<p>So, I've been thinking about visiting colleges lately. I've gone on one college tour, around a local university. UC is my "Dream" school, persay, and I'd really like to eventually end up going there (Getting accepted is the hard part...). </p>
<p>However, since I live in Nebraska, and my parents aren't too "hip" on me going even considering going out of state, the chances of me actually visiting the school are slim to none. I guess my question to everyone else out there is whether it would be a good idea to visit the school before applying, or should I wait until after I get the results back, as to whether I got accepted or not? How long do you have until you have to make your decision and get back to the admissions? Thanks!</p>
<p>You'll have the month of April to visit and respond to the offer of admission if you are admitted through the regular decision process.
I'd encourage waiting until you know if you are in- no wasted flight/hotel/etc on a school you won't be able to attend! The University of Chicago offers two programs in April for admitted students, where you'll be able to sit in on classes, spend the night in the room of a current student, go to presentations on financial aid and extracurricular activities, and often play dodgeball with Ted O'Neill. There is also a one-day "Dorm Preview" program not involving an overnight to see campus and have tours of dormitories.
So, if you visit through either of these programs or not, I'd highly encourage waiting until you know you're in... there will be a lot more things of interest you can do and observe, and you'll save some $$ if (unfortunately) you're not admitted.</p>
<p>haha Wow! Well, maybe I should just wait until I find out if I'm accepted then! I wouldn't want to date the school if I had no shot. :) I think I will probably wait, and if I GET IN, then I'll check it out!</p>
<p>S visited for the first time in a January snowstorm. Called me from the Quad and said, "I could see myself spending four years here." That's when I knew it was serious. ;)</p>
<p>I went right after Thanksgiving last year--I'd never seen so much cold and bleakness in only NOVEMBER, fer all's sake, and I come from Maine. Nonetheless, the campus and my tour guides (don't remember who they were--someone working in November '07...one of them was a guy who was doing work with a circus) were absolutely amazing. I would say it's a must-see place.</p>
<p>Definitely visit I would say. Before you apply. I was planning to apply, then I visited. It's a wonderful school (my father got his MBA there), but I just didn't see it working for me. I strongly suggest a pre-decision visit.</p>
<p>I agree on waiting to visit until after you are accepted. We visited from Texas last May for several days and my D met with people in the math department and had an interview with admissions. However, she was deferred EA and if she is rejected in the spring it will seem like a wasted trip.</p>
<p>I'd go ahead and apply, then visit once you (hopefully) are accepted. I actually wasn't terribly interested in the school because it doesn't have the major program I've been looking for, but a friend convinced me to visit while I was in Chicago looking at some other schools this summer, and I fell in love. The people are so friendly and despite the castle-like campus and awesome academic reputation, it's really laid back, which is perfect for me. It's one of my top two choices now.</p>
<p>See, I think that I must be in the majority that wouldn't apply to a school without visiting. School stats obviously only tell you so much. Plus then you have the experience of being immersed in a whole new environment (hooray for learning more about people, right? :) ) </p>
<p>Plus, in a more cynical vein, I think that it does help you in the admissions round, perhaps especially at UChicago: I made the trek from Pennsylvania to Illinois this summer and interviewed and toured and all that, and I'm sure that helped me move from potentially-denied to deferred (even if my interview was utterly horrendous and awkward). Is this fair? Maybe not, since many interested, interesting applicants may not have the chance to travel. All I know is that I'm really glad that I got to see Chicago (the city and the university), and that visit most certainly fanned the flames of my love :)</p>