<p>There are several schools I plan on applying to where I would have a chance at getting a full tuition scholarship. These schools are top on my list, but I don't know if I would be able to visit them or not before the application deadline, though I would definately visit before enrolling. When considering a student for a scholarship, do colleges consider whether or not you have visited as a sign of interest? If so, will not visiting a school seriously hurt scholarship chances?</p>
<p>That should not make a difference but do research the schools financial aid/scholarship web site for any merit scholarship requirements.
We missed a requirement at one school that you had to have an interview to be considered for the big merit scholarships. And the interviews ended early, I think in February. So by the time she was accepted and visited and decided she liked it, it was April and it was too late.</p>
<p>There are some merit awards where everyone who applies is considered. There are others that require separate apps, additional documents, visits, etc. You have to know. </p>
<p>In my opinion, (and just my opinion) if the FA and admissions are done in by the same office/person, it is smart to visit and at least say "hello" to the person. Can make a world of difference particularly in the smaller schools where demonstrated interest is important. My son took a lot of time to visit two schools that were quite a distance from home--met everyone and really got the royal treatment for admissions as they knew he was very serious about the school, met him, go to know him, liked him. He also got merit money from them. Other schools nearby did not get as close attention from him as we did not feel it was as necessary.</p>
<p>There is a flip side, sometimes. For instance, we strongly felt that my D's demonstrated interest in one particular school actually KEPT her from getting the big scholarship money. The students who demonstrated the most interest got less than those who seemed quite disinterested (and were vocal about being interested in other schools). </p>
<p>It's kind of a game, and figuring out the rules is almost impossible. That's why the conventional wisdom is to find schools where your stats make you competitive for merit & apply to several. That increases your odds of scoring some free money.</p>
<p>I think it definitely would be to your advantage. </p>
<p>"That's why the conventional wisdom is to find schools where your stats make you competitive for merit & apply to several. That increases your odds of scoring some free money."</p>
<p>That's exactly what I ended up doing. I only made a real effort to visit one of them. Not suprisingly, the best offer I received came from that school.</p>