<p>Avunculars, it’s time you found out about the existence of a document called the Common Data Set. Most colleges and universities publish one. It gives all kinds of information about the institution. They’re all arranged in the same way (that’s what’s “common” about them). Section C gives information about applicants for first-time freshman admissions, and Item C7 tells what criteria a college or university uses in making admissions decisions. Northwestern says that the level of an applicant’s interest (which would include, but not be limited to, visiting campus) is “considered,” but it is neither “important” nor “very important.” </p>
<p>Here’s a link to Northwestern’s Common Data Set: [2011-12</a> First-time, first-year (freshman) admission, Common Data Set, University Enrollment - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://enrollment.northwestern.edu/common-data/2011-12/c.html#c7]2011-12”>http://enrollment.northwestern.edu/common-data/2011-12/c.html#c7). You can usually find the Common Data Set for a college or university that you’re interested in by Googling the name of the institution and the words “common data set.”</p>
<p>And, just to confuse matters, I’d give the opposite advice from Crimsonstained and cowboycliche. I think if you visited Evanston when you were in middle school, and the experience has stuck with you through the years, you should say that you visited Northwestern in 2008. But I don’t think it’ll be a determining factor in the fate of your application either way.</p>