Visit Tips/Suggestions

<p>My D (high school senior) and I are flying out from the West Coast to re-visit W&M this upcoming week. She signed up to shadow a student which will include attending a class and will also retake the tour (we took it last spring too)... but does anyone have any other suggestions of what else she should do to really get a feel for W&M? We are only going to be there for about a day (after subtracting the rather extensive travel time - trying to minimize the amount of time she is away from school). I was hoping she could do an overnight, but it doesn't appear they offer that as an option. She had the opportunity to stay overnight at another college, and spending so much time w/ current students really helped her get a "feel" for the school. Because she will already be traveling to the East Coast w/ her high school band in April, this will be her only chance to visit. Is there any other suggestions/opportunities for her to interact w/ current students?</p>

<p>is there a friend or a friend of a friend that she could do an overnight with? Or attend other classes with, share a meal with, etc?</p>

<p>I don’t know when exactly you will be there, but are you aware Spring Break starts on March 3rd? Campus will be emptying out on the 2nd.</p>

<p>Grab coffee and a snack from the Daily Grind (on campus by the Sadler Center) and people watch from there or from the terrace. Honestly you can probably just ask anyone questions if you want. They will probably be really friendly and give you a few minutes of their time, unless they are rushing to class.</p>

<p>I’m sure if you wanted to email someone from the Pep Band or Wind Symphony and talk about either of those, they would be more than willing. You should be able to find contact info on both their websites. Likewise, she could likely talk to a professor or two about their departments if she emails them.</p>

<p>Check the bookstore. Walk through Merchant Square. Maybe eat at one of the delis. Check out Matoaka Amphitheater and the new Tribe Square by Wawa.</p>

<p>I shadowed a student a few months ago. It was a good experience. However, the most important part of my visit was the overnight. I posted on my Facebook status asking if anyone went to W&M or knew someone who did with whom I could spend the night. A friend of my sister offered for me to spend the night at his apartment on campus. It was really important because I really got a feel for what it’s like to be a student there, both by seeing it myself and by talking to other kids. I saw a comedy show on campus and then got to see the frat units. I’d definitely suggest she try to find a person to stay with for a night while you stay at the hotel.</p>

<p>You can also contact any department in which you’re interested and see if there’s a faculty member available to meet with you during your visit. Also check out the campus events calendar (events.wm.edu) to see what’s going on during your time on campus. Most campus events are open to the public.</p>

<p>When you say “this upcoming week,” I hope you’ll arrive before Thursday, since Spring Break starts on Saturday, and many students will leave campus before then, particularly those who don’t have Friday classes. She might want to be sure she visits the Rec Center - lots of students there, but I don’t know if it’s on the standard tour.</p>

<p>Thanks for the great suggestions! I am going to print them out and share w/ my D. Frazzled1, yes, she is signed up to shadow a student this coming Monday, so she will be there before spring break starts. Any current W&M students who wouldn’t mind talking to my D about the school for a little bit late afternoon or early evening Monday, let me know!</p>