<p>I'm trying to decide whether or not to visit, and I was wondering:
Is a visit a must? Will it drastically sway my opinion of the school either way?</p>
<p>It’s not a must, but it’s definitely a good idea. Oberlin is a small school with a distinct character, and visiting is a chance to think about whether the campus community is a “fit” for you. Odds are it won’t change your mind dramatically, but it’s good to have a clearer perspective … and there are always a few people who visit and realize that they love Oberlin more than they ever thought they would, and a few who decide they can’t stand the place. Plus from the college’s view, visiting before you apply shows interest and commitment. It means Oberlin isn’t a last-minute whim; you know what you’re applying to and you really do want to be there.</p>
<p>I think a lot of people, when they visit, stick close to their overnight host or their tour guide and see a narrow sliver of a complex place. My host was nothing like me, which was a turn-off, and my experience as a prospie was nothing like my actual life as a student. Take advantage of the chance to explore! Do some research, find out what’s going on while you’re there, and don’t be shy about dropping in: a basketball game, pizza night at a co-op, gamelan rehearsal, a guest lecture in a department that interests you… Talk to students that look cool and not too busy. (People love prospies - seriously.)</p>
<p>Yesyesyes. Do visit! Before I went, it was one of my top schools… but I was a little hesitant with so many colleges to choose from. I toured/interviewed and LOVED IT. Words can’t really describe how fantastic the people are, which is what truly grabbed my attention during my visit (you can’t capture the atmosphere by simply reading a brochure), Seriously, it was the first day of my life. I am now attending in the fall and I honestly couldn’t be any more excited. <em>beam of joy</em>
Anywho, I’ve talked to multiple 2013agers over the past few weeks, and each of them said that it is the visit that sold them. Quite impressive. </p>
<p>Hope this helped! </p>
<p>PS It looks better on your application if you interview and tour :)</p>
<p>PS the sequel: Try to tour as many schools as possible. It will help you define what you really want in a college or a university. For example, I went on a tour of Northwestern University. The campus was beautiful, just like in the pictures; however, I found the students to be somewhat stuck up. In other words, it went from a standout candidate to a school that I ended up not applying to.</p>
<p>I didn’t visit any of the schools I applied to before applying to them, mainly because it would have been ridiculously expensive to visit them all. When I got my admissions results in April, however, I narrowed it down to two schools: Oberlin, and one other small LAC that shall remain nameless. 
I flew out to visit both of them.</p>
<p>The social environment can really make or break a school for you. For Oberlin, it made it. For this other school, it broke it.</p>
<p>So definitely, definitely visit - if not before you apply, then before you decide to go. I would say that applies to any school. I wouldn’t want to go to college without knowing where I’m going.</p>
<p>I visited a billion schools, all before decisions were released–Oberlin was the last school, in fact, (before a few ill-fated visits to waitlist schools) in February. When I got in a month later and it appeared that I would be attending, it was such a relief that I had been there already and loved it. Otherwise, I would’ve been a nervous wreck about the entire thing. I actually loved the campus/people/everything a lot more than schools I was “supposed” to like better, like Wesleyan. In fact, before my visit, I had Oberlin way behind Kenyon on my list, and the visits to each totally flipped that. So I would definitely recommend it.</p>
<p>If it is costly to visit and you are not planning to apply early decision, it is reasonable to wait and visit once you hear about your admittance. However, if you can afford to visit before submitting your application, you will have an easier time with the “why oberlin” essay and more importantly, you will have a clearer sense if it even makes sense to apply. Obviously you cannot make a decision to attend without a visit. My daughter thought she would hate Oberlin due to the location in rural Ohio, but she absolutely was swayed once she visited.</p>
<p>^
What Studiomom said. Take it to the bank. Every college my D visited (and interviewed at) accepted her. Without exception. I think it was a huge factor. She was rejected at the “no visit, non-interview” schools. Without exception. I don’t think it was just an amazing coincidence.</p>
<p>Of course, you need to be someone who makes a very positive impression in an interview. :)</p>
<p>I believe in interviewing when you visit. Some colleges will tell you that interviews are just informational, even 1:1 interviews. I don’t buy it. Why? Because interviewers are human beings, that’s why. And human beings can be influenced. If you are interviewed by a current student knocking off work study hours as an “ambassador”, maybe it’s true. If you’re interviewed by a member of the admissions staff who takes notes during the interview, it counts.</p>
<p>My daughter, now a freshman at Oberlin, did not visit either Oberlin or nearly any of the other colleges she was applying to. We planned to visit later. This was not a good strategy, as she was wait-listed at a number of schools that he clearly have admitted her. We suspect that they thought she would not come. An admissions counselor at Oberlin actually took the initiative to email her and ask why she had not visited. She had a good answer: her father had attended, and she knew several students already attending, and thought she had a good sense of the place without a visit.</p>
<p>Moral of the story: a visit indicates to a college that you are seriously interested, and may increase odds of acceptance.</p>