<p>I'm applying to 10 schools, but I've only been able to visit 2 of them, as 6 are on the East Coast and 2 in California, and I was gone the entire summer and also don't have the money to just visit all schools.
So my question is: Will the fact that I haven't visited really count against me in admissions? I am really interested in all the schools I'm applying to, but I don't want them to think otherwise!!</p>
<p>Firstly no school will hold not visiting against you if the reason is lack of financial resources. Secondly for some schools visiting the campus is very important to their adcoms.....it can make the difference. Let your schools know that you could not visit due to financial constraints.</p>
<p>How would you suggest bringing that up? Where they ask for additional information i would like to add?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>That is just as good as any other place. Do the teachers/counselor writing your recs know?</p>
<p>youi can email your admissions rep. s/he'll understand.</p>
<p>You certainly could, but I don't think it's necessary. Schools don't expect you to travel 100s of miles. I live in MA, and at a local info session for Rice, the admissions rep said that she encourages applicants to visit the campus, but the ad com realizes that most people from my area won't be able to. If you live far away, they won't hold it against you.</p>
<p>another note: there are plenty of other ways to show the schools you're interested. go to info sessions if possible, schedule an alumni interview, and email admissions people. Don't worry about bothering them with silly questions- they like being contacted. you can even ask to talk to a current student. The woman from Rice said that these contacts are taken into consideration as well as campus visits. But I think she was talking about schools in general, because I'm not sure Rice keeps track of campus visits. Some schools do, some don't.</p>
<p>Schools that it matters at will say we "strongly reccomend" a visit & interview.....back around 8 years ago my nephew (1400 SAT's, three sport varsity player, eagle scout, national championship odessey of the minds, alter boy, valvectorian) didn't get accepted at Duke when he didn't go for an interview (got cold feet about going so far from home..wanted to continue playing football)...didn't get accepted went on to get his undergrad & doctrate in micro biological enginerring (??) from the U of Roch....often thought he would have gotten into Duke had he gone down for interview???</p>
<p>I agree with Ria215 that you should show interest in other ways. Schools may have local presentations that you can attend in your area, or DVD "tours" that you can order.</p>
<p>Schools can vary from being extremely caring about your "interest" to not tracking it at all (if they don't track it, it doesn't matter). Harvard doesn't track it because they have such a high yield anyway that they don't care. Schools like Wash U, Emory and Tufts that are just outside the very, very, very top schools do care a lot because they don't like being used as safeties for people applying to the ivies. I would personally think that state schools would not track "interest", but that is my opinion. It would not be out of line to email an adcom and explain how much the school is your very top choice (even if it isn't) and said how sorry you are that you won't be able to visit, but ask if are there any local presentations offered in your area.</p>
<p>csdad: I think that not going for the Duke interview could only possibly have had a negative impact if, for instance, the interview was set, and your nephew just didn't show up. My daughter applied to Duke and was never contacted for an interview. So she called to arrange one, but they said there was no time to schedule one, and assured her that the interviews are not necessary--that they are, in fact, more for the student to learn more about the school, than the other way around. And she was accepted RD.
I can only imagine that, at any school, the interviews are really only meaningful (in terms of acceptance/rejection) if the school requires it, and the student avoids it, or if the interview itself is arranged, and the student does not show up. My daughter did not have the opportunity to visit 4 of the 8 schools on her list, and she was certainly accepted to the 4 she did not visit, and that includes WashU; UChicago; Wellesley; Bryn Mawr. Among those 4, UChicago is the only one that really required an interview. And with the Bryn Mawr acceptance package, came a nice renewable merit scholarship, though she never visited nor had an interview. So, unless required, I don't think not visiting beforehand nor having an interview would be detrimental for a student. And, as someone else pointed out, you can definitely let them know of your interest via email or phone calls.</p>
<p>dufus - while I agree with the point of your post, I don't think students should tell schools they are "their very top choice" if it's not true.
There are other things you can say, such as what a great fit the school is academically, that you know you'd be very happy there, etc. without actually lying. It's not a good idea to lie, nor is it necessary.</p>
<p>csdad: There is such intense competition at the top 15 colleges that getting in has become random (to some extent) for the outstandingly qualified. Often the process is called a "crap shoot" in the college guides. I don't like this term because it makes it sound as if anyone who applies has a chance. However, for every accepted applicants at the very top schools, there are 4-5 other virtually identical applicants who are waitlisted or denied. That is why the waitlist is often longer than the list of acceptances. It is hard to deny someone when they just accepted the person's virtual twin, and so they waitlist them instead. It is very hard to judge the effect of your nephew not taking an interview at Duke. I would be prone to say that it did not matter. At any rate, the success of your nephew in grad school shows the basis insanity of everyone trying to get into HYPSM, as if that fact alone will determine their entire future.</p>
<p>ASAP: I agree with you, but I would still "lie". I think it is a situation where they expect you to "lie". It's like when your wife asks if that dress makes her look "fat". A lie is expected. Of course, individuals with higher codes of conduct can satify themselves.</p>
<p>I'd suggest using other language to express your high level of interest vs. flat out lying about the school's place in your preference list. Demonstrating knowledge of the school and identifying some specific reasons why the school is high on your list will be better than a "you are my top choice" statement anyway.</p>
<p>The importance of a visit seems to be most pronounced at selective schools where it looks like you might be applying as a safety. I.e., if you've got Ivy-caliber stats and accomplishments, but apply to a school a notch or two less selective, they may want to be sure you are really interested before they "waste" an acceptance on you. Undoubtedly, they have observed a low yield rate from that kind of applicant in the past, and prefer to keep their yield rate higher.</p>
<p>These schools love highly qualified applicants, though, so just be sure you are expressing interest in and knowledge of the school. If a campus visit is out of the question, try to establish a relationship with the admissions officer for your area and stay in touch.</p>
<p>In terms of an integrity issue, I would point out the promotional material mailed out by some colleges in order to entice people to apply. Some of that material practically implies that you are guaranteed acceptance if you only apply. That must be worse since it is institutionalized and professional people sat in meetings designing it. I do agree that you can probably make a sufficient statement of your interest without using the phrase "you are my first choice". Your own integrity should dictate whether you say that you are "interested" or "very interested".</p>
<p>This may all sound very anecdotal, but the schools where I was rejected or did not get the scholarship I applied for were the only two schools I neither visited nor made an attempt to visit. The rest were all successes accompanied by some excellent visits and time with admissions officers. </p>
<p>My recommendation is to definitely e-mail the admissions reps and explain your situation, ask to get the e-mail address of students who share your interests, talk to them about a lot of the "subjective" factors on campus like the overall feel, and specific programs that that particular college offers that you're interested in. Also be sure to check and see if any of the schools are sponsoring admissions info sessions in your general area which might be more accessible for you.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the advice everyone! I'll definitely put it to use.</p>
<p>Hi,
I live in India and obviously due to the financial amount and time constraint, will not be able to visit.
Should I mail them and tell them (I am in touch otherwise, by email) or is my residence in India sufficient?</p>
<p>I would not lie to schools and say it is your number 1 school if it is not. This happened at an Ivy at my kids' school form an Intel scholar that most colleges wanted. She told a top school (HYP) that it was her first choice - I know I interviewed her - then turned down the school. When I called her, she said "all the schools were my top choices" - no reason like financial for turning the school down. The upshot: our high school has had a very difficult time getting kids into that school after that, and the original applicants sister, very well qualified, was turned down flat. I can't prove there is any correlation, but it is my hunch. You could be hurting a lot of other people. Just say you are very, very interested, etc.</p>
<p>how do you find out whether the school really counts whether you visit or not? i'm talking especially about notre dame--i live on the east coast, and i can't really get to indiana. i haven't seen anything on the app about it--do i just email them out of the blue and explain that i can't visit right now, but i will if i'm accepted? i don't know if that would seem a little neurotic or what.</p>
<p>It wont be against you at ALL.. in fact they probably wont even remember you anyway, it doesnt matter</p>
<p>There are two sides to the visit issue: what it means to the school and what it means to the applicant.</p>
<p>For the larger schools and schools with 1000's of applicants like the ivy league it doesn't make much of a difference in admissions. They don't track demonstrated interest and frankly don't much care. </p>
<p>For smaller LACs a visit is greatly appreciated and especially helps if you're writing a Why College X? essay. They, do however, understand that many kids have financial and time considerations. Not visiting isn't a deal breaker; visiting is just better.</p>
<p>For you the applicant, on the other hand, visits can be absolutely critical! Many kids wait to see where they are admitted before they visit and again if time and/or money are in short supply this is a workable strategy. Visiting a college, walking around campus, eating at the dining hall, peeking in the bathrooms, sitting in the lecture halls -- just envisioning yourself as a student -- is so important to determining the right fit. Also, if you're interested in a specific department or discipline or activity seeing the facility and possibly interviewing with a professor can be a huge plus. </p>
<p>The good news is that many colleges will subsidize visits for kids who can't afford to get there on their own. It's worth exploring.</p>
<p>A special mention for safety schools: These are the ones that you REALLY need to visit, much more than the super-selectives. You may have to go through half a dozen less selectives until you find the right sure-bet for you. Don't skip this step! Visiting a less-selective can make all the difference in those long anxious months while waiting for your acceptances. If you've seen the campus, talked to the kids and instructors, you'll feel a whole lot better about attending your safety than if it remains an unknown name.</p>