I think pushing decision day back would be a logistical nightmare - there are too many moving parts with kids coming off wait lists, and needing to schedule summer orientation sessions.
I have to say, I agree with @lbrickme . Please do not visit a campus that has cancelled tours. My kid is in a state with no reported infections yet and I am praying it stays that way.
I agree as well. While our S has learned to accept the large number of “campus tourists” we are in new territory with the virus and should give colleges room to try their best to manage the situation.
Just wanted to add that LMU did cancel their big Preview Day for admitted students, mentioning it was out of an abundance of caution as it tends to draw over 3,000 people. However, they said they will present admitted students with multiple options in April, each of which will presumably draw smaller numbers of people. They said at those events the admitted students who attend will have the chance to tour the campus, dorms, and facilities, see student panels and “hear from faculty and staff.” So they are not closing down all campus tours and are in fact going to invite admitted students to some smaller events. I think this is a good approach.
Well then…if a college asks that you stay away…then stay away. Take advantage of the virtual tours on the websites.
For generations, students made college matriculation decisions without admitted student days.
Just do the best you can to make the right decision. Most students grow where they are planted.
Yes, a lot of schools are doing this. Check with any schools you are interested in. And I suspect more schools will cancel in the coming weeks.
My daughter is a junior and we were planning on looking at schools this spring. She had a tour scheduled at MIT next week and she just told me she got an email canceling tours for the spring semester. Wondering if lots of schools are doing this? We may need to re think our April break plans.
Clark (Massachusetts) just emailed us given an upcoming visit we have scheduled to say they are still doing info sessions and tours as of now but no class visits.
Sorry if this was said already, but I received an email this afternoon that Amherst College is suspending on-campus visitor programs until at least May 1. There goes my college-tour plan during April break.
Add Rice to the list - they just cancelled Owl Days and Admit Days.
My D21 and I were scheduled to leave on a Massachusetts college tour next week but half the colleges we planned to visit have canceled due to Coronavirus concerns. It’s likely we’ll postpone as we run the risk of more cancellations after arrival. I know that in the grand scheme of things – people dying and the Dow plummeting – college admissions concerns are less important, yet my D21 is having a lot of anxiety about this. She worries about how to choose a first choice school (for ED in the fall) when she can’t visit campuses, and she worries about SAT test day, and the possibility of school closure, etc. I reminded her that every other 11th grader in the country is in the same situation – I don’t think that helped! If Washington state is our example, it seems inevitable the rest of the country will follow with school closures and the like. I’d appreciate hearing from other parents about how you’re navigating all of this with your kids. Thanks!
I received this today for the admitted students Events:
CLARK UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
We’ve had to make some changes,.
In light of the current global health circumstances, we are adjusting our admissions visit programming for the spring. In an effort to prioritize the health and safety of our visitors and campus community, we are cancelling all large-scale admissions events, including Inside Clark and Destination: Clark.
However, we are still hosting visitors for tours and info sessions for now. We would love to have you on campus and encourage you to sign up for a visit here. If you need to make changes to an existing visit, or would like to cancel your visit to campus, please reply to this email and we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. We look forward to having you on campus this spring!
Best,
The Campus Visit Team
PS. To read Clark’s updates regarding the COVID-19 response, you can visit here.
I emailed Northeastern over the weekend because D20 wants to go to welcome day in early April. As of about 10 AM, they had no plans to cancel. As of about 6 PM, they emailed that they might move to an online streaming event. For people who have to book flights, we kind of need to know - if you’re going to cancel, fine - but make a decision.
I know that this is a tough decision for schools as this is quickly evolving. But people do need to plan and buy plane tickets. Will they be refunding airline tickets if they cancel? What about non-refundable hotel rooms? I know some airlines are giving refunds but there are parameters and some airlines are not. I wish schools would just cancel them if they’re going to and we will try to make it out for a regular tour day instead (if they are still having them). Visits are expensive and all of my D’s final choices are a plane ride away so it’s just frustrating
Princeton email today; tours and visits are canceled.
NYU email today “ We are cancelling admission tours, sessions, and events from now through April.”
Pomona College: For admissions, Spring POP and Admitted Student Weekend programs scheduled for April 18-20 are cancelled. Student-guided admissions tours also are discontinued, and once-a-day information sessions will be discontinued after Friday, March 13. The Admissions and Financial Aid offices will be closed to the general public but will remain open for current students. Only self-guided tours will be available for visitors.
Just an added thought. At some colleges, the folks doing the tours are actually paid to do so…student jobs. If these are cancelled…this is also lost income for these students.
Yale has canceled admitted student days for PhD (and maybe other grad students) according to D. They’re on an earlier decision timeline than undergrads.
DePauw has canceled admissions events for now. As of yesterday you could still visit campus, but not any large group events.