How do you afford all those college visits?

cptofthehouse
Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:55:33 +0000

Um, I am pretty close to quoting an admission director here. If you do not visit some schools, especially if you apply from afar, you will be at a disadvantage in admissions. Also, the GCs from several different highschool (from my kids) have said the same thing about some schools. it is not engraved in stone, but it is a pretty strong situation at some schools. If you do not visit, you should have a reason why you are not visiting at such school.
The adcom, by the way, said it was not a matter of showing lack of interest that is a problem, when a student does not visit. They have not had a good track record of kids coming from afar if they have not at least checked out the area. If you are a Southerner applying to a small midwest school, there is that concern that you may not know what you are getting into. Since fit is very important in these small schools, they would like to see you on their campus, in their neck of the woods and then saying, you like it there. If you don’t do that, just some questons via e-mail or contaacting an alum is not going to cut it. Some schools feel strongly enough about it that they will help out if finances are an issue. I can tell you that Holy Cross which was on my son’s list, out and out said that not only should an applicant visit, he should interview. IF you don’t do so, you should bring up the matter, and discuss the situation with the adcom.

Some highschools that carefully track admissions even track visits of candidates. That is useful in seeing trends of kids who do not visit not getting in despite stats that would indicate otherwise.

Does that mean you 100% do not have a chance of getting into such a school if you don’t visit? No. But it can affect your chances. One of my kids did get into such a school without a visit–he decided not to do so after apps were mailed. But his GC really pushed that visit, as he did not really have a good reason not to do so. If you have a fee waiver, are applying for aid and can show a clear reason for wanting a school, it may not affect your app result, particularly if you address why you are not visiting. But there is definitely good reason to visit if you don’t have a clear reason not to do so.