Admitted student visit vs. "regular" visit?

Hi - we are trying to squeeze in visits to a few ‘admitted but not yet visited’ schools for D (a senior). With all the school shut-downs happening thinking it should be sooner rather than later (like, this weekend?).

Just wondered if the admitted student visits were all that much more (and worth waiting for) vs. a regular visit? These will be D’s one shot to check out (and maybe like!) these schools and I want her to see them in the best light. We visiting U of Vermont and U Mass.

U of Vermont has admitted student days but they not until April (filled before that). We could drive up for a regular visit but don’t want to shortchange the experience. Then again - there may be no experience if schools switch to online any time soon.

Appreciate any thoughts!!!

There is only one school that we did both at so I can compared and I liked the admitted student visit better. BUT, if it’s important to that your child see the school(s) then I would go ahead and do a regular visit now if you can. Because yes, I think it’s likely the admitted students days might be cancelled. If your child has been accepted at the school you’re visiting, your child COULD call/email her admissions person and let them know your coming now instead of waiting for admitted student days and ask if there is anything you should visit or plan on doing that isn’t part of the regular tour that might be important for an admitted student to see.

Thank you PrdMomto1! I think we may call the school. There is a (full) admitted student day on March 30. Maybe I will ask if they might have flexibility on expanding the number of people they’ll let in, given that other dates might be cancelled.

Great ice—I would definitely go this weekend if you can. Things are changing so rapidly. Amherst has a cute little town and places to eat out. Definitely eat in the dining halls if you can. The food is amazing. Campus is a funky mix of concrete and charming, but DS loves it. I think they will be on break, but still worth it. In Burlington, again—great town, tons to do. Call both admissions offices for advice for sure.

Thanks CTCape! Will call tomorrow!

Well…everything’s cancelled! So we may go up and visit the empty campuses in a few weeks!

we are in the same boat we have 2 more to see but I think admitted student days will be cancelled, and both schools are across the county I doubt even students will be there as of today, one of the schools is on spring break now ( Xavier) not sure about UMINN. I think we will wait until the last minute and hope students are back by the end of April and hope to see them. If worse comes to worse pluck down 2 deposits.

Hadn’t thought of that, NJDad07090!

Is that something you can do? I thought you had to sign some sort of thing saying you planned to go there May 1…?

We driving this weekend. Thinking even interstate drive travel may be locked down soon.

One of the things we did when we visited (regular visit) was meet with the appropriate person in S’ area of study (Prof, Dean, etc.) With basically all onsite visits coming to an end for this semester (who knows when they’ll start up again), perhaps you can schedule a skype or phone meeting.

I’ve actually been doing this for yrs in business to “meet” with clients who are either out of the area or just can’t get together. Works well. You can essentially have the same conversation. I would just outline the structure to make sure you cover all the points. You could even email the Prof an agenda ahead of time to let him/her know what you want to cover and ask them to add anything they feel would be useful.

This might be the new normal for quite some time.

@“Jolynne Smyth” - You can deposit at 2 schools come May 1, you will lose your deposit at what ever school your child decides not to go to. Also to consider- you are telling that school yes my kid is coming in Sept and they are holding a spot for you which could go to someone else child sitting on a waitlist. I am on both sides of this as my son is waitlisted at Pitt. So there is a downside but it can be done. If folks go this route please let the school you deposited at that your not gonna attend know asap so they can work the waitlist. In reality dropping multi deposits is kinda of the parents way of wait listing a school.

Rickel1 - we may end up doing those phone type follow ups (if staff there!). But for schools where daughter hasn’t even set foot in the state are harder to get a sense of. So we’ll try to drive to campus just to get a feel.

NJDad- is feel a good bit guilty about multiple deposits since we’d be taking another kid’s slot. But with everything going on I just don’t know. Maybe they will extend the May 1 deadline?

@“Jolynne Smyth” Agree it is not ideal but it gets done every year, as I said I am on both sides of this as son is waitlisted at his number one choice. I do not see how schools will move the May 1 deadline, to many schools to do that it really is a big game of musically chairs with most kids near me applying to 10-20 schools and lets say accepted in 75% of them, that is a lot seats being held that need to be weeded out so schools know how many kids are gonna show up on campus in Sept.