<p>I've been invited to a few overnight stays at a variety of colleges (Reed's ROME, Middlebury, Bowdoin Explore) and although I know it's a bit too late to apply to some, I might able to the schools that I am interested in.</p>
<p>But what do you do at these overnight stays? I've research the threads of schools that discuss these programs, but there is little info as to what exactly goes on. Some schools say you shadow a student, so does that mean you go with them to class, sleep in their dorm, and go to parties with them? I'm just a little confused and weirded out.</p>
<p>Depends on the school and which student you end up with. It’s basically just to give you a better idea of what it’s actually like to live at that college. You’ll get an idea of what the rooms are like, how friendly the people are, and what the drug/alcohol culture is like on campus.</p>
<p>Grinnell has a expense-paid visit as well! I saw it on a forum here on CC. I might apply. Would you recommend a visit to the college?</p>
<p>Some schools don’t let you stay on a Friday or Saturday so you might not get a sense of the party scene but these visits can be REALLY helpful. You’ll overhear conversations, get some extended time to ask questions of your host and other students in that dorm, you’ll see if students seem to be participating in class/asking good questions/getting attention from the professor and you can ask to meet with professor(s) in areas you are interested in. You’ll also just get a feel----are the students overwhelmingly suburban and non-diverse? are they more artsy or more sportsy? Most schools have all types but they might be harder to find than you would want. If the school is paying----do it!</p>
<p>go to some parties and see what’s up at night</p>
<p>“Some schools don’t let you stay on a Friday or Saturday so you might not get a sense of the party scene…”</p>
<p>The party is ALWAYS on in college. </p>
<p>Overnight visits are great–you generally have a little orientation/mixer sort of thing with other prospective students (to give you a sense of what your peers next year might be like), maybe get a tour of the campus, stay overnight in a student’s dorm, attend a class or two. When I did one we also were taken out by some other student volunteers for dessert in the neighborhood. I only attended one but ended up going to that school, and I really think that visit was one of the deciding factors.</p>
<p>My son found the chance to talk informally to other students helpful. He did basically what OP said in the OP, plus talked in the cafeteria, sat in on a homework/study session… The informal visits with other students at two colleges in particular were a major part of his decision.</p>
<p>He did not go to any official group programs, just single-student overnights arranged with the admissions dept.</p>