<p>What is means if college pays to for a full paid trip fly to visit college this fall? Daughter received two offers. They ask her to come and visit colleges. I told her that it may be a good sign and she should take advantages of it. Both colleges are top 10 schools on US News. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>why wouldnt she take it?</p>
<p>Her time is worth something.</p>
<p>If she is potentially interested in a school, and they are paying for her to see it, then why not.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if she has done her legwork already, and these schools are not in the "shortlist" of schools she, following her investigation, is considering applying to, then why waste time.</p>
<p>Most likely it is because she fits a certain group of students that the colleges are trying to recruit. A lot of schools do things like that for URM's, athletes, and other high interest prospects.</p>
<p>NO URM. She is an asian kid</p>
<p>Both schools are on the list where she would be applying.</p>
<p>I am wondering if they are also paying for lot more students to visit also. I should have been clear about it. I mean do colleges do this routinely to students in whom they are interested? Is this a sign they would be offering her admission if she applied as she is not a URM kid?</p>
<p>For that particular college, she may be considered a URM. Some slightly out-of- the-way colleges are trying hard to increase their diversity and welcome Asians.<br>
Colleges do pay for some other prospective applicants, the ones who fit their desirable profile and who they hope will apply but may not have the funds to visit. If I recall correctly, your income is fairly limited, correct?</p>
<p>yes income is not high</p>
<p>In that case, I assume that she is a desirable applicant! Some colleges are truly reaching out to high achieving low income applicants. Kudoes to your D. If the colleges are on her list, she should take up the offers.</p>
<p>This answers the question posted in some earlier thread, in that there does seem to be some affirmative action working to the benefit of low-income people, even if they are of Asian ethnicity. Yes, in that circumstance I would suggest making the trip.</p>
<p>Newparent, almost every highly competitive school in the country is trying to identify high scoring well qualified applicants who could help the school improving their ethnic and economic diversity. Among the LACs, schools such as Amherst, Williams, Grinnell, and Swarthmore have been particularly dynamic (read aggressive) in casting a MUCH wider net by working closely with dedicated programs (Questbridge, Posse, ABC, and several others.) However, they are not alone, as other schools with single digit RD admissions are increasing their efforts to bring talented applicants to their campus for fall visitation programs.</p>
<p>Getting an application--most of the invitations are really applications--is a good sign, but you have to realize that the schools are sending out applications in much greater numbers than before. Getting accepted to attend the fall visitation program is much better, as schools have reported numbers as high as 75% of the visitors applying to the school with ... great success. </p>
<p>FWIW, some schools are very open about their diversity fall programs, while others downplay them to an almost secretive level because of fears of legal challenges.</p>
<p>Given the competitive nature of the admissions market at Top 25 schools, this sounds like a great opportunity for your child. If it were me, I'd be making travel arrangements!!</p>
<p>Is D considering applying to the 2 colleges in question? If yes, then she should go. </p>
<p>For example I noticed that one of the schools was WashU. WashU is a school which places a lot of emphasis on you showing them interest. To be invited free of charge, not attend then apply could get her waitlisted (which they are famous for). The one thing if she does attend, the school will definitely document her attendance and it will be indicated in her files should she apply.</p>
<p>Xiggi also raises a valid point about free visitation programs that you must apply to and get accepted to in order to participate (ex. Amherst, Williams, Dartmouth which looks at URMs, low income and geographic in their efforts to increase diversity) . </p>
<p>Even then there are students that get accepted to visitation programs that do not get admitted at admissions time.</p>
<p>If your question is really "Does this mean she has a better-than-average chance of being accepted?", then, yes.</p>
<p>My son went on two paid trips last fall and did get accepted into one of the colleges that paid for his trip. It is a good opportunity to get the "feel" of the school without parents. </p>
<p>But be aware that your kids are unsupervised on a college campus. At one school all the kids ended up at a Frat party with most of them getting drunk.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Does this mean she has a better-than-average chance of being accepted?
[/quote ]
. </p>
<p>Yes I mean that</p>
<p>Son also had these offers last fall. As the app season wears on more will likely show up. Son went on some visits, not all. And yes the colleges paid transportation, provided for meals and tours. However, with son captain of a fall and then a winter sport it was difficult to fit the visits in.</p>
<p>So he was pickier about which ones to attend. Note that his visits also ruled out some schools while the ones that ended up at the top of his list he ended up visiting after his acceptances. The schools also covered his expenses at a later date as well.</p>
<p>Son also received fee waivers when he visited before apps needed to be in.</p>
<p>And I will echo the poster about the drinking on some campuses. It didn't really bother son only led him to the conclusion that some schools were ruled out. He did wish he would have visited a few more before apps as that after acceptance and he went to visit and he quickly ruled them out. If he knew then he would not have applied. But some schools conflicted with each others visits.</p>
<p>Our school district does not consider visits to colleges as excused absences so he had to be careful how many visits he went on.</p>
<p>Kat</p>