<p>When my son spoke to Austin College last year, they told him if he is serious about being admitted to their school, he should also tour in his senior year. He has already toured in his junior year, which they knew that when he talked to them. They told him he really should do the additional tour.</p>
<p>All I can guess is that they want him to visit during his senior year to really show his interest. Maybe they don't keep track of who already visited in their junior year.</p>
<p>Problem is, the weather is not nice here now, and I am sick (fever and such) so my husband would have to take him. My husband really does not want to have to take the day off work. </p>
<p>We really really want son to get in to Austin College. Does it really matter if he visits now even if he already visited? Thanks!</p>
<p>How far is the school and how high is this school on your kids interest list? Senior year isn’t just right now…your son could visit any time between now and when applications are due. When you say the weather is bad…what do you mean? Too bad to drive…?</p>
<p>I guess if my kid really was interested in a college AND the school suggested an additional visit, I would try to do this if possible. Perhaps you can schedule a classroom visit, or an appointment with someone who is in the major department your son has interest in? That would give your son additional information.</p>
<p>I think it is maybe 2 hrs away, or 1.5 hrs. It is cold and rainy. It is number one or two on the list and realistically…number one. I think it would be bad to have me try to go. I would have to bring my breastfed baby (not a newborn, but still little). Plus, now I have a fever and a sore throat is setting in. My son wants to go. He is applying early decision, which is not binding. The other school that is in his top two is kind of unrealistic.</p>
<p>Just thinking - do you have a family friend or aunt or uncle that could take him? Since you were already there, it might be good for him to ‘show off’ his number one choice to someone else. </p>
<p>He should try to visit faculty or a music or arts performance(if he is interested) while he is there. Then he will learn more about whether this school is truly number one.</p>
<p>Early action is not binding but early decision usually is - check on it to be sure</p>
<p>If a college told me I should visit, I’d figure out a way to visit. They’ve told you what they want. Are you really going to believe a bunch of CC posters if we say, nah, don’t bother? Is there no one else he could go with? Does he have to go on a weekday?</p>
<p>If this is one of his top choices and he very much wants to be admitted, I would make sure he visits again as they requested. Early action (they don’t offer early decision) deadline is December 1. There is plenty of time between now and then for him to visit. Also there will be nice days (weather-wise) as well. If you or your husband can’t take him, as chemusic suggested, ask another family member to go with him. But he should definitely go.</p>
<p>Thanks! I will show my husband. You are correct…I keep messing up the date…it is December 1. I realize that is not the first time I have made that mistake. The non-binding early one. </p>
<p>I cannot see Nov 19 as any better of a date weather wise. And now the baby has a little bit of a fever so no way am I going. So, husband will just have to go. Thanks!!</p>
<p>Like others said, just go a different day. I imagine they even have Saturday opportunities. It looks like that, except for Summer and a few holiday weekends, they are open on Saturdays. If he was suppose to go tomorrow, simply reschedule, but yes it sounds like he does need to make a repeat visit.</p>
<p>OP, there are MANY days between now and December 1. Pick a different day when you feel OK and the weather is sunny and clear. I’m not sure why you think this week and November 19 are the only days for a visit.</p>
<p>The Dec. 1 admission is early action, not early decision. Early decision, if they offered it, which it does not appear that they do, would be binding.</p>
<p>Although many schools do keep track of visits and other expressions of interest from applicants, I believe Austin College told your son he should come back this year primarily to keep your son interested in the school, not because an additional visit would have an impact on his admission decision. Austin College does NOT consider the level of applicant’s interest in admissions decisions. They want him to come back to campus to make sure he says interested in them, not vice versa.</p>
<p>Your son (or he could delegate to you) could call admissions to ask about this. He/you can tell admissions that Austin is his first choice, and ask if not doing another visit will make a difference in his chances. Explain that he has already visited.</p>
<p>It sounds to me like they want him to attend one-day admission open houses or something. Is that right? Colleges make big marketing efforts during these events, and they might now want him to miss it. However, if he already considers it his first choice, there is no need for that.</p>
<p>Would attending help him clarify or even just help him feel more comfortable about going? We attended open houses at one of our kids’ top choices, as a way for him to become acclimated to them. He has trouble with change and transitions. He felt that he knew the schools better after the open houses and was less nervous about going.</p>
<p>Our other two didn’t visit more than once and are better with transitions.</p>
<p>My opinion only but I agree with posts 13 and 14. The college admissions game is a 2 way courtship. Colleges want to admit great applicants – they court them – just like kids want to be accepted by great colleges. The fact that your son has already visited twice, and can tell them that it’s his no. 1 choice says volumes over his appearance one more time.</p>
Weather doesn’t stay bad for 30+ days, and same for your illness. The school is less than 2 hours away. If it is my kid’s first choice, I do what I need to do to get him in.</p>
<p>I had to do a college adcom reception thing back in January and was very, very sick(nebulizer machine, antibiotics, nasal sprays all in tow)… even did something back in November a day after being discharged from the hospital. Both events were in NYC which meant we had to hop on a train almost 4 hours round trip. In the cold </p>
<p>You will feel like crap doing it… but do it! I don’t think its worth the chance of him NOT getting in! You never want to have to ask yourself “what if?”. </p>
<p>I have read(here on CC) that many schools say that they don’t take visits as “interest” but in fact they do! Not sure if this is true or not… you guys here on CC know far more than I.</p>
<p>A college visit isn’t the only way to show interest. One of the biggest problems colleges have with predicting yield is the applicant who has had no contact with the college besides sending in an application. If a college cares about interest, at least make sure your kid is on the mailing list before application season. Also, be sure to show the love in the “why do you want to go here” essay. </p>
<p>Getting to a campus even just a few hours away isn’t so easy for everyone. Not everyone has access to a car. Public transportation might require an overnight stay depending on the schedule which might not be in the budget. Granted, these don’t seem to be the OP’s problem but I just wanted to raise those points.</p>