<p>OK, my DS has a number of acceptances and (fingers crossed) one or two more on the way. He has ideas on his favorite, but it is a reach for anyone. One of his already acceptances is one of his top choices. Another didn't show well during the first visit so requires another look.</p>
<p>In other words, he really hasn't made a decision! So from those that have been there, what should we look for, what should we do and who do we contact during these visits? I've never done this before, and it seems like the admit days are pretty scheduled. Is there flexibility to talk to department heads, students, and really get a good idea about the school? </p>
<p>Some visits are weekend--they will have "mock classes". Should we plan to arrive early and have him sit in on real classes?</p>
<p>What gives someone the best information to use for decision making? My son does not take notes and I do that during the visits. He's very quiet about what he likes and doesn't like, and has surprised me about some of the ones I thought he'd not like. I've already told him he should look at it like a blind test and try to ignore the school name and focus on fit although this will be hard to do as each will be cheerleading for their schools during this visit.</p>
<p>All your knowledge and wisdom will be appreciated.</p>
<p>I think he should just try to talk to as many students as possible. If they have an “activity fair,” he should make sure to talk to the students involved in the activities he’d probably be interested in. Personally, I think that’s more important than visiting classes, which could be very hit-or-miss.</p>
<p>Only partially kidding. The point is, push comes to shove, can your child really picture himself living there? I’ve toured a couple of the “dorms like dungeons” schools (not on the official list, but still horrid.) Some kids wouldn’t care at all but some really wouldn’t like poor living conditions. </p>
<p>Same with food. Is the dorm food so genuinely bad that he can’t imagine eating it every day?</p>
<p>I bring these real world factors up because I assume that all the schools have roughly equivlent academics.</p>
<p>Also for small schools, try to meet the faculty in the student’s major. A neighbor’s D was a horn major at a small, well regarded LAC. She loved the school but didn’t like the school’s one and only horn faculty member, so she left after one year.</p>
<p>I would try very hard to visit the school on a “regular” day and whether sitting in on a class or not, get to talk with students there. We’ve done this by going to the cafeteria at lunchtime or dinner & asking friendly looking kids if we can sit with them & ask a few questions — depends on your own son. Some h.s. kids find this uncomfortable & some are more outgoing. </p>
<p>You can also ask to visit the depts your son is interested in, and maybe talk to a prof or two—or even grad students, if anyone is willing. Depends on the school–it is easier some places to do this than at others. </p>
<p>My daughter was telling me just last night what she picked up doing the “class visit” at two of her schools. At one, the class was larger, she sat up high in the back, and watched the students. She noticed—big surprise—the kids who seemed to have done the reading were down in front and raising their hands. And some of them really seemed to have read it for the sake of enjoying the material (Dante & classical philosophers the topic of the class that day) while some seemed to be intent to show off they had read it.</p>
<p>She noticed many of the kids below her were texting, shrinking from being called on, and otherwise not engaged. Thought they were a lot like h.s.</p>
<p>At the second school, the topic of the class the day she sat in on them was Plato’s acct of Socrates’ death, their previous reading assignment (She has read this in h.s.). It was a much smaller size class. Again, she noticed some appeared not to have read it, and some others were very engaged. It happened to be the day before spring break and some of the girls were eager to be back in their rooms packing (they told her). The instructor there was including her in the discussion, and introduced her to the class when they began. Some of the kids, when the class was over, came up to her and were asking in a friendly way what other schools she had applied to, where did she live, etc. </p>
<p>She liked School B a lot more, based on this alone. Although it is not truly representative of everything that goes on at either place, it is a snapshot.</p>
<p>Overnights if he can. Obviously he/you should have a good idea at this point about the academics (and I’ll agree that sitting in on a “real class” in his major is better than in a mock class) but a lot of what makes it or breaks it for a kid is life outside the classroom. They’re only in class for 20 hours or so a week which means they spend 148 hours outside the classroom. What happens then is sometimes more important.</p>
<p>I think what you’ll hear on CC is that there are pros and cons to the admitted students days. The colleges will put their very best faces on–sometimes they’re a little sugar-coated as to what life will really be like.</p>
<p>We didn’t do any with DS#1. He did narrow his choices down to his top two and did an overnight at each. Really got a feel for what the kids at the schools were like (plus dorms, cafeteria food, . . .). (They were similar in size; geographically close. He had attended classes at both during the fall.) </p>
<p>I wouldn’t say avoid the Admitted Student events, particularly if they fit your schedule. However, most colleges will arrange overnight visits for admitted students that can be a truer picture of life at the school.</p>
<p>I honestly don’t think it matters what they look for. They will “know” when they’re on the right campus. I know that sounds corny or silly, but when they’re at the right place, they’ll know. Things will feel right and they probably will smile a whole lot.<br>
It’s more of a feeling, and i know, at least for me, I had it after 5 minutes</p>
<p>My daughter will be going to her first “admitted students day” the end of this month, and for the first time, she’ll be doing the college visit alone (which requires a plane, a train, and a bus!) The official description doesn’t mention overnights, but she wrote and explained that she’d be there alone and that due to flight schedules, she’d have to stay two nights. They wrote back and said they could host her for the two nights. Hopefully this will make the visit even more helpful. </p>
<p>I think attending a class is one of the best ideas, as shown in JRZmom’s post. My daughter has also had good luck approaching professors in her chosen major areas if they don’t look too busy. So far, they have always been willing to talk, sometimes at length!</p>
<p>I haven’t thought quite as much about the “real world” issues, aside from reminding daughter that she can’t do well at a school where she can’t eat well – she is vegetarian, lactose intolerant and celiac! I will remind her to check out dorms/laundry, etc. on her visit.</p>
<p>To the OP, I feel your pain. Your story sounds exactly like mine! What I hope to get out of this as well as DD hopes to get, is quite simple “What to expect”. We are going to focus on what the typical day looks like, and sure, living conditions.</p>
<p>rocket6louise, I don’t know if that’s true for everyone, but my daughter did have that feeling on a campus we visited in the fall. We were in the middle of a 5 colleges in 5 days trip and she said “This one feels like home, like I belong here.” And then [cue Twilight Zone music…] she had a wonderful interview and at the end of it the admissions guy said “You know, when you find the right college, you’ll know it – you’ll feel that it’s the right one” (or something very similar). </p>
<p>But zen feelings aside, if that college doesn’t admit her (yikes, that would sting!) or doesn’t come through with enough financial aid, she’ll have to use more practical methods to choose!</p>
<p>DD did not ever get the “I belong here” feeling. She was more in the I could live with this category. She talked with faculty members and found that very helpful. One faculty member gave her some helpful information about all the schools she was considering.</p>
<p>I always joke that I picked my college because its colors were red and gold instead of black and gold, and that is about how much thought I put into the process. I do think that some kids are looking at very different things (good football team, pretty buildings) and it is hard to know what helps them decide. Have fun!</p>
<p>The “admitted students weekend” that we are going to this weekend is just one day affair, and is scheduled pretty tight. Should we try to break from the schedule and visit the department or based on what rocket6louise said, wait for that “gut feeling”? My DS is pretty shy and will not approach any college kids on his own. Besides he is not even sure if he wants to come to this particular school (he is still waiting for other schools decisions).</p>
<p>We found that admitted student days included many opportunities to visit with professors in their schedules. My children were very interested in whether schools would give them opportunities to learn and put what they have learned into practice outside of the classroom, and so inquired quite a bit about on-campus employment and research opportunities, as well as EC’s and connections to internships.</p>
<p>One advantage of admitted student days is the opportunity to meet other prospective students and get a feel for whether they would fit in socially. Even schools with similar “rankings” can give out remarkably different social vibes.</p>
<p>PAmom - we went to admitted students events before all the acceptances came in, in order to get a baseline and so as not to have too many visits crammed into one or two weeks. You might find that your son becomes more comfortable with this type of trip as he gains more experience, too. If he feels comfortable, you can split up (divide and conquer?) and meet later to compare notes. </p>
<p>One warning - at some schools, prospective students find themselves in situations where they are offered alcohol. Advise your child to steer clear of these, because the stakes can be very high if they are caught, including rescinded admission and informing the high school at the least.</p>
<p>I think for the final decision it comes down to “feel”. D1 narrowed it down to 3, we went back to all 3 and one “felt” right. She is now a junior and very, very happy. A couple places we visited at each school included the dorms, the recreation center (gym) and the dining halls. Just to kind of get a feel of the kind of kids that go there.</p>
<p>Frazzled–thanks for the alcohol reminder! My DS is pretty responsible but reminders never hurt!</p>
<p>I’ve asked him what he thinks is important to him and so he’s got some good things to think about on the visits. He’s looking forward to the visits and I think he’ll enjoy the attention–it’s good to feel wanted! </p>
<p>I’ll try and get him to read this thread before we go. He refuses to spend any time on CC, and frankly I think that makes it much easier for him so he’s not too stressed. So I’m stessing for him! ;)</p>
<p>I’m going to give contrary advice to what some have said, and urge your child to focus on the classes and opportunities in his major. Living conditions vary from dorm to dorm, and there is no reason to believe he’ll get the best or worst dorm; you’d be surprised at the things that kids, especially boys, decide they can live with. At any rate, roommates and floormates can make a great situation intolerable, or a bad one tolerable, and everything changes sophomore year! </p>
<p>He is going to college for a degree, and that’s what he’ll take with him through life; be sure that his major areas (and other areas of interest) are strong enough to carry him through four years. A lot of kids do change majors, but not many make a complete change; keep an eye out for the strengths of other departments. Also, look at the dominant culture and how well it supports academic life.</p>
<p>There is another thread reminding families to look at neighborhoods around the college. That is especially important if the majority of the students live off campus.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>What’s the end goal?
Post Graduation
Job
Professional School</p></li>
<li><p>Depending upon what is the end goal, you need to tune the focus on specific areas.
PG: Focus on course curriculumn, how rigorous, will prepared well for GRE subject tests.
Whether deparatment has enough breadth to provide a range of elective to choose from etc.
Find data about the % of students go for specific major PG to schools he might want to do MS/Phd from. The strength of GPA etc.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Job: Look for career and placement office, find information about the companies visiting, is summer internship available with these companies, salary etc.</p>
<p>Professional Schools: Check the Pre-med advising, find out all the research oppertunities, summer research availability, course strength, MCAT prep, data about matriculation to med schools etc.</p>
<p>Don’t focus on wrong things:
Classroom experience: Not of much use as it differ from Prof. to Prof.
What might be more useful is whether the department has a well structured core courses and a breadth of electives.
Learning comes from what subject are being taught and whether the professors and TAs are generally capable and not from one particular teaching style.
You’ll be surprised to know how things change from campus to campus with respect to the same major. So ask the question about what are core courses for the major intended.</p>
<ol>
<li>Alcohol presence: All campuses have easy access to alcohol. So the focus should be what is the general scene at campus.
If the party starts on Monday/Tuesday then avoid the campus if the party start Wednessday/Thursday then you can at least consider other strengths but if the party happen on Friday/Saturday then that’s the campus to be on.</li>
</ol>
<p>Let me just add that my son went to the admitted students day even though he already knew he’d be attending that school, and found it both fun and useful. He made contacts with a number of student organizations that he later joined, and got some cool opportunities (like going up in the bell tower and playing the carillon).</p>
</p>