I’m a high school junior who will be visiting colleges over spring break, and so far I’m planning on visiting a mix of state schools and LACs, all of which I have a reasonable chance of getting into. The only school that I know I’d like to apply to, but that I can’t decide if I should visit, is Princeton. The reason I’m hesitant about visiting is that it doesn’t seem worth it to visit a school that A) doesn’t consider demonstrated interest (at least that’s what I’ve read in several places on CC), B) is basically a crapshoot to get into, even for qualified applicants, and that C) I know I want to apply to, possibly even SCEA along with an EA state school. Does anyone have differing opinions? Are there any things I’ve overlooked? I’m baffled as to why someone would visit an Ivy before they have an acceptance in hand, unless of course they live an hour away (I live about 4 hours away, so it’s not a huge hassle to visit, but there are things I’d rather do with my break).
I though MIT was my top choice until I visited, and then determined I wouldn’t be applying. There are lots of things you don’t feel about a college until you visit. Then after I visited Princeton and fell in love, when I thought it was going to be a preppy rich kid snob school.
My experience with visiting was very similar to @Ksty1098 's. Many of the colleges I chose to apply to were ones that I visited and had a visceral reaction. A gut feeling that you can’t really put your finger on as to why you think the school is a good fit. Of course, learning about a specific school and the facts on paper is important too.
It does consider demonstrated interest even though interest is only a very tiny part of the admissions decision. Schools don’t want you to apply just because it’s a great school, they want you to apply because you feel as if you will fit in there. However, considering the small amount of emphasis they put on demonstrated interest, it might not be worth it to go out of your way to visit. However if you are in the area, you should certainly make time to visit.
Yes. We have visited Princeton, Columbia, Harvard, Brown, and Stanford. We don’t live remotely near any of these schools but happened to be in the area while visiting family, on vacation, etc. It is unlikely that D1 will apply to any of them.
D1 didn’t like Columbia, Harvard, or Stanford - each for very different reasons. Did like Princeton. Loved Brown. Figuring out what she did and didn’t like then helped us to narrow down her preferences - core curriculum vs. open curriculum, large campus vs. small, urban vs. suburban or small town, etc.
So if it’s not far away, there are worse things to do than wander around a beautiful college campus for a few hours.
I would definitely visit if you can afford it. I thought Princeton was my #2 until I visited. After visiting I decided I would never want to go there.
I wouldn’t spend your SCEA on a school you have not seen.
Definitely visit if you are able. My daughter and I were both turned off by Princeton when we visited so it was easy to cross it off the list.(But we loved Brown.)
Thanks to all who replied, you’ve given me a lot to think about. Good to know that visiting really can change your mind about a school!
It doesn’t hurt to visit.
I agree, visit if possible. It is very difficult to know if you will really like a college until you visit. My D is only interested in one Ivy, so we first visited in summer. She certainly liked the area and the campus, but it was when we revisited in September that she thought it was really great, and that was because of the kids. Unfortunately for her, everyone else seems to think it’s pretty great too:-). But it highlights my point…you should want to apply to a college because you actually like it, not because it’s an Ivy.
Applying SCEA or RCEA can be a tactical strategy to give you an ever slight leg up in the process. As such, you should do it thoughtfully and certainly a visit would be very helpful in making that decision
If a school has a “why this school?” application question, a visit can help provide something specific to say.
Applying SCEA can be part of the strategy, but under certain circumstances applying SCEA without seeing the school might make sense. I applied SCEA to my fourth choice school (although I’m indecisive so fourth and first are not all that far apart) without having seen it; my family can’t afford the ED financial risk and the only other school I applied to with an EA plan was pretty low on my list.
I would also check if the schools you’re considering include a “Why ______” essay or short answer type of question, or other supplemental writing where knowledge of the school would help. Visiting Penn really helped me write my why Penn essay, but I got into Cornell ILR (and didn’t have trouble writing the essay) without visiting.
I also believe that you visit every school you are applying to if it is at all practical to do so, and ideally when the schools are in session. The location, the atmosphere, your sense of the student body, the visceral feel as another poster had mentioned, all those things are important considerations in determining where you will spend the next four years.
We were not really thinking Ivy until my S met with his academic advisor who strongly suggested visits. Went last spring break and realized some were awesome fits. Applied SCEA and got in and has now a few likely letters too. Had never been to any, only knew the hype. Visit was eye opening. If you are a top student, I recommend taking a fews days to visit more than one. HYP, Columbia and Brown were very different from each other.