With our last one entering her senior year of high school, the family focus is on higher ed. It's a dizzying process, more so than in her parents' day. Beyond the barrage of unsolicited (and a few solicited) college catalogs, campus visit invitations, and attractive photos stuffing the mailbox daily, today's college-bound juniors and seniors have to keep up with emails, peruse Web sites, and yes, even texts from universities seeking parental dollars.

Narrowing the (affordable, ahem) choices is daunting, but we're getting there. Physical pre-decision presence is truly helpful. Yes, college recruiters tend to draw more interest if they can look you in the eye and make a sales pitch, but students also tend to form strong attractions and revulsions to the realities of "Can I feel at home here?"

In this house like many we dream of ivy, but barring that, we are forming a regional back-up plan. NIC and U of I are good stuff (and so affordable, sniff sniff), but don't offer her courses of choice. So... We hit the road last week to visit campuses in Oregon and Washington. Here's what we learned:

1. WUE discount: Yes, students, it boils down to money. If looking out of state, ask if the institution is a member of the Western University Exchange - a voluntary system offering "scholarships," essentially a major cost break, to non-resident students with decent GPAs from a list of western states. University of Washington is not on the WUE list, so it would cost us just shy of $40K annually (before need-based grants etc.). Portland State and University of Arizona are, so the $30-something price tag whittles down to the teens for eligible students. Each school has its own formula and rules, but typically, WUE means up to 50 percent discount on the difference between resident and non-resident tuition. See the list at http://WUE.wiche.edu.

2. Schedule tours: Call or email the school a month in advance of the visit to schedule them. At bigger schools, campus tours and dorm tours are separate, so ask for both. Financial aid staff is generally not part of this, so ask for that appointment separately. Tours (generally student guides) begin with general information sessions (given by admissions reps), then take about an hour so bring good walking shoes.

Now, don't just stick to the official spiel. Walk around on your own. Go in buildings, which are often public. If school isn't in session, walk into classrooms and get a feel. Better yet, ask a passing student what they think of the experience there - campus culture varies widely and is part of the "fit" which may affect your student's success.

3. Department staff: For students who know their major already, consider contacting the department staff. We had great luck at two schools with this, getting appointments with the Ph.D. department chairs. The schools took very different approaches to the major, with some clear differences in courses and focus. Of course, follow up with thank-you notes from the student.

4. Sit in on a class. If possible, schedule this in an area of interest. The campus visits/admissions office should be able to connect you. On the tour, ask about average class size, separately about first-year (often larger) and higher level courses.

5. Jobs? Internships? Beyond work-study and McDonald's, new graduates are more attractive to employers if they've had some practical experience. Schools vary widely in opportunities, so ask pointedly and directly. Ask for real-life examples, connections with local employers or institutions which may potentially employ post-graduation. Some gave us a blank look in response; others offered a specific list. Big difference.

6. Stay there, or close by. In Portland, we stayed at the university's hotel, literally. This made getting to and from campus easier, and saved a bundle on city parking fees. Some schools offer limited space in dorm rooms for a night or two, especially during breaks. Ask.

7. Eat on campus and rest in the SUB (student union building). Be where the students are, see if they seem happy or stressed, quiet or loud, sociable or solitary - that elusive "feel" of campus culture should be evident and match your student, so compare.

And good luck.

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at sholeh@cdapress.com.