Slice of Life - College Visits

I've been participating in Slice of Life, started by Two Writing Teachers. I love the challenge of composing a piece of writing at least once a week about life or teaching.

 

     I have my dream job right now, but one of my other ones would be to just visit college campuses and be the Rick Steves of traveling to universities.  I could write all about the culture of each college, what each one is best known for, best restaurants and shops to visit, must-see places, fashion trends, job markets in the area, activities available, etc.  I just love seeing how different schools are and how students who go to each one have certain styles and personalities.  Of course, that doesn't mean 100% of the students are a certain way, but there are definitely various cultures.  

      My oldest daughter is now at Miami University where my husband and I both went and met.  We loved it and so does she.  I knew since I was nine years old that I wanted to go there, so I really didn't feel the need to visit or apply to anywhere else.  Libby felt pretty much the same.  We did, however, take her to a few places just in case, and that's when I got a taste of just how much I loved to visit colleges.  We saw William & Mary, Penn State, University of Virginia, Northwestern University, and University of Richmond.  My husband took her to Ohio University and Carnegie Mellon University. We also briefly visited Harvard on a family trip to Boston and University of Chicago when we visited the city.  We've seen Wright State, Ohio Northern, University of Cincinnati, and University of Dayton.

      Now it's my younger daughter's  turn.  She's visited Miami a dozen times, and she likes it, but she wanted to open up her search a little.  Last year I took her to Wittenberg University to see if she'd like a small private school.  She decided she didn't.  This year, she expanded her college search to Ohio University and Ohio State University in addition to applying at Miami.  My husband was able to take her to O.U., and I was able to take her to O.S.U. this week.  I had been to a few Ohio State games (which is an incredible experience), but I hadn't seen the campus itself.  I always thought it would seem huge and urban, but I was pleasantly surprised by how green and pretty the campus was and that it didn't feel that big.  We went to the information session and took the long tour, and then she and her friend hung out with a couple O.S.U. friends who graduated from their high school.  They showed them the real student version while I hung out at the beautiful student union and graded papers.  I look forward to finding out where Katie will be accepted and which she will choose.  In the meantime, we will enjoy the search!  I can't believe that after this year, both my daughters will be off at college!  Time sure flies.  Will our Christmas card be all of us in Miami U. sweatshirts, or will three of us be looking at an outlier? ;-)  Stay tuned!  Here are some pictures of our fun with the Buckeyes.  You can tell they enjoyed it!

 

 

 

    I loved the positive messages the Boo Radley Society  (Random Acts of Kindness Club) left along the sidewalks of The Oval! 

 

 

 

On that note, have a great Slice of Life Day!!