<p>Posted this on the parents board and got no response. A moderator suggested I try here. </p>
<p>We visited MIT on Monday and while we expected the group tour to be large due to the school holiday, we were surprised when a group of 50 international students who arrived for the tour without any visible parent or adult supervision. They apparently had been to Harvard in the morning because several were wearing Harvard clothing on the MIT tour. Many of them slept through the presentation. Very few raised their hands when the presenter asked who had applied and who was a junior thinking about applying.</p>
<p>On Tuesday morning, we took the T to Harvard just to walk around campus and saw the same types of groups all over campus. </p>
<p>I can see where an international family would not be able to afford for parents to accompany their child, but I was curious as to how prevalent this is and what other areas of the country these groups visit if they are the norm. And do they only visit top tier schools?</p>
<p>I’m thrilled about your experience. I had never heard about such groups of international students touring campus. A few here and there is understandable, but 50+ is an interesting fact.</p>
<p>Well, most people assume that international students are poor and can’t afford many things, including visiting USA. But, being an international student from a Central American country, I can assure you that’s not always the case. Many of the foreign students that apply for US universities are from very comfortable backgrounds, which is the reason why they develop this elitist thought of being ‘fit’ for elite schools like Harvard & Co. Poor students are better off at the local U, because that’s the reality of what they can afford.</p>
<p>The snobby kids are eventually rejected from those elite universities and simply settle for the local private university because their money couldn’t get them farther and private universities accept you as long as you pay. </p>
<p>So, the answer to your question is yes, they only visit top tiers because these rich kiddies think they belong and their parents (who worked their souls off to give them a comfortable life) wanted them to visit these places hoping they’ll some day join. Proof based on what you saw is how disrespectful they were (not paying attention to the presentation and wearing another university’s clothing). After the touring they probably left with friends for a Cruise.</p>
<p>I know I’m generalizing and being condescending, but that is based on experience in my own country. All my classmates had the resources for a great education, but they settled for the local private university which won’t take them anywhere.</p>
<p>I did a high school exchange year in the US a couple of years ago. The exchange organization organized a couple of trips for the international students in the area, to destinations within half a day’s drive. One of the trips went to Boston and included a campus tour of Harvard.</p>
<p>Our group looked exactly as you described: about 50 international students without adult supervision, most of them not particularly interested in applying to Harvard.</p>