<p>My husband and son will go East this April for a week of college tours, in advance of next fall's college applications. They're planning on hitting most of the Ivies, but my understanding is that they can't actually get any interviews. It'll just be a tour of the school, that sort of thing. Any advice on the process from anyone who's gone through it? Since my son knows he wants to major in Classics, would it be worth his time to try and get an interview with any Classics professors (or students, or TA's) while they're there? Thanks!</p>
<p>If time permits, only visit one school per day and try to get an overnight in the college city/town. It's more expensive in the short term, but it is time well spent. I 'd also suggest they add a few non-Ivies if time permits. Figure that he'll need to have some match/safeties. We have hundreds of great schools on the east coast, many within hour or two of each other. Yes, I would definitely request interviews w/profs. I hung back on tours with my digital camera and put together a photo book for each college. ok, I looked like an idiot tourist, but I did my job! This way D can remember which school had new library, great theater, etc.</p>
<p>The only problem with April tours is that it is the time for the newly accepted students to check out the schools for the last time before they make their final decision. April is a hectic time on college campuses and HS juniors may not get full attention as the colleges are now wooing their "incoming freshmen class". I can't give any advice Re: contacting professors or TA's, because my d would be on campus 5 minutes and decide whether the school had possibilities for her.</p>
<p>since the Ivies vary quite a bit- in size- location- rigor and student body- I would suggest a list of schools that he is interested in to compare and contrast- but not limiting to Ivies
Several schools good in classics
I agree with "feel" my daughter would barely get out of the car at some- and others she went back several times.
also agree with prospie week- not really the time for tours unless you want to check out the upcoming freshman class ;)</p>
<p>While what Marny says is true about newly accepted students being there in April, I wouldn't let it discourage you. Schools we visited in April often asked those in attendance in the Admissions Office who were prospective applicants and who were accepted applicants - they then arranged separate activities for each, etc. In addition, many schools have special "Admit Days" which you can avoid if you want. But I think you'll be able to accomplish your mission regardless. They are very geared up for Juniors to visit in April as it is vacation week at many high schools, so a natural college visit time.</p>
<p>There are some excellent threads on how to make the most of visits (see below). If you give us the list of schools you have in mind, we Easterners can help you figure out how to make the most of the time - travel time can eat up varying portions of a day. </p>
<p>As to whether to interview, he really needs to think about how he will decide which schools fit him best. If they are all strong in Classics, he probably doesn't need to interview to confirm that. Will he have specific questions he wants answered? With limited time at each school, would he rather walk around, meet students, eat a meal, visit a class, take the official tour, sit in the Info Session, check out the surrounding town/village.....? It's different for different kids. If he'd rather maximize his exposure to the atmosphere, he can get his questions answered by email correspondence with faculty.</p>
<p>You will also hear many folks say that you can't do a lot of colleges in one week, that each one needs a thorough visit. I'm not one of those people. I think "overview" visits tell kids a lot. Just as Marny said, her D caught the vibe in 5 minutes. My DS took maybe a little longer (and some "digestion time" as wse moved from school to school) but he didn't need to talk to faculty to see what he needed. Your S can always go back after acceptance (if necessary) for overnights and more in-depth examination.</p>
<p>Thread(s) to check out:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=104580&highlight=visits%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=104580&highlight=visits</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=33248&highlight=obvious+visit+suggestions%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=33248&highlight=obvious+visit+suggestions</a> - this one is probably the most thorough treatment of different ways to handle visits</p>
<p>We did several visits last April when my D was a junior. She really did NOT need to spend an entire day on a campus early in the process. That early, it was more of a sorting out "large vs. small", "city vs. remote", etc. On at least two occasions (one Ivy and one top LAC), we left halfway through the tour when she realized she just wouldn't fit there. Try to pick schools that are close together so you can do two in one day...e.g., Wesleyan and Yale. Harvard and Brandeis, etc. For these initial visits, do the tour and the info session. And don't worry, acceptances for RD don't get mailed til April 15th, so I doubt there will be too many accepted student sessions yet.</p>
<p>Ditto quiltguru -- My son's list has undergone more than one drastic re-write based on the sorting out phase (size, urban v. rural, etc.) after visits that weren't in-depth at all.</p>
<p>There have been other threads that have discussed the fact that the ivies don't seem to care whether someone visits or not in terms of acceptances (sorry, no cites to those threads, maybe others will have them). So you have to view visits to ivies as strictly a matter of you getting info rather than a matter of demonstrating interest or making an impression that will help your son in terms of admissions.</p>
<p>In contrast, there are many other top schools, where visiting and expressions of interest can go a LONG way in helping your chances of acceptance.</p>
<p>Admissions at the ivies are VERY difficult no matter how exceptional a students' credentials may be. Focusing on ivies can result in expectations being raised and not enough attention being paid to the other schools a student may be interested in.</p>
<p>Given that the time available for visiting east coast schools may well be limited for you, choose the colleges you are visiting carefully so you can get the most out of it.</p>
<p>Even if you don't make it to all the ivies, visits to other schools can help your son decide which ones to apply to -- does son like a large school or small school; urban, suburban or rural; etc - the ivies vary a lot - first figure out which are the type of schools your son is interested in -- other than the fact that they are ivies.</p>
<p>If he gets accepted, there will always be time to visit later to decide among schools. Or if he is thinking of choosing an ED school, he can always plan another visit later after he has learned what he is looking for in this first round of visits.</p>
<p>My daughter had a friend who spent all his visiting time focusing on ivies - made arrangements to meet with soemone at the schools in the field of his interest - even went back a second time to meet with someone at one of the ivies. He only got in to his 2 safety schools - and then knew nothing about either when if came time to choose since he'd never visited either -- and he missed out looking at other schools that may have been better matches for him to begin with because he focused all his school visits on making sure he hit all the ivies.</p>
<p>Good luck!!</p>
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<p>VERY important point. Especially important to demonstrate interest in those "bridesmaid" schools to the Ivies. See the andi "Picking Up the Pieces" thread if you haven't to see what can go wrong if you focus too much on the lottery schools and fail to <em>show the love</em> to the more realistic schools - no matter the quality of your credentials.</p>
<p>Not sure which schools quiltguru refers to re RD letters coming out 4/15. Most I'm familiar with arrive 4/1, allowing a month for The Decision. Still, we found all schools we visited in April to have many more Juniors and their families in attendance than Senior admits.</p>
<p>You are right, jmom, I meant April 1. But, we, too, met few accepted students in April...just one that I can remember at Wellesley.</p>
<p>Lots to think about. Okay, the reason we're focusing on Ivies is that I'm not letting my precious baby boy go all the way across the country unless it's to hit the lottery. Otherwise, he can go to my alma mater, UCLA, and I can still do his laundry! He goes to the top prep school in LA and most of the students aim pretty high and most get what they want, but I have learned not to assume anything (the NM finalist, High Honor Student, Academic prize winning musician with perfect SATs who ended up not at Yale, as he expected, but Amherst).<br>
I think he'll get a good idea of what kind of school he wants even by just exploring the Ivies, because he'll still see schools of different sizes and locations. He knows he doesn't want a small, rural school, for example. He doesn't want the south, because of the weather and the large flying things that buzz around there.<br>
April is because that's when we have Spring Break, but thanks to all for the heads up on the onslaught of accepted applicants. What he really cares about is how much interaction you can get with your professors, whether when you're a freshman it's you and 500 classmates in a huge lecture hall taught by a TA (a la UCLA, see above) or is it somewhat more intimate. He wants a good, broad curriculum in Latin Literature and Ancient Roman history, all which can be gleaned from the websites. So, going to visit is more for the "feel" of the place. He has good instincts when it comes to schools. He knows kids at most of the schools he's planning on visiting, so that should help as well. Thanks for the info, back to reading the posts!</p>
<p>there are other EXCELLENT schools that aren't ivies where he could study in small class setting -- why do you only consider an ivy as "hitting the lottery" such as to be worth not going to UCLA - especially if the size of the classes is a concern?</p>
<p>How does the precious baby boy ;) feel about UCLA versus an eastern LAC or high quality non-Ivy University? There is a world of difference between UCLA and the eastern Ivies in size (most cases), atmosphere, ...</p>
<p>Have you thought ahead to how he might feel on April 1 if he has received Denied from each Ivy he applies to and is accepted to UCLA? Will he feel wonderful about that? Or will he feel he is not going to the intimate atmosphere he wants as a freshman? The Parent Forum mantra is to have choices come April, so that Son is in the driver's seat. A high-achievement son like yours might well expect to get in to at least one Ivy - if those are the only non-UCLA schools he applies to. But we here on CC have seen differently. Not a happy picture. And one to be guarded against.</p>
<p>My advice would really be to get full value out of that 3000 mile trip - explore some non-Ivy schools of different selectivities, with strong programs in his field. This is the chance to do that.</p>
<p>unbelievablem,
My husband and I both went to state schools and, in typical American fashion, we want "better" for our kids. My husband in particular feels that his lack of pedigree has hurt him in his career, and if my son wants to be a Classics professor, it will be important what college he went to, as well as how good his grades are, for him to get into the best graduate school.</p>
<p>but that's the point -- why do you phrase the issue as ivy or ucla? there are a HUGE number of excellent schools that aren't ivies!</p>
<p>if ucla is the only non-ivy safety you offer your son, you could end up in exactly the position you don't seem to want to be in -- ie your son going to the state school like you and your husband did.</p>
<p>i have know plenty of my daughter's friends who apply to our state's flagship school as "their safety" -- and then end up being upset come April when that ends up being their only choice! </p>
<p>Its great to have ucla as a safety - IF your son will be happy there. But from what you are saying - you really don't seem to want him to end up there. So why would you only look at ivies as the only alternatives?</p>
<p>jmmom,
We do have a very unrealistic view of his desirability, I admit that readily. I cannot fathom a school not wanting him -- and since we started the process of applying to private schools in LA and he got in everywhere he applied, I've just had my inflated view of him reinforced! Teacher reviews every year have only made this worse. It's really not my fault, he's nearly perfect (if he could play a sport, watch out world). So, yes, when -- see I'm trying to be realistic -- when he is rejected by HYP, he -- and we -- will be thrown for a loop. So I do intend to have him apply to Tufts (for their fantastic Classics program) and some LACs, and Cal and even UCLA, to cover our behinds. But "precious baby boy" (thank god he doesn't read this board!) already took a college level class at UCLA, when he was in 8th grade, and thought, "meh." So not blown away by his mom's old school!</p>
<p>OK, if UCLA is a rock solid safety and the trip is only about Ivies, I will skip repeating much of the advice already given, but I will stress the importance of taking lots of pictures (ideally with date and time stamp). My personal limit seemed to be four colleges in one week. I am sure others are capable of touring many more, but I guarantee they WILL all blur together! I found I could remember looking at a beautiful gym and pool, or even chatting with a professor in a building... but I couldn't remember which college it was! Date and time stamped pictures helped sort things out tremendously.</p>
<p>unbelievablem,</p>
<p>There are like 10 Ivies, no? They're not all that competitive, so I'd imagine one would qualify as a safety. Brown, Cornell, Columbia, they're all Ivies, and not as competitive as HYP. Plus, he's considering U of Chi and Michigan, but they just don't fit into our Spring travel plans. And, they're closer to home. I know what you're saying, and in January when I get to (finally) meet with the college counselor, I'll definitely look into more realistic safety schools. As I said, we've seen the superstars who don't get accepted where they expected, so I'm not going to shoot myself in the foot.</p>
<p>BurnThis - please read the following thread if you have not done so already:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=96791&page=1&pp=20%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=96791&page=1&pp=20</a></p>
<p>part of the lesson to be learned from this is not just to APPLY to non-ivies, but to treat the application process to those schools in such a manner that tells the school you are really interested and not just using them as an ivy-safety.</p>
<p>I can't believe I hadn't thought of taking pictures. My husband loves his old camera, and that will keep him busy while my son is doing the tours! Since I'm not planning on going (as you can tell from my posts, it's best if I'm kept away from the admissions people!), it will give me a chance to see what the schools look like.</p>