I think it depends on the kid--whether they're ready for 3 wk overnight camp in another state. I have found that the most important thing is having your child pick the course that is right for her. She has to be excited about it. We just went through that process and it took about 2 weeks. I had each kid look at the possibilities, read the descriptions, narrow down their list, then do it again, and again. Even after they chose, I kept re-evaluating some, so that in the end they can say they chose it knowingly and with due deliberation. I do this because 1) it's expensive, 2) we are far away no matter where they go, so I'm not going to let them out of it, 3) I want them to feel like it's completely their choice and then they'll invest themselves into it.
If your daughter prefers a course at a different campus, do you have friends or relatives nearby? That is a comfort for me with younger kids.
