I was wondering if you find it necessary or helpful to visit these schools on your list.
We toured 2 of the schools on S18’s list with D15 and he remembers both campuses and how much he liked them- hence why they are on his list as well. Because both do not consider interest, will it be helpful in any way to visit prior to applying? If he gets into either and they are in serious contention, we will certainly visit then, but will it give him any advantage to visit now?
A visit would perhaps help him write a stronger “Why ABC University” essay.
I’m not sure I believe in “demonstrated interest is ‘not considered’” at schools that are not in really remote locations any more than I believe in “need blind admissions” at all but the wealthiest institutions. At some point there are ties/close calls/toss-ups and something has to be looked at to distinguish John Doe from Jane Roe.
Are you saying your kid toured once…liked the schools…and wonders if he should go AGAIN before applying?
I would say…no. Plan to visit again if he gets accepted…to help him decide if he WANTS to attend.
@thumper1, yes he did tour once at each school, however he was in 8th grade at the time. One school made such an impression that he has talked about it ever since. But, it is 6 1/2 hours away so not really around the corner to pay a visit. Plus the only time for us to visit would be this summer when the campus would be much emptier. But, if a visit gave him an advatange in any way, we would go.
Not for admission points if interest is not considered. But if he has criteria for choosing a college that are best determined in person, a visit may help him there.
You can demonstrate interest in other ways. Will your S attend any college fairs? If so, make sure he stops by the booth. Do colleges visit your school? If so, have him sign up for those sessions
To take the opposing view - even if demonstrated interest is not explicitly taken into consideration in admissions, personal connections always matter. If a meeting with the regional admissions counselor is possible (and can be justified with specific questions, etc.) then go for it. As long as the personal impression is positive, these little things matter.
I don’t see the point of another visit now. Let him apply…and if he gets accepted, then he can decide if it’s a top contender for matriculation purposes…and revisit at that time.
There are THOUSAND of college students who apply to colleges and get accepted…without ever visiting before they apply. Thousands.
Now…having said all that…one of our kids went on college visits with an older sibling…and in 8th grade claimed she LOVED a particular college. Loved it. She talked about that college for several years.
In the meantime…we DID take her on some college visits of her own…and guess what? That “loved” school fell totally off the radar screen…totally.
My suggestion would be to take this kid on tours of different places he thinks he might be interested in NOW…and if the other school remains on the application list…fine. But he might find others that pique his interest more.
As far as visits to college fairs and meetings with college reps coming to his school, he has done both in his junior year.
I had hopes that both would lead to some introductions and connections but at the 2 college fairs he attended, although he spoke to the reps he wanted to speak to, nobody took his name or had him sign his name anywhere. So no ‘considered interest’ there.
At school he went to around 6 group meetings with reps. Of those 6, only one had him write his name down. The other meetings strictly involved the reps speaking with no other conversation or interaction of any kind. Another chance for personal connections down the drain.
I personally find vists to be huge but my son’s list is fairly vast and spread across several states so the chances of seeing them all are slim, at least before applying.
I don’t think there is any real advantage to re-visiting schools he has seen and remembers, especially if demonstrated interest is not considered. If he gets in, the school is affordable, and is one of the top choices at the end of the process it would be worth going back at that point.
My S was accepted to 7 colleges and he never visited any of them.
My DD was accepted to four of the five colleges to,which she applied. She was not on a name basis with the adcoms at any…except one…who did a phone interview with her. She comminucated with him with questions during the application process, and he was helpful. The others…no contact at all from adcoms until the admission letter.
I would say if feasible, it is good to visit colleges before you apply…but my DD was able to visit most but not all of them. But some were too far away to visit during our spring break tour Those you could visit for admitted students day.