I just recently graduated high school, and will be attending university in the fall. The school that I chose, which I could not be more happy about, I was able to visit both for a normal tour and an admitted students day. While I totally understand what you are saying about the “show” some colleges put on to convince admitted students to come, I think there is a lot of value to these days. Not only do these days often allow you to connect with current students, which in my opinion is one of the most helpful things in the college decision process, but it is also a very different experience seeing a university as an admitted student rather than an applicant. The first tour I attended, while I tried to take in all the information, it was nearly impossible not to get wrapped up in the thoughts of “will I get in here”, “how do my stats match up”, etc. At the admitted students day, the school gets to try to convince you of its value, just as you (the student) did to them through your application.
I attended two admitted student days at two different UC schools that I already did love and I have to say I definitely fell in love with them even more afterwards. I knew going into it and while I was there that I was getting a biased view of the schools, but it was also a chance to talk to a lot more students than just going on a normal day. Since everyone was out and about with the mission of engaging you, it was a lot more open and friendly than kids just trying to get to class. A lot of clubs and organizations were out too, which was my favorite part, because seeing what kinds of activities there was an abundance of really made me see the spirit of the schools and how I could fit there or not.
I guess all in all it isn’t just a normal day at the school, but at the same time, if the way in which the school and its students going all out is not how you would see yourself doing the same… it’s probably not the right place for you.
Our experience was they serve quite different purposes. The regular tour / info session was more about seeing the school (literally), getting a sense of the vibe, etc. We visited many and after a few, our S would almost immediately size up his interest level (or lack thereof). It was a good tool to decide where to apply without getting too committed.
Upon acceptances, he narrowed it down to two schools and we attended both admitted student days. Both were highly selective small schools with good undergrad focus, known for academic quality, etc. Both had full days with lots to see (more in depth than the info sessions: opportunity to sit in on a class, eat lunch with students, student activity fair, sessions with career services and study abroad office, and of course the swag to take home) Based on all the interaction, he “liked” the first one, but it was clear it was a much more low key student body. Not big school spirit, athletics, etc. He told us he “could” be happy there- not exactly the endorsement a parent was looking for! The we went to the next one about a week later. WOW, what a difference to him. He immediately (seriously, before the event actually started - just over coffee and a donut) sized up the crowd and atmosphere and told us “this was it, it’s exactlyw hat I want!” We asked if he was sure and he confirmed so the day was great. He could actually spend it enjoying his surroundings and not comparing and worrying about it. He didn’t want to leave.
Happy to report he is just as excited halfway through his first semester.
For some families, it may be impossible for money reasons or lack of vacation days to be able to have a parent attend this event with your student. If a student is flying alone, an accepted student weekend will be more geared toward helping those kids who are solo travelers, perhaps for the first time.
There is value in previewing other students you will be working/studying/living/recreating with for the next four years.
I haven’t read past the first page of responses, so a perspective similar to mine may already be above -
In our experience, my daughter really enjoyed the accepted students day visits more than the visits to the schools as a potential applicant. For her, it was much better and more positive to be there purely as a shopper and not as someone uncertain regarding whether that particular campus was a real option - there was always the uncertainty of “IF I am accepted.”
Regardless of what the school may or may not have done differently, it was very different and much more positive to visit with the eyes of someone who was definitely wanted and was being wooed.
FWIW, the one campus we saw on both a big junior-visit day and on accepted students day was the school my D ended up attending and she loves it (Skidmore.) Also, in her opinion, the campus as a whole did not do anything drastically different for the accepted students days - food in the cafeteria is similar on a daily basis, most of the rest of the student body are unfazed by accepted student days. Those current students she did meet on her accepted student day were genuinely enthusiastic about their school to her, which she took as a big positive.
Great question. Post-acceptance, we’ve visited all five schools where my daughter was admitted, from the East Coast to West Coast and in between. Due to our own scheduling needs, some visits have been in the form of Admitted Students day, and others have been ordinary-day visits with prospective student tours.
The latter version had us crossing one off the list (U of Rochester). Without the rah-rah of an Admit Day, the campus felt very dull to us. The student interactions amongst each other was minimal. Everyone seemed so serious and in their own head. And it was a relatively warm and sunny day in this usually cold gray city so the flatness couldn’t be attributed to weather. One student even whispered in my daughter’s ear: Don’t go here. Was this a joke to him or real sentiment? Students seemed annoyed by the presence of a tour group and having to walk around us. The clincher was the poor Information Session in which the presenter said way too many times: “I don’t know but…” and “I’m not sure but I believe…” and “you can find that on the website.” Thus completely disrespecting our time and investment in visiting. To be fair, there was one professor who was very responsive to my daughter’s request to sit in on an Introductory Biology class and that was a real plus. U of R has a great reputation for solid academics but we were looking for the bigger picture too. We wanted to like U of Rochester for various reasons but just couldn’t, and visiting on a non-Admit Day provided us with a helpful glimpse of daily campus vibe and quotidian administration.
Admit Days can help us to learn; ordinary ones to intuit. In a perfect world, both kinds of visits should be done. And now my daughter has less than ten days to make her decision. It’s Go Time!
Both types of days are valuable, for different reasons. The best part of Admitted Students Days is connecting with some of your future classmates. It is great to be able to start making friends!
I appreciate multiple visits but for those kids who don’t have the resources. Don’t feel bad. People love to humble brag on cc. You’ll be fine if you’ve visited or just did your research online.
Normal day visits are what you should base alot of your decision off of. Admitted students day are good and they can be valuable as well, but ordinary days will give you more valuable information about life at the school.