<p>It seems to me that colleges could get some real benefit out of surveying visitors and applicants AFTER the acceptance "season" is over. I think parents and students are reluctant to let admissions know about bad experiences when the student might be looking for acceptance. But could have comments that would be dead useful once that timeframe has passed. Examples:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>At one school my D was sent to the wrong classroom for attending a class by admissions (I was with her, and double checked the list from admissions/building name/classroom number). It was shortly before exams, and the rooms for classes had apparently been switched up. Then... the prof in the (wrong) class was a b**** to my D when they figured out she was in the wrong room. I was still outside the door, listening, and was appalled at how nasty the prof was. My D was really turned off by the experience, and it is one reason she didn't apply.</p></li>
<li><p>Another college has a very unpleasant older woman as their regular secretary in admissions. I bet she has driven off thousands of students & parents in her time! They really need to do something... but I bet no one wants to tell them.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Has anyone ever been asked "after the fact" about their experience? Do you have stories you wish you could tell the college, but are withholding due to concerns about your kid getting in (or just not telling because no one bothered to ask)?</p>
<p>Yes we were sent surveys after most of the schools we visited. My daughter was also sent surveys by the schools that she did not choose to attend asking her why she chose a different school.</p>
<p>Hmm, we did not receive any surveys with D1 (but that was 5 years ago). D2 has been visiting now since end of sophomore year, and we have also not received any that I can recall. Of course, they may be going to her email inbox (aka, the black hole).</p>
<p>Yes, schools send surveys, but they are very generic. It seems to me that they do not want to invest the time to read the qualitative responses, for instance, about the wrong class and the secretary. They are more interested in questions such as:
How many colleges you applied, what was the effect of FinAid, Reputation,Academics, etc. on your decisions. Easy yes/no or rating questions that can be tabulated by a computer.</p>
<p>D and I received separate surveys from her second choice LAC school after she declined them. Up until her overnight visit, it was top of her list. The survey was short answer so I felt someone would be taking the time to read it. I was very clear that her hostess was not prepared for a guest and she was offered alcohol (kept in the room of underage student where D was staying). Way too much drinking for her. While she liked everything else about the school, she could not see herself fitting in with those students (most from her sport). </p>
<p>I felt answering this would give them a heads up for future student visits.</p>
<p>My daughter received surveys from all schools she got into and decided not to attend - she also got an email from an alum interviewer asking why she choose not to attend that school. Many of the surveys focused on financial issues (they must figure you did not attend because of money). She also got surveys asking her about the admitted student’s days she went to. All of these came in emails with links to on-line surveys.</p>