<p>Wash U has many special visit days this summer (e.g.. Engineering visit day). It would be much more convenient to visit this summer than during the school year, but I am concerned that DS will not get a good feel for the school. Do you think the campus is active enough in the summer to make a visit day worthwhile? Thanks.</p>
<p>Generally during the summer you don’t get the same feel as you would during school year. With my son we visited most colleges during the summer and that was a mistake. My daughter actually crossed off some colleges from her list because she didn’t like the student vibe. Campus was beautiful though so if we visited in the summer and she ended up going to that school she would of been very unhappy. </p>
<p>While I generally agree with you - that summer visits aren’t helpful for “feel”- DS’s college advisor thinks that Wash U is an exception to that rule. She thinks there is enough going on in the summer at Wash U to get the campus vibe. Does anyone have an experience with Wash U in the summer?</p>
<p>Went with DD last summer to attend a targeted pre-med day. While yes, there isn’t near the same level of activity as during the regular school year, there is stuff going on and it is far from the ghost town that some of the schools transform into during the summers. Plus, there was a significant level of personnel available in the Admissions Office, so it was actually easier to get to someone there than normal. That may have been an anomaly due to the popularity of that session, so check first. Depending on your ease in getting to STL, I would definitely try to attend if possible; it is very difficult to avoid being charmed by WashU in any season IMHO.</p>
<p>I would attend. I know it is definitely different in the school year, but it seems to be your best option. I visited nearly all my schools (with the exception of 2) in the summer because I didn’t have time in the school year, but it gives you the general feel. And it seems that it has the specific program geared towards your daughter. Much of it is about the feel of the campus itself and how it presents itself as it is about the people. There will likely still be a few students and professors on campus that could tell you about the campus.</p>