Is it still ok to visit schools in the summer just for general info? I thought this might not be great since there aren’t many people around… Thoughts??
We visited all the schools D would eventually apply to (minus 1) during the summer between junior and senior year. At every school with a BFA, we were able to schedule a theater tour. No there were not as many kids around, and we weren’t able to sit in on classes etc. But she was able to get a “feel” for the places, and that helped us to narrow our list. Since we live in the midwest- it was fairly easy for us to travel to different schools. We did 2 long weekends - one for Indiana/Chicago schools, One around Ohio, and then a week long trip out east.
We visited a couple in summer. Our first visit to S’s current school was a general Open House for all perspective students in August before junior year. It included a tour/information session for the Fine Arts/Music Department and a Q&A session. It was one of our first visits to ANY school (S had privilege of “growing up” on/around the CCM campus, so he already had a “feel” for what this performance program “animal” was about) and we thought it would be a good way to scope out a typical “located-at-a-freeway-exit-near-a-big-town” campus. We thought he would hate it. Instead, he loved it and it somewhat colored his “ideal campus” picture as he moved forward in formulating his “list”.
At a summer visit to another program, we were able to set up a private voice lesson with one of the faculty members. They were also kind enough to give us a private tour of the facilities and S was able to briefly sit in on a summer production that was in rehearsal.
While not a summer visit, we visited another school shortly after Winter Break when the “Guided Tour Machine” was was not yet fully operational for the semester. We had a near-private tour and were able to “bump into” a few faculty members who seemed happy to take a few minutes to talk briefly with us in the hallways or in their offices.
@theaterwork I toured some with my S the summer between junior and senior year. Many of the MT programs to which he was applying had summer programs so there were people around to give the tours (often upperclassmen so we got some really good feedback on the programs). It was helpful but obviously not as helpful as being able to sit in on classes and meet faculty (although sitting in on classes is not always possible until your student is admitted/waitlisted).
We did our first tour summer of our sophomore year. Then some throughout Junior year. We only visited schools my child was highly interested in and took department specific tours and at two schools we had a one on one with a representative from the department. Ironically the only school we really didn’t visit is a top choice. So another visit!
We did very little touring. D applied to 5 schools in her Junior year. She did 3 on-campus auditions that year. One was Carnegie. Carnegie has sleeping bag weekends connected with some audition days. D participated and enjoyed it very much. D was rejected that year but wait listed this year. This year she auditioned at Unifieds. D toured CCM as a sophomore, sat in on some classes, and loved it. She then auditioned for the program her Junior year, was rejected, and disliked the audition experience so much that she didn’t reapply as a Senior. The only other time she stepped foot on a college campus was for her Rutgers summer program and at her Michigan auditions, both Junior and Senior years. Michigan does not allow anyone to sit in on classes until you are accepted or wait listed so it’s essentially a lovely tour and a sales pitch for the school. D was accepted and wait listed this year at other schools. She never visited them until after receiving her audition results. I think if you have the time and the money to visit ahead of your results, go. But, when you are applying to so many schools,and the odds of acceptance are so low, it’s hard to know where to focus.
With respect to your question regarding touring in the summer, I would focus on visiting schools where your S or D cannot sit in on classes until accepted or wait-listed, like Michigan. If all you are getting is a tour and a sales pitch, I don’t think it matters that much when you go.
My kid observed in a few Michigan classes after applying, but before auditioning. I know others that did this as well.
I am a big fan of trying to schedule visits when the students are in session, whenever possible. Yes-this is WAY more difficult (and maybe impossible; due to budget, paid time off, school year schedule, etc); but our experience is that it really, really help to encounter the students who will be peers/classmates. There was a school pretty high on my S’s list, which became an emphatic no, once he visited while the other students were there. And my D (the MT kid) absolutely fell in love with a school, based on the positive, “chill” vibe that the students added to the environment. So I would say-visiting in Summer is better than no visit; but if it’s remotely possible to postpone closer school visits during the school year-do that.
Ditto @owensfolks! I just told someone via PM that they should visit when students are there if possible. D’s school (Wright State) is not a pretty, scenic campus, it was the feeling she got from the students and teachers when she visited that she fell in love with. We also did not visit lots of schools prior to auditioning - geographically difficult & her list kept changing! Our younger D (wants film acting - wonder if I can change my CC name… lol) sat in on some classes at one school this year (she is only a sophomore) to get a “feel” for the program, which was good, because she didn’t love it - I think it helps overall to narrow down the type of program/school she’s interested in.
@Dusing2 that’s good news re Michigan. Was that this year? We must not have tried hard enough. 
But always good to sit in on classes, get a feel for the campus and surrounding area, and meet kids if you can do it.
Last year. We just asked during a campus visit to see a show and were allowed.
@HappyDancer98 did your D apply in her junior for summer programs or for fall of 2016?
When my D visited U of Michigan before applying or auditioning, we sat in on classes. This was arranged by my D writing the faculty and she had a friend who was in the program. We sat in on a Vocal Performance class. Then, while there, the faculty member invited us to come to (forget what it is called) their Monday all MT students gathering, where Brent Wagner led a discussion with a well known professional in the field. That was great too. Also, by having a friend in the department, my D overnighted with the friend and joined various social gatherings with kids in the program.
We are just trying to visit just the schools that my D is "on the fence " about applying. A lot of schools don’t do any tours on Sat though during the school year or summer so restricted to during the week which during school doesn’t work out great. Guess we’ll have to visit during summer…
We visited a lot of college campuses without taking an official visit or tour, and still learned a lot. Often times we would park, walk around campus and just take in the general atmosphere. We found people more than willing to talk with us if we encountered them. Two examples. We were taking D to Michigan for mPulse. On the way we stopped by Baldwin Wallace. They had a summer music camp going on. One of the counselors had just dropped off her kiddos for their next activity and she had a free hour. So she voluntarily gave us a tour of the music building and introduced us to the people in the office who ran the Overtures program. They could not have been nicer. Answered our questions. Gave D some printed materials. And the girl who gave our tour was delightful and so sweet to offer to do that. Now of course you can’t count on that happening everywhere … but if you happen to be close to campuses in which you are interested, I would definitely go ahead and drive through, do your own tour. We also stopped at Otterbein. Again, happened to run into students both in a classroom building and at the theater. Got some first hand anecdotes on what their experience was like so far. Did not get any official information or talk to any faculty or administration – but got to see the campus, meet one of the students and get a general feel for the place.
Honestly, sometimes even with the official tours it is luck of the draw as to who you get as a tour guide. We went on some official tours where the tour guide was not really the best salesperson for the school. So these impromptu visits we felt were equally as valuable, although different than an official tour.
@Ducky312 our D attended Rutgers Summer Acting Conservatory the summer between Sophomore and Junior years, so she applied in Winter/Spring of Sophomore year. She was fortunate to have a paid role at a local equity theatre the summer after Junior year so she could not have attended camp. But, she still wishes she could’ve gone back to Rutgers for their advanced track. She loved that program!