<p>I'm a junior, and just about to head off on my first round of college visits (Kenyon and Oberlin). I'm planning to go to info sessions, if offered, as well as take tours at every school I visit.</p>
<p>But what about visiting actual classes? This seems a little...awkward to me. Certain schools mention it almost immediately on their "Visiting X College" webpage, but others mention it almost as an afterthought, adding that I'd have to email/consult with individual professors to arrange a visit.</p>
<p>I'm thinking about an English major, so I would like to visit some sort of writing class. However, these tend to be very small, so I'm thinking I'd feel uncomfortable just sitting there. And where would my parents go? They're not going to want to go off and attempt to amuse themselves for an hour and a half in the middle of an unfamiliar college campus.</p>
<p>I guess what I'm asking is whether such sit-ins are commonplace (especially at the types of LACs I'm going to be visiting) and whether they are as awkward or complicated to arrange as I'm imagining. Would I be expected to participate in the class discussion? I'm afraid I'd be too shy to say much...</p>
<p>I visited 3 LACs, and didn't do a class visit at any of them. I don't think any of them asked either. Even if they had asked me to, I probably would have said no, because I would feel too shy to say anything, like you. But I would think it would be kind of awkward, especially in a small class. I don't think it's really that important to do a class visit though.</p>
<p>I would 100% visit a class! I always visit a discussion based class, english or philosophy. I know all of the seniors who visit sit in on a class and if they will let you, it would be great for juniors too. It helps you get to know what type of learning environment is there, although it's certainly hard to generalize that to the entire school. </p>
<p>Are you spending overnights? Make SURE you eat there. Honestly, it sounds shallow, but if you're going to spend 4 years there, make sure there's edible food. It might not matter so much at NYU, but at these rural colleges it's absolutely essential.</p>
<p>I'm actually heading out to Kenyon next month too, I'm excited!</p>
<p>got to visit a class on the 2nd day of an overnight visit. I thought it was a great opportunity (both the overnight & class visit) and gave me a better feel for the school overall. None of the schools I visited offered a class visit during regular visit days, unless it was requested in advance.</p>
<p>Once you find a school that you like, I'd suggest going back for an overnight if you can. After a few college visits the general tours and info sessions can start feeling the same. If you get the chance to experience the school in a different way, go for it, it can make a big difference. I second the idea to try the food! Good luck!!</p>
<p>I might wait until the next round. Our first trip in the spring of junior year was just to get an idea. We went more to open houses and info sessions.</p>
<p>Then when the list was narrowed down in the fall, he went back to a few and sat in on one class. </p>
<p>Now he is planning to go back to the top choices in the spring and with an eye towards knowing he is possibly going there, would probably do classes.</p>
<p>The tours get very tedious, not to mention rushed when you are trying to make it from one school to the next. If you are uncomfortable, you might want to wait until you get your list more finalized.</p>
<p>I think I agree. Also, I have yet to find a school that offers overnights to juniors. I was thinking I would do those spring of senior year, once I start finding out where I get in.</p>
<p>I'm just not sure we'll be able to visit several schools up to three times each. So maybe I'll only do class visits at the colleges I'm most strongly interested in attending (at this point). My opinions may change, but if they don't and I don't get a chance to go back, I won't have missed the opportunity.</p>
<p>What are the class visits themselves like? Are you able to just sit back and enjoy listening to the discussion, or will you be called out? Are they awkward at all, if you're strongly interested in attending the school?</p>
<p>I visited 7 LACs (including Oberlin) and did class visits at all of them. None of the professors or students seemed to mind having a prospie sitting in. They'll usually ask where you're from and give you copies of the syllabus and handouts for the day's class, then leave you alone. You won't be called on, and they don't expect you to contribute; the idea is just to watch and see what the dynamic of the classroom is like, no pressure. Spending 50ish minutes observing students also helped me gauge fit and get a better feel for what type of person attended each school (at least within the departments I was looking at). It was much more personal, up-close experience than doing the generic tour-and-info-session package, and it only added an extra hour or so to our visits. My parents spent the time exploring the town, or went to the student center to try the coffee - after doing the tours they usually just wanted to sit down.</p>
<p>Obviously visits are a really limited sample of academic life. Still, I found mine really helpful. At some schools every single student was totally engaged, and the professors were outstanding. At one, students were zoned out (falling asleep, texting in class, etc.) despite the fact that it was a small seminar on an interesting topic with a teacher I thought was great. At a third, I went to a fairly standard sophomore-level course in my major and found that a) the course had nearly been canceled because there were only two students, and b) the professor was leaving the school at the end of the year - i.e., not a department I wanted to be part of. So the classes ended up providing a lot of helpful information that I didn't get from the tour and info session.</p>
<p>Prospective students are welcome to visit most classes at my college, and it doesn't matter whether you're a junior or a senior. (Most creative writing writing classes are <em>not</em> open to visitors, though. Check with the admissions office to see which classes are open, and whether you need to make arrangements in advance.) Prospective students should not participate in discussion--you're there to observe, not to talk. And don't bring your parents.</p>