Odd that you didn’t go I to any tufts buildings on your tour. I’ve done the tour 3 times (both sons applied, one is attending). We went into several buildings…the main library, an eating hall, the student union, and all 3 info sessions were held in the music/theater building in a concert hall.
Son now a junior…never heard of bed bugs on campus. Odd.
Visited Tufts 3 times also (once was an admitted student day) - we went inside the library, the dining hall, and other places. The info sessions were held in two different places (one time right on the quad - the other time in a building on the other side of campus -over the bridge) - both rooms were fine. Only got to go inside a dorm because we knew a student who showed us her room. On admitted students day - went to classes which were in different academic buildings and were also fine.
Just returned from a visit to Princeton - a completely outside tour; didn’t walk inside a single building and actually didn’t cover much of the campus during the tour. And since we also did the Information Session prior, a lot of the information provided by the student tour guide was redundant with the information provided during the Information session. Fortunately we are only an hour away and it was a beautiful day so I can’t say it was a total waste. But for someone traveling a long distance who was truly trying to get a feel for the campus and students, I’m not sure this visit would have accomplished that.
Daughter and I toured UVA in early October this year. Tour was a bust… Walked around the campus outdoors the whole time. Info Tour was more informative.
I had this same experience when our family visited WPI in MA. It was a weekend tour during the summer that was scheduled with the Admissions office. I too was very turned off by them not showing us the Library or dining halls. They did bring us into the dorms as college had not started yet. They were running a summer program and the facilities were being used. Lots of kids in the student center and coming to/from the dining hall. The buildings were not closed.
To me the library and dining hall is huge. I remember spending so much time in the library. I also would hang out in the dining hall to do light assignments like math problems or accounting problems where it is mostly busy work. It was nice to have access to snacks while I studied at a private booth. Nice big table space also. Hahaha. Dining hall was also great for group studying where you could talk and did not have to be so quiet.
To exclude those from the tour in my opinion was a mistake. WPI is an engineering school and not a business school so I have to give them a pass for the lack of proper marketing. If a Business school ever tried that trick, then you should run for the hills. I would really wonder about the program if the school cannot figure out how to conduct a proper campus tour to prospective clients.
I think if you at least attend one tour where you see a dorm you will get the gist of it. if a college has significantly different dorms they will make sure to point it out.
Which tour guide you get can have a significant effect. I was on 8 of the 10 tours my D did, and I remember the guides from Virginia, W&M, and Northeastern as being particularly passionate about their schools. I don’t remember the other 5 tour guides much at all.
We went into 3 or 4 sample dorm rooms, and the only thought I had from any of them was, “Hey, this freshman double at W&M actually has some floor space besides just in between the beds.” And for all I know it wasn’t a very typical room.
If a school didn’t have a good library, it was off my list. A school that invests all its dollars on their football program and still has furniture and carpeting in the library from the 1980s pretty much tells where their priorities are.
While I am in @LBowie 's camp on those priorities, a great football stadium and an old library probably reflects the priorities of donors, not the school. Major gifts are often restricted so can be used for what the donors specify. Many schools have separate funds for athletics for a whole host of reasons.
With that said, DS chose a school with a fabulous library and more humble dorms and athletic facilities.
I remember before we started college tours a counselor saying when you visit a campus make sure you like the places that you think you will spend the most time - which is different for different people. If you go to the gym everyday then the fitness center, if your meals are important to you then the dining hall, if you don’t see yourself studying in your room then the library, etc. I think it was great advice - my daughter wanted nice dorms and dining hall - those were her priority places!
@gardenstategal The school I am talking about is a state university. Does that make a difference?
Actually, no. Many of them have separate fund-raising vehicles for the university and athletics. They are often chasing the same donors. And some donors are more interested in the football program than the science labs.
In some ways, it’s not so different from getting money for the medical or law schools, but it generally means the money may not be funding what is needed most. One of the reasons, if you trust an institution you donate to, your gift should be unrestricted. Then again, try telling a 9 figure donor that…
When I was in school, I worked in the library, but I rarely studied there. D#1 doesn’t study in her library but actually borrows books to read. D#2 had to study in the library for the first semester as part of the required study tables by her coach, but has rarely used it since unless it is a group project… I remember on the tour the guide showed us the first floor of the library and said 'Upstairs there are tables and study areas, mostly for athletes." Well…that’s us.
There were plenty of other places to study or work - computer labs, regular labs, the common room at the dorm.
Sometimes seeing one dorm on an admissions tour can be deceiving. Most colleges will show you their newest and fanciest dorm, which may be different from where most people live. I know of one university that didn’t show any of their main residence halls on tours because they had converted all of the double rooms to triples, and didn’t want people to see the overcrowded conditions.
With the exception of a few inner-city college libraries, you can tour college libraries on your own time.
Most colleges will provide a much more intensive tour of the inside of buildings during an accepted student day than during their standard admissions tour.
@Hanna OMG! Just took that tour last week and it was the only time in my life (and I have been on dozens upon dozens of tours) where we did not enter ONE building (other than the admissions building where we actually met). I had driven almost three hours to walk the yard?!?!? Needless to say, my kids were extremely disappointed.
^^^^^ I just do not understand why colleges would give you only a grounds tour. Makes no sense to me. I would have been mad if I had driven three hours.
^^ Though I tend to agree, I think it’s just tough on students to have strangers “invading” their space constantly. Tours are often daily or a few times per week. That’s why, on occasion, they have open house weekends or special events which may open up more of the college.
I tend to agree. It’s a bit tough if you have 20 families in tow to be traipsing through buildings. Part of me wonders what people expect to see? (This is a lecture hall. This is the cafeteria’s serving line. These are the stacks.) Having said that, many colleges allow an applicant to sit in on a class, eat in a dining hall (for a price of course), perhaps visit the library. All good things to check out before driving 3 hours.
Most schools have 2 or more tours a day, 5 days a week. How would you like to be a student on the first floor of the “designated dorm tour”?
@exitstageleft, I hope it wasn’t pouring rain.