<p>My oldest did not do second visits and I wish we had. School turned out to not be as good a fit for student as was thought with the one day visit.
Second child went back for overnight visits during the time between getting aps in and hearing acceptances. Spring is actually a good time, (esp with late time Ivies respond) as students on campus were more in their “real” mode, and without a lot of other HS students there, got to spend “quality time”. That second look turned preference order around. Then student went back to first choice school once accepted for the admitted student event “just to party” and bond with people in future class. Both trips worth it to us (flights etc) re happy decision with less “second guessing” later on!</p>
<p>Another vote for admitted students’ days.</p>
<p>My daughter applied to 5 universities–3 within an hour’s drive of home, and two in Boston (to which we could drive, but we flew). She was admitted to four. She went to events for admitted students at three of those–the state flagship (which she probably never really planned to attend, but we made her apply) and two serious contenders. The one she selected was the one that really seemed to roll out the red carpet for its admitted students, both at their on-campus program and by writing and emailing them all through the spring. The other one had an admitted students event that was OK, but looked a little slapdash. We figured they were unlikely ever to treat her any better than they would while they were trying to convince her to enroll, so she went elsewhere.</p>
<p>I expect that we will do a second visit at DS’s top two schools.</p>
<p>My two older daughters went on second visits to the out-of-town private school which was tied with the state flagship in our city for both of them. One went to the admitted students’ weekend, with not-so-good results. The host student she was paired with pretty much ignored her, and the host was joined at the hip with her boyfriend the whole visit. Then when my daughter wanted to join up with a friend who was visiting as well, the current student told her the neighborhood was too crime ridden, so she shouldn’t go across (the small) campus by herself. But didn’t offer to walk her. So daughter chose to go to the state flagship in our city, which is in an area with a much higher crime rate actually. (Boyfriend may have had a lot to do with the decision. They broke up freshman year, of course.)</p>
<p>Second daughter made second visit to the same private school, but not on admitted students weekend. She stayed with students who had attended her high school instead. She did choose that school, and has been very happy there after a tough time with homesickness the first semester. </p>
<p>Neither of them really had a formal initial visit at the flagship university. They thought they knew enough about it just from growing up in the same city. Our suggestions that they visit a class, etc. fell on deaf ears. The cherry trees in bloom in the quad etc. had more influence.</p>
<p>Yes they visited their number one choice a second time just before they sent in their confirmation.</p>
<p>I agree that a revisit to schools when you have acceptances in hand is very important. With older d, we revisited for accepted students day to the school she ultimately attended and graduated from. We had initially visited that school during the summer before senior year. The amount of time in between first and second visit is so busy and with the second visit, you are really making more specific decisions…is this the school for me? Same with younger d,the accepted students at school she just graduated from was the determining factor, it was a glorious spring day as compared to cold and grey when we had first visited. Once you know accepted day schedule, you can try to schedule dept. appointments around that schedule to get your personal questions answered and more in-depth feel for the specific departments and buildings you will be spending much of your time in over the next four years.</p>
<p>We also did accepted students re-visits. The advantage to waiting was that we knew the financial aid award. We actually visited one school three times. One visit was a special event for son’s intended department and was probably the most worthwhile one.</p>
<p>Another vote for more visits if needed. My son was accepted to “the one” after a visit but STILL wanted another visit. One of his other top-choice accepted schools was very close and he visited both and it really sealed the deal. He knew so much more about what he wanted and what schools had to offer in the intervening year that he had many good questions to ask. He didn’t do the admitted students weekends, preferring a more “natural” visit, but he still got to spend the night at one of them.</p>
<p>In total, he visited the two local schools he applied to, my first choice, his first choice, and two others because we were in the neighborhood. One of the in-the-neighborhood visits he never actually applied to.</p>
<p>The most valuable thing, if your child can do it, is asking questions of current students. During the first few visits, I did most of the asking while he stood around looking and feeling silly, but then he graduated to being the main questioner. It helps if you make a mental list of important questions first.</p>
<p>Since the worm applied as a junior, he never saw the colleges he applied to. Once accepted, we flew to 3 of the schools. Only once did we coordinate with accepted students’ weekend (CMU< SCS). At least, he spent 2 days on campuses, attending classes, touring, etc. It came down to 2 schools, and he would probably have been fine at either one.</p>
<p>Ditto on second visits if you can swing it. An overnight is a great idea if they offer it.
We visited I can’t tell you HOW many schools between the 2 kids. I believe 26. Younger s went back for a second visit to an accepted/honors students weekend and did an overnight. It was a great thing to do. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>It is an entirely different experience when a prospective visits as a shopping look-see versus coming as an accepted student to really ask “could I see myself here?” I think we ended up on campus 4 times before we moved d in this past fall – once on the “look-see” in the spring of her junior year, back again for the on-campus audition day for her program, back again for an on-campus scholarship competition, finally back to make sure, and hand the “yes!” letter in personally. When she (and all her stuff) arrived on campus in August, she said it was like going home.</p>