<p>I am visting Berkeley & Stanford in a couple weeks and would like to know what you all suggest doing during my visit. I know Stanford has an all-day one (like 9-430) for prospective students, so unless someone suggests otherwise I will prob. do that.</p>
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<p>Also, in October I am going back east to look at some schools. These are the ones I am interested in (although I may not necessarily visit all of them):</p>
<p>I think I will four or five days to visit as many as possible. UPenn Wharton is my prospective ED school so that is a priority. Is there any schools that are similar enough (ie Amherst/Williams) that I need not visit both to feel comfortable about applying to both? Of course, in the event that I were to be deciding b/w Amherst & Williams in April, I would visit them both at that time. But is it necessary to visit both in October? </p>
<p>Is it worth an extra 5 hrs to go to Carnegie Mellon? An extra 5 hrs to Bowdoin? </p>
<p>REMINDER: If I am accepted & seriously considering any of these schools, I will visit them in April.</p>
<p>I found Amherst and Williams to be very different when I visited, but that may just have been my impression. I didn't like Williams at all--just had negative vibes, and the tour guide was a lot of it. Amherst I liked a lot, then fell in love with for real when I visited in April. When I did my big trip to visit colleges, I spent the weekend in Brunswick before visiting Bowdoin, and I'd recommend that to anyone who has the time to plan it that way. It was a perfect place to take a short break and relax from all the colleges, then visit more fully refreshed. I enjoyed my visit to Bowdoin, played on the beach for a while, and ate some of their amazingly good food--I'd say it's worth the extra drive.</p>
<p>Stambliark, Its a lot in five days but if youre organized you can cover a lot of ground. How will you be traveling? Will you drive, train, fly or a combination? </p>
<p>As far as priority, after you cover the Philadelphia area Id fly or take the train to Boston then drive to Amherst, Williams and Bowdoin. Try to overnight on each campus as youll really get a feel for the environment. The LACs are especially sensitive to demonstrated interested, meaning they want you to visit and factor this into admission. </p>
<p>My sons reaction was exactly the opposite to CynthiaRs. Before visiting, Amherst was his top choice and Williams was hardly on the list. After visiting, they reversed. The response to LACs is often visceral and theres no substitute for experiencing firsthand. </p>
<p>Id give Cornell and CMU last priority not because they arent great schools (they are) but I think theyre easier to visualize and visiting isnt influential in admissions.</p>
<p>Hmmmm. This will be interesting. We visited Amherst in March (D didn't like) and we're going to Williams in August. Have to see if she likes it.</p>
<p>I'd talk to the professors from the department ur interested in. Also visit student center if classes are in session. It's very easy to tell the social life in the college just by looking at the students hanging out there.</p>
<p>I'll be visiting Bowdoin when I go up to the open house at Bates in September. (I might toss Colby in, but I doubt it.) I'm not sure where you're getting the five hours from, though. I live in Hartford, not even an hour south of Amherst, and Brunswick's only about 4 hours from here. Where would you be driving from?</p>
<p>I am a student at stanford and I think the tours they give are great. Everything they say is pretty accurate, just be sure to ask questions about anything that might interest you because the tour guides know a lot about the school.</p>
<p>I know I have mentioned this before but you really should add Dartmouth. Its barely out of your way (very close to Williams) and is pretty much Duke or Stanford with a northeast atmosphere and a LACy tint. </p>
<p>As for Bowdoin, I dont think you should make the trip. If its one of the schools you get into and are seriously considering, then visit.</p>