<p>My counselors told me if I sign in at college campuses, I will have a higher chance of getting in. Is that true? I mean, a lot of people go to visit colleges, so how will they know of all the people... </p>
<p>it’s a nudge, all things being equal -if you are qualified and have shown interest (visiting and signing in for the campus tour, filling out the “request info” questionnaire…) you are more likely to be selected than someone with the same stats who has shown zero interst.</p>
<p>Schools take account of the names of the students who visit the campus. They will frequently follow up with the visitors. They cannot do that if you don’t sign in and leave your address. So self-guided tours are fine, as long as you sign in at the admissions office. Some schools also keep track of contacts with their websites as well as contacts with their admissions officers and office. </p>
<p>Think of it this way: I’ve heard it said that it’s hard for a professor to fail a borderline student whose name and face they can put together. It’s even harder for them to give an A to someone whose face they cannot recall. </p>
<p>Depends on the school. The most selective schools don’t care if you visit or not - Duke even states on their web site that demonstrated interest is not a factor. The schools that do care are more mid-tier, schools that are concerned about being “safeties”. They figure if you visit, tour, and even interview (if offered), then you’re seriously considering them, not just using them as a backup. It won’t make a huge difference, but it can help.</p>