<p>I was just wondering if anyone's stayed overnight and what their experience was like, if you got any insight that was worth the overnight stay, what you did, etc. </p>
<p>I recently had an overnight visit at Harvard that sucked. I don't mind sitting quietly in a dorm while my host does their homework, but I do mind being dumped off in a dining hall and told to basically entertain myself for a few hours. I RSVP'd for the Columbia one about a month and a half ago, and while I'm really excited, I don't want a bad experience. </p>
<p>From the looks of it though, Columbia's much more strict about the way the run it.</p>
<p>I had an overnight visit at Columbia but mine wasn’t the conventional kind you sign up for. Mine was an official visit for a sport. But I got to sit in on some classes and talk to a bunch of students about what they liked/disliked about the school which I definitely thought was worthwhile. My host was very nice and provided me things to do the whole time I was there and showed me a great time overall. It was also cool to be able to look at some dorms and eat in the dining halls.
Hope that helps.</p>
<p>A bunch of people on my hall are on the Hosting Committee. If your host is the average freshman here, he or she will have responsibilities at night–hours of homework, club meetings, or both. You may be passed off from person to person, but you should not be left to fend for yourself. Try to bring homework just in case everyone is very busy. When I went to the accepted students overnight in April, everyone was very willing to make time for me and answer my questions. But then the accepted students program is all about selling the school with special events and free food, and the fall overnight program is about giving prospective applicants a real day in the life of a student, which often is mostly schoolwork, so just keep that in mind. The people on the Hosting Committee are there because they want to show you how much they like Columbia. (:</p>
<p>I did one last year, which was interesting to say the least. My host was a legacy and was weirdly intimidated by me, which made me uncomfortable especially considering my academic record is a joke compared to those of most people on this forum. I guess it really just depends on your host. No matter how tempted you may be, don’t ask for chances. The result won’t be accurate and will probably just make you feel worse in one way or another.</p>
<p>I know someone else who did an overnight at Columbia and was just dumped, like your experience at Harvard.</p>
<p>I did an overnight and it was amazing- my host did send a friend to pick me up because she was in class, but he was absolutely awesome and took me around the whole campus and some of the surrounding city. I went to a sci-fi club meeting by myself (which my host brought me to and picked me up from) and which was incredibly fun, and also went to an a capella preformance at like 10 at night with my host and her roomate. Then we went to JJs place at midnight. My host ended up staying up til 5 with a friend doing physics homework. Overall, it was really fun.</p>