<p>My son only did one overnight. The main reason was because the campus is isolated. He was familiar with the area before the overnight. The purpose was to learn as much as he could about life on campus. It was a successful visit. Apart from learning about this college, it also helped him clarify what he wanted. And, he's a student there now. </p>
<p>Based on his experience, I think overnight visits help if the student has a plan or itinerary for the visit. This could include dealing with travel, contacting professors, sitting in classes, talking with a range of students, learning about social life, including the alcohol or drug culture, etc.</p>
<p>Strongly agree w/Hanna about student eating in cafeteria w/o parents. On all of S2's visits he has had lunch w/current students. I have passed, although always welcome. I figure I am not going to college and the current students will be more open and honest w/o the "big ears" of parents around. </p>
<p>On the upcoming overnights, I am really just along for the drive, as it is a long drive to both small schools. S must audition w/o me, attends classes w/o me, meets current students, etc. I will talk to admissions staff, finaid, and walk around the campus observing. Then start the long drive home.....</p>
<p>My D did overnights at 3 schools. Her 2nd and 3rd choices got reversed because of the overnight and her 1st choice remained firmly at the top. So I was a big proponent of kids doing overnights.</p>
<p>Then S comes along. He did one overnight at College A and it really didn't go well for him. He and 3 other prospies were hosted by a senior living in the college apts. He had nothing in common with any of them and was really bored. He therefore did not want to do an overnight at College B, although it turns out that he really should have because it probably would have changed his decision. He enrolls in College B and after the first semester transfers to College A and is much happier.</p>
<p>I think the best overnights are those informal ones where a student visits a friend who is attending a college of interest. My son did this on three occasions, one at the state flagship and two others, one at Conn College and another at RPI which he ultimately attended. These visits took the personal issues and behavior issues out of the equation.</p>
<p>He enjoyed all his visits but felt that he fit in best with the students at RPI which was not surprising. The fact that his friend was also a compsci major most likely also had an impact too. He even got him into a football game with the pep band that Sat afternoon.</p>
<p>There was less concern on our part because we knew each of the students he visited with.</p>
<p>My d. visited my alma mater three times, the last time a Thursday overnight. It went from the top of her list to the bottom. And the one that was close to the bottom raced to the top. She was a very happy camper (visited another campus after it, but she had already bought the sweatshirt.)</p>
<p>Mathson spent Sunday night at Carnegie Mellon (that's the way their sleeping bag weekends operate) and Sat and Sun at Harvard (that was the accepted students schedule). In the case of CMU, I think it was actually pretty reflective of the university, the three drama students hung out with the visitors and played video games until the wee hours (there were several of them it was a big campus apartment) while the comp sci roommate holed up in his room doing problems sets. My son the comp sci major is spending a lot of time doing homework. His Harvard host - was less hosty - my son hung out with the sci fi club most of the weekend. He had a good time, but didn't choose to go to Harvard. I don't think the weekend was a dealbreaker, but neither did he have such a wonderful time at Harvard that he saw any reason to choose it over a more techie school.</p>
<p>My daughter had a friend at her number 1 choice school and went to stay with her for the weekend twice. After the second time she decided that the school was too small for her because she was already tired of the dining options and she felt like she knew half of the people she passed on campus LOL She also felt that the school was more isolated than she wanted.
She opted for a school 3 to 4 times larger without having an overnight and is a very happy junior now.
Our youngest did no overnights but is happy where she landed.</p>
<p>My daughter enjoyed all her overnights and found them valuable. </p>
<p>To address the original poster: If your son knows he is going to be visiting the campus and is planning on being there two days -- I don't know why he wouldn't stay overnight. If his other option is staying in a hotel room with his parents -- my daughter would have opted to hang out with kids her own age over that scenario. It doesn't cost anything for him to stay overnight, he gets to meet students at a school he might attend, possibly make new friends and contacts, etc., -- what's the downside?</p>