Should I even bother looking at colleges over Christmas break?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Ok, so I may have the chance to visit two or three schools that I am interested in over Christmas. The two schools I mainly want to look at are each about eight hours away from home and about 5 hours apart, so I was going to try and get two on one trip.
I'd like to leave the day I get out for break or the day after, and then get back two or three days before Christmas. So we'd be gone about 5 days. </p>

<p>But both the campuses will be deserted and one school said they will not have campus tours over the period I'm looking at, but will still have admissions sessions. And I know the campus would like completely different with students on it. I noticed this driving through a big SEC school over Easter and then coming back during the week and taking a tour. </p>

<p>Should I still try to push my parents to take the trip? They seemed pretty receptive to the idea, and we all would just like to be home by Christmas. I'm also thinking this would be a good time to visit these schools because over Spring Break, I'd like to make another big push in the South and visit schools like UF, FSU, UGA, USC, CofC, Clemson, Duke, UNC, possibly others, might take a few off that list.
So, now might be the best time to take a look at these schools. </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>Google Earth exists for a reason. This is it.</p>

3

<p>Meh, I’ve used Google Earth before and its just not the same as actually being there. But that is what it may come down to.</p>

4

<p>There is always time to visit after you have been accepted. I think its terrible when parents trot their kids out to schools that they aren’t going to get accepted to. I see it happen in my town all the time-- it is the least important part of the process IMO.</p>

5

<p>Both schools are OOS. </p>

<p>One UTK, I’m pretty sure I’m going to get into. One thing I’ve read about that school is that they have an “ugly” campus and others say it is pretty nice. The question mark about this school is OOS cost and from looking at UT’s website, it looks like they aren’t the greatest with merit money.</p>

<p>The other is UVA. That one is a question mark, as far as getting in wise. I have good stats, but not CC amazing stats. But Charlottesville is supposed to be very nice. </p>

<p>So UTK would be safety, but might not be able to pay OOS costs, and UVA would a slight reach coming from OOS, and OOS is expensive there, but I might do ROTC. I know they also meet OOS need. </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

6

<p>Look at [theU.com</a> Online - College campus video tours, Online student reviews and info about campus life.](<a href=“http://www.theu.com%5DtheU.com”>http://www.theu.com) and [YOUniversityTV:</a> index.home](<a href=“http://www.youniversity.tv%5DYOUniversityTV:”>http://www.youniversity.tv) as they have online “college” tours.</p>

<p>Here’s Clemson’s admissions video so you can get a quick look at what our campus looks like: [YouTube</a> - Clemson Admissions Video 2009](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgZ2tIrqoBk&feature=related]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgZ2tIrqoBk&feature=related)</p>

7

<p>All right, thanks.</p>

<p>Any other feedback?</p>

8

<p>A school cannot look its best when the kids are not there and everything is closed. </p>

<p>BTW…are your schools even hosting campus tours over Christmas break?</p>

<p>Have you used the online virtual tours? Can you visit any schools over Presidents Weekend? Perhaps missing a Friday? Many colleges are open on Presidents Day.</p>

9

<p>At Clemson, tours will not be held over christmas break</p>

10

<p>Yeah, I realize most won’t have tours. </p>

<p>One school I know for sure will not, but it will have information sessions. But those are boring and I can most of the info online and on CC.</p>

<p>But I’m wondering if visit with limited/no people on campus is better than no visit or just a virtual tour.</p>

11

<p>It’s a waste of your time in my opinion, go with the virtual tour in that case and save your money and time</p>