<p>True but many things are the same in the summer (dorms, campus) and you can find out about a whole host of other things (dining hall hours, etc.) </p>
<p>With the exception of one university here in Texas, PMKjr was only interested in schools in New England. So, we took a week in the summer and went. He was able to eliminate a few schools and changed his personal ranking as well. Summer trips, in my opinion, can be just as productive as when school is in session if your student gets in the right mindset.</p>
<p>Twice. Once during the “where shall I apply” tour and once after admission. Dorm assignments were made much later, so there was no knowing which dorm he would be in.</p>
<p>An aside: I never saw my university until I showed up for orientation!</p>
<p>My daughter’s major required an interview, so she ended up on campus three times. I took her for the intitial tour and interview, and again for accepted student day to see if she’d warm up to the school (didn’t like it on the interview day, but they offered much more money than her first choice). She drove up on her own for an overnight.</p>
<p>She visited her first choice twice (admission interview and scholarship interview). Another school was visited once, and one she rejected as we drove onto campus, and refused to get out of the car.</p>
<p>None.
In DS time, people were afraid to fly even though airfares were relatively inexpensive.
IB and EC’s also limited free time.
Schools are far apart.
Tours are all the same except who’s walking backwards.
We didn’t indulge and the kid knew our financial condition.
He was going to one of the schools, which one didn’t matter (mostly).
He even got to school on the 3rd day of new student week…Couldn’t get a seat.</p>
<p>We visited thrice. First when DD was 6 years old as part of our North East tour and the first attraction we visited was MIT.
We officially visited North East summer before the senior year to finalize the college list.
Finally we visited during the CPW (Campus Preview Weekend) after the acceptance.</p>
<p>We certainly recommend visiting prior to applications and after acceptance.</p>
<p>Agree. Plus these programs have special events for students and parents that just aren’t available when you visit on your own.</p>
<p>We also never laid eyes on D’s school until Admitted Students Weekend. She applied to schools all over the country, and we just didn’t have the money or the time off from work to make a grand tour.</p>
<p>S NEVER visited the school he attended, tho we drove him around the campus once. He was happy attending & graduated Spring 2010. D visited the campus once, before applying as a transfer & after accepting that offer of admission; she came with us to parent’s weekend, to reconnect with her friends there, which helped her re-establish her bonds there. Neither have regrets.</p>