<p>For those of you guys who've visited lots of colleges, how do overnights/open houses influence your decisions vs. tours and a few hours on campus? I would really like to go to Brandeis's (they gave me a really great scholarship) open house and visit Wellesley at the same time, but my dad's not sure he can pay all the travel fees (we live in Texas) right now. At the same time, Swarthmore says they'll pay travel expenses to their open house, so would it be best to just visit them instead? I really would like to spend extensive time at all campuses, but I understand that, realistically, I may only get a couple of hours at my top choices. How do these short vs. long visits influence decision? Also, my school only allows me three days to visit colleges, so I can't go to everything.</p>
<p>This is one case where I would buck the school! You need more than three days to visit 3 schools, and this decision will affect you for a long time. Take a few extra "unexcused" days, and visit them all overnight if you can. Definitely visit Swarthmore if it free. Visit Brandeis if it is a serious contender, and Wellesley if it is, too. (If you really can't afford to visit, you might call W and explain to them that finances prevent you from visiting - maybe they can pick up the tab!)</p>
<p>We were in the same pickle last year, and you can get extra days, or if you don't have many absences, then take the absences. Our concern was loss of exam exemptions. What we did was schedule three separate trips - D went to school for 10-30 minutes, got an early release, then had a doctor's or dentist's appointment VERY early in the day on Thursday, then straight to the airport. Spent rest of Thursday, then Friday (counted one day as school trip or absence) and flew back on Sunday. You know that if you are in school part of the day, and have a doctor's excuse, that they don't count that as an absence, right? Check into this if you haven't already. As to whether it's better to spend a couple hours or no hours at all, it is always better to visit, period. You at least get some personal sense of the place, not just hype or someone else's perception. D wasn't all that interested in her college, it was an afterthought to apply, but during her visit, she called and said "This is it!" Good luck!</p>
<p>It shouldn't cost you too much to get from Philly to Boston, so maybe you could see Brandeis on Swarthmore's nickel by combining the trips.</p>
<p>That's what I was thinking. I was just curious as to whether that short trip would affect my ability to make a good college decision. Have any of your families made decisions based on a few hours at a college and careful research?</p>
<p>Yes. It does not take that long to get a feel for a school. In a few hours you will see what kinds of activiites are popular, what kids look and sound like, how alive it feels, and a lot more. Look at bulletin boards; eavesdrop in the cafeteria and anywhere else that seems appropriate; look at the library, and ask your guide about study habits, and anything else taht reflect lifestyle. All the schools will provide an excellent education so it is just a matter of feel and preference. also, I suspect that Brandeis will pay travel fees if you ask them--if they are giving you a generous scholarship they want you enough to pay for you to get there.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the info!</p>