College Tours

We toured a college today; Baylor to be exact. Both boys had attended Baylor’s Summer Music Camps but we had never toured the campus before. Our oldest son did not want to look at Baylor; he had his mind set on going out of state. So today we toured the campus for the first time and met with one of the music professors. This tour was hard for me; at first I could not figure out why it was bothering me and then I realized it is because this has always been a summer thing that they did while they were in high school. This tour really made be realize that my baby is going to be in college in the fall. It also made me a little sad because our oldest son is still trying to find his way. Most of his friends will graduate from college this spring and even though he has not taken classes in awhile it also hit me today that he is in limbo.

We have also toured TCU (Texas Christian University) and Texas Wesleyan University both of which are here in Fort Worth. The youngest has also been trying to decide which state schools to look at. We have eliminated a lot of them for various reasons: distance, not the right type of program, their reputation is not stellar with regards to music, to cut throat at the undergrad level, classes are taught to heavily by grad students are just a few. So he has decided to look at University of Texas at San Antonio and Sam Houston. He also knows that the community college here in Fort Worth is always an option for his first two years. He is so trusting and also at times very innocent still so I do worry about him going away but we will both adjust if that is what he decides to do.

As a parent I can say this whole process is very difficult. The application process, deciding which schools to look at and then financial aid are all so much more intense than they used to be. The financial aid issue is something I am a bit concerned with because of the economy. Giving is down at most schools and their endowment funds may also be off depending on how they were invested.

All of his applications will be complete by the middle of December and then we do the hurry up and wait game with one added step the audition process that each college requires. The best thing about all of this is how far this wonderful young man has come. When he was young we were not sure if he would even go to college. Would his speech and language skills catch up? Would he learn to adjust to and accept change? Would he learn to make friends? He has done all of these things and so much more. He is a kind, loving and giving young man with a future in front of him. So as his parents we will support and guide and pray that all of us make wise choices.