<p>My son applied at the last minute, as it took him a long time to decide about where to apply. He hasn't visited the school yet, and I realize that it may look bad to admissions that he hasn't visited. He also missed the deadline for the interview.</p>
<p>Do you think it would look bad to go for an info session and tour AFTER submitting the app., or to just skip it at this point? We have seen the campus before, just have not gone on an "official" tour, so admissions may not be aware of his interest. If he were accepted, he would definitely need to go for a closer look. Just not sure how to deal with what the admissions office may perceive as a lack of interest since he did not go on an official tour.</p>
<p>I think, if possible, he should still visit. Going on a tour and sitting in on the info session is very informative and will help him narrow down his choices, if accepted. He may also be able to have an interview near your home with an alum. Also helpful, is an overnight stay and sitting in on classes.</p>
<p>He mentioned that it has a beautiful campus, but I don’t think he indicated that he visited it. I realize that he will need to tour at some point if he is fortunate enough to get admitted so that he can narrow down his decision. </p>
<p>My concern is more about the “appearance” of disinterest, given the fact that he has not toured previously, and if touring during this decision-making period looks like a last-ditch effort or would actually help his chances. I am concerned that if he tours now, it would look too transparent as an effort to cater to admissions, and if that could, in fact, actually hurt him in their decision. Also, my understanding is that since it is past the interview window, he would not be able to get an interview with anyone. Would it help him in terms of interest to call anyway and ask for an interview?</p>
<p>At colleges and universities with low acceptance rates like Swarthmore, it is expected that a high percentage of students will visit the school only after they have been accepted. Financial limitations are often a key factor in this. Moreover, visiting campus, taking the tour, sitting in on classes, is a fairly anonymous activity. Admissions will make note of the contact, but they make note of every contact with the school - an email accomplishes the same thing. Having said that, there are important qualifications: it is absolutely critical that prospective students demonstrate specific awareness of Swarthmore in their application materials in order to explain why they want to spend four years there. Data can be obtained from a campus visit but also from an extended and intensive review of the Swat website. All aspects should be explored - the daily newspaper, the admissions materials, the academic major sites, faculty pages, student pages etc. Although a tour prior to acceptance is optional, I strongly recommend an interview as part of the application process. An interview is not likely to harm an application (unless the student really tanks) but it may help an application. Students who are at a distance can avail themselves of alumni interviews rather than campus interviews and, as indicated above, wait to visit until after acceptance. I am a big fan of the alumni interview and some of the books out there on how to get into colleges suggest that alumni interviews may actually enhance an application more than a campus interview. Colleges take their alumni interviewers very seriously and most of them are highly skilled at what they do. Most of them are skilled at establishing rapport with a student (which reduces the stress of being interviewed). They also can become an applicant’s advocate and render strong recommendations if they feel the student they interview is a particularly fine fit for the college. My daughter had alumni interviews because we live at a distance from all the colleges to which she applied. They went extremely well and contributed to her eventual decision making about which school she wanted to attend. Finally, although international students may not be able to visit a college before enrolling and students who are offered strong financial aid at only one school should probably go there even if they haven’t visited, everyone else really should visit the college in which they are intended to enroll before signing the final paperwork. The campus visit, especially sitting in on classes and talking to current students, is a critical piece of information in one’s final decision about where to attend college.</p>
<p>My 2 cents as an alumni interviewer:
If it would not be a big travel deal to visit Swarthmore “officially” in the next few weeks, it would probably not be a bad idea to visit, do the info session and sign in at the admissions office. Sitting in on a class is always valuable, but at this point would probably not gain points in admissions. The admissions office will probably not start working on the RD applications in earnest until February. If it is more than a 2 hour drive I wouldn’t bother making the trip at this time.</p>
<p>It’s not feasible for most people who apply to visit the campus at all. I think he should wait and see whether he gets in first before visiting. Basically writing the “Why Swarthmore” essay IS the way to express interest in Swarthmore in particular. So if your son made it clear why he wants to go to Swarthmore, he should be fine. No need to go on an official tour to express interest.</p>
<p>^^ That’s terrible advice because usually when you can’t make it to campus you’re going to attempt to meet up with your regional rep when they come through your area or you’re going to do an interview. People get in without these things, sure, but expressing interest can tip applications at colleges like Swarthmore.</p>
<p>Certainly, I agree that doing an interview will help a bit (when done well), and meeting a representative might help. I don’t see how that goes against the advice I gave previously (namely, waiting until admission to visit campus, not needing to visit campus to show interest in Swarthmore), but we seem to agree.</p>