<p>How helpful is it to visit Brown’s campus before applying? I have heard conflicting experiences: some people say that it really was a “make or break” moment of their college search process, and others say that it gives you too many biases and too much information to figure out which school was right for them. It would be a little difficult for me to make a visit right now, so I’m wondering how essential it is.</p>
<p>What did you think of your Brown visit? Do they care if you’ve visited or not when you apply? When’s the best time to visit, in your opinion? TIA!</p>
<p>I won’t try to answer the broader question, but I’ll say the following from my own personal experience: As an interviewer in a city that is very close to Providence, I’m pretty suspicious when an applicant hasn’t taken the short time (and less than $15 in train fare) to go down and see the school that they’re <em>so</em> excited about.</p>
<p>If you live across the country or miles away, if money is a problem, if there are personal family issues that make visits difficult, then you have to make college decisions based on factors other than personal visits.</p>
<p>But considering that this is a place where you will be living for four years, I personally cannot understand how someone can make a rational and well-informed decision without visiting. </p>
<p>Do they care if you’ve visited? Brown does not track visits so it technically does not affect admission decisions. But I totally agree with mgcsinc, as an interviewer, I am not at all impressed when someone who lives within a few hours drive does not visit the campus. I always mention that in my interview write-ups. It suggests a lack of interest. And come to think of it, I don’t think any of those students were accepted.</p>
<p>Best time to visit: When school is in session, but not during reading week/finals. The campus is prettiest in the spring and early fall.</p>
<p>If you live close enough to Brown, where travel money wouldn’t be such a big issue, i’d say go for it!! I mean really, why not? If Brown is a school you see yourself attending in the future, it’d be really beneficial to obtain an actual tangible feel of the place. Especially when it comes down to writing about why you want to go there.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I live on the west coast and couldn’t spare the money for a visit. ):
I had a friend who had the chance to visit Brown while she was visiting relatives and she LOVED it.</p>
<p>If possible, I’d suggest taking full advantage of a visit!</p>
<p>Other than mgcsinc’s scenario, you don’t need to feel any pressure whatsoever to visit as it pertains to how Brown will evaluate you – they don’t ask anyways. Visit if you feel the need to determine where it lies on your priorities list. </p>
<p>Don’t visit if you feel that it’s a factor in your admission/rejection – it won’t be.</p>
<p>If at all possible, a visit to the schools you are considering is, in my opinion, really important. My daughter is a senior at Brown and when we were visiting schools four years ago, she had a truly visceral reaction to many places we went. Brown felt like home right from the start. You can get a great education in many, many places, but there is so much more to school that the classes. You will be spending a huge percentage of more time in the environment and not in classes, that you really need to be able to imagine yourself living there, if you can swing this financially. It is a very subjective, emotional, non-verbal thing for a great many people. I would highly recommend going for a visit, and, I agree, not during finals/reading period. I would definitely go in the winter, though, especially if you come from a warmer climate or a different urban/suburban location. Providence is a beautiful city, and Brown’s is a beautiful campus, but winter can be dark and difficult if you’re not used to it. Any place can look lovely in the spring, summer, and fall. You will be spending most of your academic year in the winter months.</p>
<p>I was lucky enough to visit Brown right before fall term started. (I wish I could have visited while class was in session, but I live at the very bottom of the states, so the trip took more days than I could miss class for.) </p>
<p>My visit was absolutely the decisive factor for me. I knew I was applying to Brown, but until I visited the campus I thought that applying to a binding early decisions program was the worst decision in the world. After my campus visit, I couldn’t imagine NOT applying early decision. My visit really helped to solidify the idea that there isn’t anywhere I’d rather be. If you are feeling unsure about your college options, visits are a great way to get stuff straightened out. </p>
<p>Brown doesn’t track visits, but in my opinion, a visit really could give you a leg up in the competition. For example, my “Why Brown?” short answer was a lot more personal and heartfelt thanks to my visit. During my interview, my interviewer asked if I had visited, and she seemed VERY impressed when I said I had. (As I said earlier, we live farrrrrrrr away, haha.) Even if you can’t make a visit, see if there are any Brown info sessions going on around you (I doubt they have any going right now due to ED apps being processed) because my interviewer also seemed really impressed that I’d traveled a couple hours to attend an info session. Besides, this gives you a chance to rub elbows with an actual admissions officer, which can’t hurt. (I live in an area where there isn’t a lot of interest. Only six people showed up to the session and I was the only one whose top choice was Brown, so I really got a chance to have some good one on one time with an Adofficer. Plus you can meet, befriend, and compare yourself to applicants from your area!) </p>
<p>Basically, if you have a chance to visit, DON’T miss out. However, if you don’t have the money to do so, don’t worry about it. If you live far away like I do, it’ll be impressive if you do but not hurtful admissions-wise if you don’t. If you live within five or six hours, I’d say you need to make the trip. If you’re admitted and still unsure if you want to attend, definitely make the visit then.</p>
<p>My daughter visited and I am glad she did. Furthermore, she has been visiting campuses all her life (last of 3 widely spaced children) and we have found it extremely helpful in getting the feel of a school and all those things the guidance counselor is telling you. </p>
<p>We have also been able to rule out applying to some schools that at their websites and in magazines, looked like terrfiic places for her but did not “feel” so good once we got on campus. </p>
<p>Visit, visit, visit. Especially visit if you are accepted and have not been to a school yet.</p>