Visiting from afar - should I do on campus interview?

<p>Hey all,</p>

<p>I used to live in Rochester but moved after 1 year of HS to Canada. I also worked at the URMC so I'm definitely applying to Rochester. I'm going on a college tour to visit US schools in a week and half and want to stop in the Roc last to see my friends and tour. Should I also schedule an on-campus interview? I live in Canada (non Ontario Canada) so I dunno if I'll be able meet any URoch alumni for an interview. </p>

<p>Also, do you think it's worth writing on my app/to the adcom why I didn't bother visiting Roc when I lived there? I feel like I asked this question a long time back and someone suggested I do. I wasn't wasn't exactly expecting to move and I thought I had plenty of time, hah.</p>

<p>Also, I will need merit to attend. I like URoch a lot and know some faculty people there, but there are much cheaper options where I currently live.</p>

<p>Any advice will be appreciated! Thanks in advance :)</p>

<p>Definitely interview. I wouldn’t bother explaining why you didn’t do a formal visit as a freshman in HS. Good luck!</p>

<p>Do an interview. No one cares about the past non-visit. They will be more interested in your connections to the school and you’ll have a chance to talk about those if you do an interview there.</p>

<p>If you want merit aid, interview.</p>

<p>Definitely interview. They will try to match you up with the admissions officer who will handle your application. (We were there last week and that’s what they did.)</p>

<p>Thanks for the replies and advice!</p>

<p>Okay, I signed up for an interview right after the tour! Is it worth meeting w/ someone from my department as well? I imagine I’ll learn something (as we do with most new experiences). The only thing is, I’m planning on staying in Roc for a few days only and want to have time to visit people :P, hence my question. </p>

<p>Other question: Would a sundress w/cardigan or a nice Banana Republic blazer with darkwashed solid jeans and a pretty shell work? I don’t want to over/underdress and I’m pretty sure this will be my first interview for college.</p>

<p>Wear whatever is comfortable. Either choice is fine. </p>

<p>It isn’t worth meeting a department person now.</p>

<p>When DS went for the tour/interview/etc he wanted to meet someone from his potential department. It was summer, between the end of the summer term and the start of fall classes. The admissions people called around and found the only professor available in the department was the department chair who offered to spend a little time with DS. They talked about a lot of things including the specific research happening in the department. The dept chair then took DS on a tour of his own lab and research. They ended up spending about 3 hours together.</p>

<p>That time with the dept chair sold my son on the school. From that point on, no other could compare. DS is a rising junior now.</p>

<p>If you don’t plan on getting back to visit, try to see your intended department now.</p>

<p>I guess I meant it doesn’t matter for getting in, but it clearly matters if you need to be sold on the school.</p>