<p>Dumb question...we are doing tours....guess we should be making appointments for formal 'interviews' w/admissions? These tours are w/schools he's more likely to want to apply to and are far enough that we won't drive back (likely). Guess you don't do interviews at schools you are just 'checking out as a possibility?' Or, maybe that couldn't hurt?</p>
<p>Can't believe I didn't think of this before, but all the 'interview' talk just suddenly sunk in...</p>
<p>Not necessarily. Most schools have alums in the area who interview prospective students. In many cases, schools prefer the app completed before an interview is arranged as they don't waste time interviewing beaucoup students who don't then apply.</p>
<p>(Ex. Oldest d applied to Duke. An alum in the area called to arrange the interview after she received my d's files.)</p>
<p>JoLynne, we are doing college visits next week, and have signed up for interviews for 2 of the 3 schools. I think that it's a great opportunity to ask questions while you are there on site. If you want to know something that pertains to your situation but is not of common interest, you or your offspring may be reluctant to bring it up at a general Q&A. </p>
<p>I look at it as a two-way street. They may think they're interviewing D, but she is interviewing them as well.</p>
<p>Great perspective/tips, thanks so much. Thinking it could be good and also part of the 'demonstrated interest' piece of admission (for those he really likes). .</p>
<p>The question I posted elswhere was whether it makes sense to do college visits in the summer when typically students aren't there and so you don't get an accurate feel of the place or student feedback. Clearly some of you are doing so. Jolynne suggests that these visits may have an ancillary benefit -- demonstrated interest. What else are you getting from the visits that make them worthwhile (if you could make them during the fall)?</p>
<p>Fall is a busy time of year for my d. She is more relaxed right now and as a result is able to enjoy the visits more. She will visit a few colleges in the fall (ND football weekend) but with some out of the way, her stress level should be less.</p>
<p>I agree. I'd rather visit during the school year, but if you want to fly somewhere and spend several days visiting several schools, that just isn't practical. So we're doing summer visits for distant schools and school-year visits for closer schools. I figure that D can spend a night at the top 2 schools that she is accepted to and we can afford.</p>
<p>For those of you making summer visits, don't make the same mistake I did and assume it is not a busy time in admissions offices. Our only summer visit will be to huge-state-university-in-neighboring-state, my D's safety school, so I called yesterday to schedule a tour and info session for next week. I am used to dealing with small LACs and their friendly, helpful admissions people, so I was not prepared for a several minute wait on the automated "admissions scheduling line", only to find out that the day we will be in town, the tours and info sessions are full!! Guess we'll be doing a self-guided tour :)</p>
<p>We checked the admissions websites and made advance arrangements as necessary. There's only one college we're visiting that doesn't require advance notice for tours/info sessions. </p>
<p>Son visited college #3, and is more confused than ever. Have to admit, it was pretty amazing, but it is the reachiest on his list. 3 down, 4 to go.</p>
<p>fireflyscout - that's what we've done for all our other visits. i guess in being so casual about this one, i was exposing my own preference for LACs, as opposed to the big-state-u. D is truly interested in the school and it is definitely a safety for her, so i need to get my bias under control!</p>
<p>We just revised our visit schedule (for return trip to NJ from vacay in NC). Checked out US News rankings & other info & realized 7 hr trip to VA Tech might not be worth it (& son hates male/female ratio of a tech school, too..).</p>
<p>Instead will try to <em>drive through</em> UNC at Chapel Hill & Duke on weekend, then tour Johns Hopkins, U MD at College Park Monday & stop in at George Mason in DC. These are all super reaches for son (test stats v. good, early HS gpa not great). But, at least we'll be hitting a volume of schools & hopefully he'll get a feel for what he likes/doesn't.</p>
<p>Later in week might try to hit Penn State (surprisingly highly ranked for comp sci). </p>
<p>I think the benefit of summer tours is that -- as was said -- if it's not realistic to try to tour during the school year (& we never wanted to take son out of school... he wasn't great about making up work) then it's at least a chance to give the student a 3-D view of the campus, surrounding area, a few students, etc. Basically, better than just looking at websites & brochures, even if only a few students on campus.</p>
<p>Sorry to keep posting. Just keep researching and re-doing plans...not sure if VA Tech maybe is worth a 7 hr drive -- maybe a much more accessible school, admission-wise than Johns Hopkins & now I'm reading how hard UNC is for OOS & Duke is just out of reach completely...</p>
<p>If anyone had any VA Tech thoughts would appreciate....</p>
<p>Definitely hit Penn State....check out it's ranking for engineering as well. It ranks way up there. Penn State has always been an excellent science and engineering school. </p>
<p>The facilities are amazing and the faculty is great. My brother earned his BS and MS in computer science at Penn State and then continued to get a PhD at John Hopkins..........he finished that in the early 90s.</p>
<p>My daughter goes to Penn State -- Here is a link to the IST building. This building is shared by the College of Information Science and the Computer Science department --- it's very high tech!</p>
<p>My D wants to major in Chemistry. She plans on doing research. We have gone to Rice, ND, Northwestern and U of Ill. Rice and ND are tied for first place. We need to spend the fall looking for safeties. She is looking for population of 5,000 to 10, 0000 in a city that has a lot to offer. She seems to prefer residential colleges for living establishments.</p>
<p>My d also plans to apply to Rice and ND in the sciences - any science but chem. :)</p>
<p>Rice, well, we live in Houston and Rice looks for diversity. It seems that so many Houston students apply. Let's put it like this - better chance if we lived elsewhere.</p>
<p>ND - not a top choice due to an unfortunate experience at a college fair. However, a football weekend escorted by a ND alum (Dad) may override any previous negativity.</p>
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futurechemdad: "She is looking for population of 5,000 to 10, 0000 in a city that has a lot to offer. She seems to prefer residential colleges for living establishments."</p>
<p>Exactly the same. Maybe our paths will cross.</p>
<p>Thanks, AdvicePlease! We've put Penn STate on the 'should definitely visit' list now (it's only one state over). The rep here, however, is that 'no one gets on main campus the first two years.' I'm not sure how much of a detriment that is, actually, but I know PS does have campuses all over the place. It's also not cheap ($30k) but I've heard some definite positive things about it from CC people in the field! Thanks!</p>
<p>Btw, re: ND--the graduates I know from there are very school spirited!</p>
<p>DD is planning a career in pharmacy or public health. She's doing internships in both over the summer, arranged by our HS, but strongly leaning toward pharmacy. She wants to get a PharmD in a 0-6 program (no need to reapply after 2 years) and we live in central NY so I think Albany College of Pharmacy is at the top of her list. I've heard that it's a tough program but she's a model for self-discipline. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, she took her SAT's in an old high school with no a/c or fans even on a day it was 95 degrees outside and very humid. Came out saying she got to a point where she was so uncomfortable that she just didn't care anymore and just tried to get done quickly - that sure showed on her math score (550)!! </p>
<p>sk8mom -- My daughter is also considering PharmD or MD. I wish Penn State had a Pharmacy School but it doesn't. They do have combo BS/MD programs. Temple and University of Pittsburgh both have the PharmD program. She's also considering some pre-Med or combined BS/MD programs. She's definitely aiming towards a career in the medical sciences. As I understand it the programs are very competitive - especially the BS/MD programs.</p>
<p>We've also visited University of Connecticut and will visit other schools this fall. That's terrible that the testing school had no air-conditioning. Your daughter should definitely retake the tests.</p>
<p>I don't know anything about the Albany school. We're going to visit RPI this fall and I know that they have a combo program for medicine with Albany Med School. </p>
<p>My daughter is very concerned about having a firm plan for her future.......I'm actually encouraging her to consider being more flexible and just go to school for a science degree that will help her decide what she really wants. </p>
<p>If you live in NY and your daughter is interested in science you should really visit Stony Brook......it is very inexpensive and a top notch science university. They have a Women in Science and Engineering program that my daughter will definitely apply to.</p>
<p>I think I have a favorite now! Son is now going back and forth over #3 and #4 - both are great. Still have 3 to tour, though, but are taking a breather til after the 4th. I will say, though, that I find it very odd that out of all the tech schools we've toured, only one has used technology in its info session.</p>