College visits - better for applicant to make arrangements?

[fendrock]

We will soon be starting college visits.

If my daughter wants to attend a particular class, will it be to her advantage in the application process if she makes her own arrangements?

Or does it not matter if her parent does so?

Also, are schools generally open to parents observing a class, or do they restrict this opportunity to applicants?

We had a chance for an impromptu visit to a school over spring break, so the whole family went along. Daughter was embarrassed to be seen with the parental units, so we walked a discreet distance behind.

[cmbmom]

I do not think the secretary in admissions cared who was making the request for D to sit in on classes. It is not easy to make those calls from school. I never thought about sitting in on a class, I am not the one applying. I do not think I saw any kids alone on our tours, all had a least 1 adult with them. We did go to Accepted Student Day and D asked me to attend a student info session and take notes so she could attend a different info session.

[rainmama]

On our recent visits to a bunch of schools in the Northeast, classroom visits seemed to require no advance arrangements, and I don't believe there would be any advantage in the admissions process if your D tried to organize visits through that office. Where we visited, you just find a class on the list (either handed out at admissions office or on the web) and show up. They sometimes will say "students only" and that the student should introduce self to the prof either before or after class, unless it's a large lecture. As a parent, I didn't feel it would be appropriate to attend, but I suppose that could be less of an issue in huge classes.

Parental units were very visible on all the tours we did, but I've talked to many parents who just sent their kids off on their own if they preferred to be independent.

Have fun!

[edad]

Many of these arrangements can be made by email. We setup a separate email account for my D's college search and application process. That kept the important emails out of the general file and we parents also had access to keep track when our D was not available.

[mom60]

Many of the schools will have an online form to request the indepth visit. It will usually ask what classes you would like to visit. If there in not a place for that you can add it in the extra section.
Or even just email the admissions office with your request.

[mathmom]

You can also try e-mailing the department. Admissions offices often only have a list of large lecture courses, but often a professor won't mind if you sit in on some of the smaller classes. I went along on most of the tours and department presentations, but didn't go to any sample classes.

[weenie]

We did edad's method with the all-purpose kid-college yahoo email account.

I would not show up at a class "uninvited." Make all your arrangments through admissions. They don't care who calls.

[cmbmom]

We did the college email using yahoo also. We used her name as the sign in, nothing cute. And check the bulk every couple of days, some stuff just got directed there.

D sat in on classes at 3 small schools, all arrangements had to be made by admissions. All the instructors were expecting her and met her in the hall or at the door. The state univ would not make any arrangements, she had to find a student to take her to class.

[edad]

"nothing cute"

That was another reason my D needed a new account.

[jbdad54]

D used a plain vanilla yahoo account to email coaches at various LAC's.

We set up visit and interview appointments for her through the admission offices during school hours. Didn't seem to be problem....

[CountingDown]

DS makes all the calls -- it has helped his confidence -- with all the IMing these kids do, they hardly know how to make a phone call any more!

DS contacted professors (via email) in the classes he wanted to visit. No one has ever turned him down; in fact, most sent emails welcoming him -- some sent lecture notes for that day, offered to speak with him afterwards, and one sent the homework that was due! (which he enjoyed doing...but that was what he wanted to assess in that particular class anyway!)

On spring break, DS went to visit classes, while DH did the info sessions. DS did campus tours as time permitted. His main goal was to sit in on classes and then wander the halls of his intended major departments, reading what was posted and snagging a prof/advisor to chat with. He felt it was a successful way to approach the process, but he isn't picky about things like dorms and food, so this may not work for others.

If DS is on the campus tour with us, our rule is to keep our mouths shut and let DS ask questions. If he's elsewhere, we'll ask if it seems appropriate. Absolutely no sitting in on class!

[standrews]

Another reason for setting up a separate email account is to avoid using questionable email names. "SexySoph" or "GotBeer" may be great for exchanges with friends, but may not go over well with the admissions people. Personally, I have a domain name with 5 email boxes and up to 400 email aliases for $18/yr. It's not free but gives me plenty of flexibility. S/D have their own email plus I can forward email to multiple destinations. When S/D go away to college they can keep using the account or forward email to their university account. I could even set up an email alias for my S/D for every school: harvard@x.y, duke12@x.y, etc. I think that's overkill though.

Setting up visits for a spring break trip this year, S made most of the arrangements w/ behind the scenes help from parents, although I had to make some last-minute changes due to my work schedule. I don't think it hurts the student's chances for parents to be involved where they have to, but the student needs to learn to take responsibility.

[CountingDown]

To clarify -- while DS contacted schools and profs, DH did the travel arragnements and logistics, since he was the one doing 1700 miles of driving in five days. Wanted to make sure he had a comfortable bed and food to eat, after many hours of driving, I guess...

If DS needed to reach someone at a school and he absolutely could not do it, I would make the call, but my preference is for him to take the reins.

[meredesfilles]

My d made a list of where to go over spring break--but I contacted the schools.

I drop her off at school at 7:30 in the morning and she is never home before 4 pm. She is there until after 6 a lot of the time.

All of the schools that we looked at over spring break were on the East Coast, ahead one hour, and required phone calls for appts. So I had to do it.

She was active in the planning, looking for hotels etc,

[standrews]

While DS arranged to spend a night in the dorm, two of the schools on our spring trip had hotel/conf. centers on campus. For schools that have such facilities, I would highly recommend those accommodations for parents. It makes better use of time and helps get a better feel for the school.