at 14, so yeah that is the profile  of a Georgetown kid. 

Our last stop was GWU.  A city school through and through. Which has its pros. I had watched a virtual information session and was really looking forward to the visit. But it was such a let down!  There was a strange feeling that even the tour guides and speaker were not really into it. The others on the tour seemed standoffish the whole thing felt like a waste of time.  Wow that was a harsh review being that the whole information session and tour lasted less than an hour. I guess it does have the whole "living in the city" as a major pro, but other than that I think you would have to want that school for the proximity to DC and your ability to intern in a government office.  We are not that specific in our major and what ideas we have lean more towards science. 

We packed up and headed home where I drove rather quickly for 3 hours, I have to pat myself on the back because in that whole drive I did not have a panic attack. 

We had so many laughs ( may be we should go out and see people(a little inside joke)) and so many good conversations. I don't know if anyone found their school but I do know that they gained insight into their choices and maybe a step forward in knowing what they are looking for not just in their education for the next four years but their long term goals.