Question about College Visits to School

[Anonymous]

My daughter is a junior and her current top choice college is visiting her school this week. Can anyone give me insight into these visits? Should she be prepared to say anything in particular? Bring anything? And also should she dress up or just look nice?

As I type them these seem silly but she is our oldest and we are brand new to this. We have also been asked as Junior parents not to bother the college counselors until the seniors have their ED apps in or I would just ask her.

Thanks for any help!

[Anonymous]

I would treat it a bit like a job interview if a HR recruiter were coming to visit. Dress to impress (nothing over the top but smart casual), do some basic research to demonstrate interest, and come prepared with a few questions.

[Anonymous]

Introduce herself.
Say why she is interested
Have 2 questions prepared that she can't answer on the college website.
No need to bring anything

[Anonymous]

I didn’t realize the person who came to my school was also the person who read my app. Tell you kid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t realize the person who came to my school was also the person who read my app. Tell you kid

They often do!

[Anonymous]

Has she connected with her regional AO during a previous in-school visit? and this would now be a 2nd/reinforcing interaction? This would be the best bang for your buck situation. If she doesn't know who's assigned to her school, email admissions and find that name and see if she can meet her during the visit.

But if it's a planned tour with 20-50 families, they will prioritize current-year applicants and I think it becomes really difficult to connect. My kid's college list kept on changing well thru her Junior year and I think many AOs know this is the case for many/most.

She should use this time to talk with other students on campus, and learn about the area, and academic interests, dorms/food, campus culture, etc.

If possible, see if she can sit in a class/lecture or speak to an academic advisor for the program she's most interested. She can then tie those things that mattered to her most in her future essays when answering the "Why Us?" questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t realize the person who came to my school was also the person who read my app. Tell you kid

Wait, what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t realize the person who came to my school was also the person who read my app. Tell you kid

Wait, what?

Yup and that person can be a powerful advocate for your kid. My oldest connected with the admissions rep on a school visit and then again a few months later at an event at the home of an alum who lives in the area. They had some shared interests and hit it off. When DC was accepted, the rep wrote a note saying DC's essay was one of the funniest he'd ever read.

[Anonymous]

OP here - this is all helpful. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t realize the person who came to my school was also the person who read my app. Tell you kid

Wait, what?

Yup and that person can be a powerful advocate for your kid. My oldest connected with the admissions rep on a school visit and then again a few months later at an event at the home of an alum who lives in the area. They had some shared interests and hit it off. When DC was accepted, the rep wrote a note saying DC's essay was one of the funniest he'd ever read.

Wow, thank you. I had no idea.

Since business cards for kids aren't a thing, is there a good way to make sure they remember you? (Outside of being memorable, I mean)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t realize the person who came to my school was also the person who read my app. Tell you kid

Wait, what?

Yup and that person can be a powerful advocate for your kid. My oldest connected with the admissions rep on a school visit and then again a few months later at an event at the home of an alum who lives in the area. They had some shared interests and hit it off. When DC was accepted, the rep wrote a note saying DC's essay was one of the funniest he'd ever read.

Wow, thank you. I had no idea.

Since business cards for kids aren't a thing, is there a good way to make sure they remember you? (Outside of being memorable, I mean)

Could they get the rep's email address and follow up with an email?

[Anonymous]

I think this really depends on the your kid’s school and the university in question. At my kid’s school, these visits are usually presentations to a group of students with Q&A but no obvious opportunities for personal connection. Kids do not dress up or do anything other than attend and listen and ask questions. It sounds like the sessions can be pretty awkward, and for highly selective schools that don’t consider demonstrated interest they are close to pointless if you’ve already toured/done research.

For a school that considers demonstrated interest, it’s different. Same if it’s a school that doesn’t have a lot of interest at your kid’s school; in that case it could be a good opportunity to make a connection if your kid is the only one or one of a very few present.

It’s also unusual for juniors to attend at our kids’ school, even though they are technically invited. So your kid should see what the norm is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this really depends on the your kid’s school and the university in question. At my kid’s school, these visits are usually presentations to a group of students with Q&A but no obvious opportunities for personal connection. Kids do not dress up or do anything other than attend and listen and ask questions. It sounds like the sessions can be pretty awkward, and for highly selective schools that don’t consider demonstrated interest they are close to pointless if you’ve already toured/done research.

For a school that considers demonstrated interest, it’s different. Same if it’s a school that doesn’t have a lot of interest at your kid’s school; in that case it could be a good opportunity to make a connection if your kid is the only one or one of a very few present.

It’s also unusual for juniors to attend at our kids’ school, even though they are technically invited. So your kid should see what the norm is.

Who attends then if not juniors? Senior year is too late...

[Anonymous]

At our school, kids sign up in advance to go to the sessions. All kids are welcome, but Seniors get priority. The visit are in the fall (now), and AO are looking to make connections with current seniors.

There is time before & after to introduce yourself or ask questions about your application.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t realize the person who came to my school was also the person who read my app. Tell you kid

Wait, what?

Yup and that person can be a powerful advocate for your kid. My oldest connected with the admissions rep on a school visit and then again a few months later at an event at the home of an alum who lives in the area. They had some shared interests and hit it off. When DC was accepted, the rep wrote a note saying DC's essay was one of the funniest he'd ever read.

Wow, thank you. I had no idea.

Since business cards for kids aren't a thing, is there a good way to make sure they remember you? (Outside of being memorable, I mean)

Could they get the rep's email address and follow up with an email?

Definitely follow up with a thank you email confirming your interest in the school and you can ask any further questions in the email.