<p>a lot of people say you should visit the colleges you want to apply to.
but i am not able to visit them in the summer, like so many people tell me to.
is it really important to visit the colleges, and if so when?
i was thinking about visiting in the winter when i fly to a family member's house near some of the colleges i want to go to. </p>
<p>will it be a problem if i visit the colleges in the winter before i apply? i am a junior and will be visiting as a senior.</p>
<p>No that's probably better.</p>
<p>great thanks!</p>
<p>I think that's too late...your applications should be done at that point. Most people find that the campus visits really shape their application lists...they end up loving a school and apply ED, or they hate a school and never apply, or they realize that their list should include more schools that are big/small/urban/rural/preppy/outdoorsy/sporty...whatever resonates. I think you put yourself at a big disadvantage not to have visited most of the schools on your list.</p>
<p>thing is, i am not choosing to not visit the schools, i am not able.
i also talk to people who attend the schools as well and get their opinions on the school, campus life, sports, etc. so i get an idea of what the school is like and what life there entails.</p>
<p>It's actually advantageous not to visit in the summer. That way you can meet more students and see the school in action, instead of just admiring the campus. siliconvalleymom is right that it's most helpful to see the school before you apply, but lots of students do it in winter or spring of their senior year. The most important thing is just to visit, at any point - it will really help you when you're making your final decision.</p>
<p>what do most visits entail? just basic campus tour from like a teacher? or can i talk to students and professors to get an idea of the school, etc. im guessing it matters on which school i've visiting right? </p>
<p>I wish I could visit the school sooner, but I am just not able to.
But I'm going to work with what I can and that's all I can do!</p>
<p>My S was unable to visit before applying also. He applied early, had his acceptances before Christmas, then visited.</p>
<p>how did that work out for him? isn't there a deadline to enroll to a school? so did he have a set time limit to decide on a school?</p>
<p>If you've got a short list anyway it should be fine. Most of the time a student gives you a tour. Some places let you sit in on a class or something. If you contact the department that you want to enroll in they may send a student and professor to talk to you. My department will take you out to lunch but we're small so we have to recruit anyway.</p>
<p>I actually don't have a short list of schools to choose from, but I will only be able to visit my favorites. </p>
<p>The student that gives the tour, are they usually really preppy and full of school spirit? My high school gives tours and those are the kind of students that give the tours. I don't have a problem, only that usually they lie about the school and don't give the full description about everything. And not just the wonderful things about the school. I want to get a real feel for the school, as I'm sure everyone does. I've just experienced people who are fake and aren't fully truthful with visitors is all I am saying. </p>
<p>But I am sure I can find out from different discussion posts about people's visits to the colleges I like and what kind of tour they got right?</p>
<p>Thanks for pointing out that visits can happen at any time during the year, quaere. Our school district has some three day weekends in October and November...many seniors use those as an opportunity for a quick trip to a few schools that are close together.</p>
<p>But aren't there certain days when students are able to visit, like only Saturdays or something? Or is it whenever I schedule it for?</p>
<p>When I took my sister on her college tour, she hated one tour guide so much she no longer wanted to apply to the school. Fortunately, we had a little time the next morning, so we did another tour (same school, different guide)...this time, she felt like it was a great fit.
I wouldn't put too much stock in any one guide/person's opinion/brochure from the school. I do agree with you that you can get a sense of the culture and likely fit from afar, but there still are surprises.</p>
<p>Most schools have tours six days a week, it seems to me. You can always visit a campus without an official tour. Some schools want you to schedule in advance, others just post the times on their website and take everyone who shows up.</p>
<p>Can you also wander around the campus, and talk with students and professors? (without the guide)</p>
<p>Yes, and you should do that. Check out the bookstore, gym, student union, dorms...some schools allow you to sit in on classes. The admissions office can usually give you a list of good classes to visit and the schedule. For a huge school, you can usually slip in the back of a big lecture hall without anyone noticing, but for smaller classes, I think you'll feel more comfortable if you know you have permission.</p>
<p>I would be more comfortable if I had permission, rather than just showing up in a class. Are students usually willing to talk? Or would I be better off talking to professors? </p>
<p>I would prefer students, because then I would get a feel of what kind of people do well at the school, how well they adjust, how much they like the school, etc.</p>
<p>There's usually a list in the admissions office of classes where the professor has already agreed to allow visitors. Show up a few minutes early and introduce yourself to the professor. Be prepared to sit through the entire class...you will not need to do this on every campus, but it can be really useful information. We've seen classes where half the students showed up late, where students did the crossword in the back, where the professor was hostile to questions...and other classes where students asked fantastic questions and the professors were engaging. It is usually easier for high school students to observe classes that are in their area of academic interest...a would-be history major is probably not going to be thrilled by an engineering class, no matter how great it is.
We have found random students to be very helpful in giving directions and their opinions. If you have a specific sport or activitiy that you plan to continue in college, you will find it more useful to connect with that coach or program.
It's my opinion that the most useful time to make appointments to talk to professors is after you are accepted, you've narrowed your choices down to two or three, and you're looking for guidance on the relative strengths of the departments that you're considering. (This would happen during admitted students re-visits)</p>
<p>Should you re-visit a college after you've been admitted? Or is that something that some, not all, students do?</p>