<p>I’ve had similar experiences as the OP. Sometimes, visiting schools really helped me - I learned, for example, that I really do want walking access to a neighborhood and easy, preferably with the use of public transportation, access to a larger city. So I think that after you visit several schools, especially ones that are quite different, it becomes a lot easier to make a list of general preferences.</p>
<p>But I agree that individual school visits should be important but not absolutely essential. I have a problem right now with one school on my list. It was my absolute top choice before I visited, and I didn’t enjoy a single part of my visit. I still love this school on paper, and I still think I could enjoy my experience if I went there, but visiting really showed me that this school had as many things I didn’t want as things I did want, so I’m really not sure if I’m even going to apply to it.</p>
<p>Anyone have a comment on the College ******* book? I saw it and it seemed reasonably well put-together with fantastic STUDENT comments on everything. It also lays out categories nicely so you know the context of what is being described.</p>
<p>If it is the guide I think you are talking about, which I am pretty sure it is, it is okay but just keep in mind that the student feedback might not be as current as you would like. That guide also has a free web site that you could check out.</p>
<p>My dd rapidly cut her college list in half by visiting the schools. Although she had done a lot of research and expected these to be her top choices, the visits were real eye-openers. Among the issues she encountered:</p>
<ul>
<li>Run-down facilities in the department where she planned to major, showing that this department was not a priority for the school.</li>
<li>The imminent departure of key faculty members in her major.</li>
<li>Policies about student life that she did not like and that the school’s leadership could not defend to her satisfaction.</li>
<li>An elitist, “better-than-you” attitude, with staff who behaved as if her visit were an annoyance to them.</li>
<li>Students and faculty who seemed disengaged.</li>
</ul>
<p>However, I don’t think my ds will be able to visit all of his prospective schools before applying. He’ll visit the ones that are nearby, but he’s also considering several schools that are thousands of miles away. For those, he’ll probably use an alternate strategy - apply first, see where he’s accepted, and then visit only the schools on the remaining “short list.” However, he shouldn’t be surprised if he dislikes half of them once he gets a chance to visit.</p>
<p>Lots of really great ideas, I just have a few more questions:
What is the most realistic college guide, as far as giving an accurate depiction of the students, education, etc.?
If you want to sit in on a class to get a better feel for the college, do you just walk in and plop down in a seat, or do you have to schedule something with the admin office? Will all colleges let you do this?
Is it difficult to adapt from an ultra-laid back high school social scene to a vibrant college party scene? Has anyone had any experience with this?</p>
<p>Sirensong: Though I’ve only done a few visits so far, I’ve found the Princeton Review’s “What Students Say” to be quite accurate. They really condense and pick good quotes.
Also, with regards to sitting in on classes, I did that through the admissions department. Usually you tell them what day you’re coming and name a few departments you’re interested in and then they find you a class or present you with a list to choose from when you’ve already arrived on-campus.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The “best” guides are really a matter of taste. I like the Fiske Guide for an overall perspective and stats and the Insiders Guide to Colleges for some students perspective. However, the material in these guides can be dated. For more up to date information I will use web sites like CC, which has a good forum by school and I like to visit each schools web site. The guides, web sites and visits are the best combination if possible.</p></li>
<li><p>Class visits need to be arranged through the school. You can’t just drop in on a class, at least at any of the schools I have visited. Also, the colleges keep a record of your school visits and take that into consideration in the admissions process as “demonstrated interest” so you would want to do it through the school.</p></li>
<li><p>Can’t help with your third question</p></li>
</ol>
<p>As for speaking to current students in person, it’s important to be aware that their viewpoints will tend to reflect the views of people who are a good fit for that school. If someone isn’t a good fit for that school, they hopefully will have attended somewhere else. In statistical terms, this approach has selection bias in that respondents are selected for whether the school was a good fit for them.</p>
<p>You may be unlike the people for whom a given school is a good fit. In this case, even if they give the school rave reviews, it might not be a good fit for you.</p>
<p>This is equally true for websites where students comment on their universities.</p>
<p>Its sad that colleges are tempted towards applicants that visited their campus before (or at least, on paper)… how could they tell who lied and who actually visited??</p>