<p>DS has been invited to a visitation weekend at Georgia Tech. Trying to decide if it makes sense to spend the money to send him. How helpful are these visits both from the standpoint of increasing chances of admission and gaining valuable information regarding the school and its programs. Also, will attending increase his chances of getting a graduate assistantship?</p>
<p>I think visiting is very important. Graduate school is a big commitment and I think it is very important to get a first-hand look at the program, the school, and the people before making a decision. You have probably seen people go on and on about “fit” here on this board, but the thing is, “fit” is indeed of critical importance in grad school (much more so than undergrad) - and the best and most accurate way of judging “fit” is by visiting. Websites and such just aren’t the same. I know when I applied to grad programs, there was one program I absolutely loved after looking at their website and their faculty pages, but upon visiting I found that the program was really not at all what I had imagined it to be like. And it’s not that the program was ‘bad’ per se - it just wasn’t right for me.</p>
<p>As far as increasing chance of admission, I think visiting would be helpful in that regard too. It would demonstrate that your DS is genuinely excited about the program and it would allow the professors to get to know him better too. Depending on how the program allocates assistantships, visiting could help in that regard too, simply because professors are more likely to advocate for someone they know and like.</p>
<p>At the same time, it’s always a balance, and if it would be a significant burden to send him, or he already has many other schools to choose from, you would have to weigh the cost vs. how interested he is in GA Tech.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>I was just at a recruiting weekend at G-Tech, but they paid for my travel. I am surprised that they aren’t doing this for everyone.</p>
<p>Is this the only program that he was invited to visit during recruitment day programs? It is usual for programs to pay for the weekend-airfare and hotel. I am surprised if he isn’t being offered that unless it is a master’s program.</p>
<p>I agree with ParAlum. A school such as GT should be paying for him to come out and visit the campus and interview with professors.</p>
<p>How would you feel if a company required you fly across the country on your dime in order to interview with them on site?</p>
<p>Is it possible that your son misunderstood and that they intend to pay for him to travel there? Sometimes students have to make their own arrangements and pay for them in advance. The program then reimburses them after the on-campus visit.</p>
<p>It is for a Master’s program. As far as I know they are not going to pay for any of his travel expenses. Is this the norm for master’s programs?</p>
<p>I think paying for your own visits to a MS program is pretty typical, unless you’re being fully funded then I could see a possibility of them covering it.</p>
<p>I don’t think so!!! I am admitted to penn state for Master’s program and they said they’ll cover cost of air travel, hotel (reserved by the university), and meal!!!</p>
<p>By the way, was he already admitted and they still invited him for visit? Or, no decision has been made?</p>
<p>Visiting is important. In one of my departments, you have to come interview; if you don’t we don’t consider you for the program any longer. Even if your program doesn’t interview, visiting shows that you are genuinely interested in the graduate program. Also, not sure whether he’s applying for an MS or a PhD, but a PhD program is at least 4-5 years of your life and you need to be sure that you want to live in that area and work with those people for that extended amount of time.</p>
<p>It is the norm for master’s programs, though, not to fund you to come visit. Some people may get funded occasionally depending on the school’s resources, especially if they are really wanted by the school, but in general schools expect master’s students to visit on their own steam.</p>
<p>He has not been admitted yet and it is for a MS program. He’s decided to visit so I guess that means that I’ve decided to pay! And I thought I was about done paying for this kid. Silly me!</p>
<p>If he has not yet been admitted, it was a good decision to visit. I sympathize with the never-ending expenses!</p>