Visiting Campus

<p>I was wondering if campus visits are necessary to show your interest in Columbia. I have visited Columbia when I was very young..about 12 years old. I visited MIT, Princeton, Yale, and Harvard during that trip. However, I did not get a formal tour, rather just walked around and checked out the surroundings. I don't know why but I remember thinking that Columbia's atmosphere made a stronger impact on me than the others.</p>

<p>Right now, my schedule is tight and the flight to NYC is not easy to plan out. I wished I visited during the summer, but I was out and about all 3 months. Do you think I'm at a disadvantage for not visiting, despite researching a lot on the website, talking to numerous alumni about the school, and attending the regional info session?</p>

<p>No I don't think you are at huge disadvantage. There are probably thousands of people that don't list a campus visit mainly because they do not have the finances and time to do so.</p>

<p>That being said every little bit counts for that admission letter, but is it a huge factor if the rest of your app is stellar? No.</p>

<p>If you've done research on the school's academics then that should resonate in your app and I think that's more important than something aesthetic and superficial like a campus a visit.</p>

<p>But then again I'm a 08 ED applicant so what should I know :P</p>

<p>as am i haha</p>

<p>You're fine. The only question on the app that would be related to visiting campus would be something like "why new york city" and you certainly don't need a campus visit to answer that.</p>

<p>I would actually leverage your visit when you were 12. See if you can verbalize what you remember about that visit, think hard and spend a few minutes and jot some notes down. It may come in handy at some point - maybe even in the interview.</p>

<p>Agree with Denzera. It might also work as a pithy and brief intro into your "why Columbia" answer.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I would actually leverage your visit when you were 12. See if you can verbalize what you remember about that visit, think hard and spend a few minutes and jot some notes down. It may come in handy at some point - maybe even in the interview.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This may work. But it's more likely that it will sound totally contrived, and therefore fail. Do what Denzera says, but have someone else give you feedback so you have a reality check.</p>

<p>sure that seems like a valid theme. i can't tell you in extreme detail why i liked the school right now, but I think that children (or 12 year olds) are easily impressed by people, places, and things. If something leaves an impression on a child there's usually a good reason to it. but yes C2002 has a good point also. i'll ponder this for a bit.</p>