<p>I won't be visiting any colleges until after I get admitted to them. Will colleges hold this against me? This isn't for financial reasons--well, it is in part--flying all over costs a lot of money, and the colleges that I'm applying to are all far enough away that I'd have to fly there.</p>
<p>The only thing that they MIGHT hold against you, is that by not visiting, you arent showing total interest in the school.</p>
<p>Just make sure to leave your schedule in April open for visits. Many seniors become very busy and find they actually have little time to visit.</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry about it. Most schools don't keep track of who visited...unless of course you interviewed at the school...</p>
<p>billybobbyk, don't worry at all.
they won't keep track.
My nephew wasaccepted at Yale, Harvard and Columbia, and he did not visit the schools.</p>
<p>actually, they do keep track, but obviously it's not a huge factor. if it's obvious you aren't interested in attending, though, it will count against you. I'm pretty sure this is why I got wait-listed at Wash U. and probably why I got rejected from Cornell... I didn't do the optional essays for Wash U. (I think that's the right application) and I know it was obvious in my app that I was uninterested in attending...</p>
<p>case in point - there was a Washington Post article awhile ago about the valedictorian at Thomas Jefferson (one of the top 10 high schools in the country), who had everything - grades, test scores, extra-curriculars - but got rejected from all the Ivies (and comparable schools) she applied to, and ended up going to Tufts. they interviewed the admissions officers and their answer: she didn't visit, she turned in her applications really late... etc.</p>
<p>If she turned in her applicatiosn really late, than I would say that was the problem. The only person who gets into schools by sending in applications after the deadline is Lauren Bush, our president's niece. She applied with sub-par grades to Yale and Princeton one semester after the deadline and was accepted at both.</p>
<p>it matters more whether you visit smaller colleges than big universities. At a smaller college you can usually set up a private interview with admissions, where as at most larger universities you cannot- you can usually only take the tour and get on the mailing list (u. wisconsin for ex.). If you're not visiting any colleges or universities, you should go the college's website and get on their mailing list as quickly as possible. This requires no extra money on your part and very little time, and some small colleges will/can look and see whether you've been interested in their school for a while. Going to a college fair and meeting with a representative can be just as good as visiting, and def. go if a college representative visits your school (they have you write down your contact info on cards so they know). </p>
<p>When I was a junior at a college fair, I went to a booth for a large university and talked with a representative for a while. I asked him if there was any way that I could interview with admissions, and he told me I just did...stuff like that can matter, and you don't necessarily have to visit.</p>
<p>lolabelle - right, but the admissions officers at those schools mentioned the fact that she didn't visit... which, unless I'm being dense, would suggest that they do take that into account.</p>
<p>Actually then the risk is yours. I know how expensive it can be to travel to schools (believe me $$$$) as we looked at dozens. However, there is alot to be said for being there, seeing it live, tallking, walking and looking. </p>
<p>You are about to make a four year commitment in your life. Maybe scholarships are involved? What happens if you don't like it when you actuallly are there? What scholarships stay behind when you transfer? </p>
<p>When you get down to your final couple, try and visit. You try on everything else you buy, why not the schools?</p>
<p>I say this because in our area experiences just about every kid who went far away on scholarship that didn't visit the school, came home sometimes in the first semester. They ended up at a CC because they didn't fit where they "thought" they would. Now college will take a different path.</p>
<p>I'm not saying it would happen to you, but you bear the risk. Hopefully you can work it out. Good luck.</p>
<p>If you can't visit, make sure that your application screams out interest in other ways. I agree that the money and time committment for visiting is daunting. If you can squeeze in visits to a couple of your most likely choices, it would be good. Otherwise, take a chance and visit in the spring. It's too late for you to do this, but here is an idea that would have helped me. I lived near Boston, but was not planning to attend school there. I should have visited every good school in the area. Who knows, I may have liked one of them, and the admissions people there might have been encouraging. Even if not, I would have gathered information about types of schools and campuses, my likes and dislikes, etc. I should have done this starting late in junior year. It would have been so easy, even by bus and subway. Maybe you should tag along with friends on visits to a few local colleges, or go alone.</p>
<p>"Will colleges hold this against me?"
Again: No, you don't HAVE to visit.</p>
<p>For most of the top schools the interest you show is apparently not a factor in their admission decisions (they have high yield rates; interest can be faked, etc.). If you are going to a school ranked lower than about 30 on USNWR then some prior contact (either a visit or being in an info session) may be consdered positive in admission decisions.</p>