<p>My daughter, who is currently in 7th grade, and I are going to be going to the East Coast to visit my son and watch a performance by his a cappella group at the beginning of March. She would like to plan a visit to a BS while we are out there. I have several questions about a visit. </p>
<ol>
<li> How long does a visit normally last?</li>
<li> Is she going to be interviewed during the visit? Am I going to be interviewed?</li>
<li> Should she wear a dress? As there is a high probability snow etc.., I am not sure about the whole dress thing. </li>
<li> As I would like her to take responsibility for the process, I was going to have her call and set up the appointment etc.. Is this okay?<br></li>
</ol>
<p>Most boarding high schools do not offer admission to 8th grade (Groton is an exception), so she is a year too early for formal interviewing/applying. However, my D started informally touring schools in 7th grade, just walking around and checking out the school and town. </p>
<p>If you wanted to be more formal, you could call each admissions office and ask what they recommend.</p>
<p>Since you’re going to be asking the school to do something outside the norm (give a tour to someone not actually applying for the following school year), I think you’d need to call the admissions office yourself rather than have your daughter do it. I’d explain that your daughter is interested in applying in the future, you happen to be on the East Coast, and you wondered if a student could show you around even though your daughter isn’t an applicant yet.</p>
<p>Hello, I actually did this with my daughter at one school, but you should call to explain. The tour itself will be approximately 45 mintutes (just an estimate). It is up to you if you would like her to interview, AND if the school is OK with it. We did the tour, then chatted with someone from admissions for about 10 mintutes, together, and also met with 2 sport coaches. If the weather will still be cold/snow khakis/pants are fine, even boots if there is snow; it is New England and there may be snow/ice.</p>
<p>I totally agree with all of the above. The only thing I’d add is that, while khakis are ok (and boots if the weather dictates), don’t go too casual-- still dress it up with a collared shirt, sweater, blazer. Even if the school you’re visiting doesn’t have a formal dress code (which, of course, you can check on line), you want to look like you’re making an effort and respecting the process. If they do have a formal dress code, make sure she dresses at least according to that dress code, or one step above. I also agree it would be more straightforward to make the phone call yourself, rather than have her call (even if next year you have her do the contacting). Maybe suggest she (and you) still meet with someone from admissions to ask questions, and ask if she could have a student give her the tour. Unless she’s already thought a lot about what schools she’s applying to and why, I’m not sure she’d really WANT to do the formal interview yet-- unless you feel like it will be very difficult to get back there next year. If that’s the case, them ask the school if they’d consider doing the interview this year, but I wouldn’t push that unless you have no choice.</p>
<p>It’s definitely worth a call to the school, but keep in mind that early March is when admissions offers go out. Many schools will not be giving tours at that time, nor will they have time to meet with you.</p>
<p>I think it is a great idea that you plan on visiting schools at an earlier stage. It will make you and your daughter feel less stressful than the normal visit in the application process. When your daughter chooses the schools to apply a year later, she will hopefully have better ideas because she will have already been to the schools. This could make a big difference. </p>
<p>Also the AOs of the schools will hopefully have an impression that they are screened before applied to and therefore may think the chances for your enrollment when accepted should be higher. This is another positive. </p>
<p>A normal school visit without an interview should take about an hour if you don’t stay to watch the games or engage in other activities. If you can have a chance to have a brief hello-chat with AOs, it would also be great.</p>
<p>Thank you for your responses. BS wasn’t even on my radar until my daughter said that she was interested in applying several months ago. I thought I had a five year hiatus before going through a school application process again! :)</p>
<p>We made a similar trip. D could have interviewed at at least one school, maybe Andover. Didn’t realize it at the time but anyway she wasn’t ready for an interview. One school wouldn’t have us at all, as it was revisit time, but we got a private tour with someone we knew.</p>
<p>Some schools offered lunch in the dining hall along with the full tour, others, because of revisits, just had us look around campus on our own. They were very welcoming and gave us a campus map.</p>
<p>Tours will involve walking on possibly snowy, icy, uneven, gravel, or mud paths so sturdy footwear is a must. Schools will not ding you for dressing for the weather. Unless you interview or sit down to lunch, you will probably not take your coats off.</p>