<p>So I'm going to be visiting UVA, Georgetown, and Johns Hopkins this spring break to get a feel for their campuses because they all really appeal to me and my medical (neuroscience) aspiration. </p>
<p>I've heard from some people that visiting plays a role, albeit minor, in gaining acceptance, but I have a hard time believing that. FYI- My credentials are pretty much up to par with their "requirements", so just assume that it's all good :)</p>
<p>There are certain schools that consider “demonstrated interest” as a criterion in admissions and others that do not. Schools like JHU and Georgetown are probably so selective (get so many more applicants than they can possibly admit) that “demonstrated interest” may not matter much. I think the profile on College Board’s website may tell you whether they do or don’t consider it.</p>
<p>For certain schools, not at the tippity-top, but still selective, demonstrated interest does matter–Emory, for example, explains on their website that they DO know whether you’ve visited, or requested their DVD, and so forth.</p>
<p>Depends on the school. They have to track their visitors and not colleges do that. I believe Emory and WashU really likes you to visit. Not sure about the others. It also helps if you attend their visits to your HS.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies!
I’m also looking into WUSTL but we’re going to the three said schools because they are pretty much on the same highway lol</p>
<p>I also visited Duke last year: are they considered along the lines of Emory and WUSTL or more fitted for Ivy-league comparsion?</p>
<p>The schools you mentioned are too big and too selective to give a whoot about whether or not you visited. Visits are great for your own decision-making process, however, and knowing intimate details about the college (try speaking to a student other than your tour guide if at all possible) can only help in your “Why X?” essay and interview.</p>
<p>And Duke is probably best compared to Dartmouth, which is an Ivy (obviously) but still doesn’t have the cachet of HYP–so, to answer your question, probably somewhere in between.</p>
<p>Most schools have a Common Data Set, or CDS, that lists how strongly they consider different factors in admissions. If you look under “Demonstrated Interest” in the CDS for each school you’re interested in, you’ll see if the school cares about students showing them love.</p>
<p>You don’t have to visit to demonstrate interest. Attending information sessions in your area and sending email inquiries to the admissions office and/or professors in departments that interest you are some other ways to show your love.</p>
<p>Just want to comment that UVA does not track who visits. When we toured colleges with our son 2 years ago, every school had him fill out a postcard ot form with basic contact info. Some schools had a more in-depth form asking for classes taken junior year and planned for senior year, etc. UVA had nothing. I even asked an admissions rep about it on our way out of the info session, thinking we had missed something, and was told they don’t track who visits.</p>
<p>I mean…it plays a role, albeit a very small one. Certainly nothing huge, and probably not a game-changer admissions-wise…but it certainly doesn’t hurt.</p>