Admitted Student Days- hoopla or ho hum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M is always fun - massive event tbh

And my son was turned off by the vibe (and other things besides) and went elsewhere. This is exactly why Admitted Student Days are valuable: some schools look great on paper, and some campus tours are curated such that details important to your kid are glossed over... but Admitted Student Days is when colleges typically let their hair down, dorms and dining halls are open, and the nitty-gritty gets revealed.

Please attend as many of them as possible.

What was the turn-off for him?

My son is a nerdy type. He did not like the really loud welcome in the sports arena. We visited examples of dorms, and they were old with no central air. The food was terrible, (but I hear that they've improved their meals since). The special program he was invited to be part of was inflexible with far less study abroad options than he was hoping for.

He went to his second choice, which turned out to be far more studious and nerdier (a plus for him), with renovated dorms, central air, better food and many more courses to choose from in the same major, plus exactly the study abroad option he was looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M is always fun - massive event tbh

And my son was turned off by the vibe (and other things besides) and went elsewhere. This is exactly why Admitted Student Days are valuable: some schools look great on paper, and some campus tours are curated such that details important to your kid are glossed over... but Admitted Student Days is when colleges typically let their hair down, dorms and dining halls are open, and the nitty-gritty gets revealed.

Please attend as many of them as possible.

What was the turn-off for him?

My son is a nerdy type. He did not like the really loud welcome in the sports arena. We visited examples of dorms, and they were old with no central air. The food was terrible, (but I hear that they've improved their meals since). The special program he was invited to be part of was inflexible with far less study abroad options than he was hoping for.

He went to his second choice, which turned out to be far more studious and nerdier (a plus for him), with renovated dorms, central air, better food and many more courses to choose from in the same major, plus exactly the study abroad option he was looking for.

Where did he end up? Sounds like a great school

[Anonymous]

This is not about whether you have a good time. It is about your kid figuring out where she can picture herself at home for 4 years. She needs to spend time with the other accepted kids and see how that feels.

It is a question of fit, so therefore unique to individual students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M is always fun - massive event tbh

And my son was turned off by the vibe (and other things besides) and went elsewhere. This is exactly why Admitted Student Days are valuable: some schools look great on paper, and some campus tours are curated such that details important to your kid are glossed over... but Admitted Student Days is when colleges typically let their hair down, dorms and dining halls are open, and the nitty-gritty gets revealed.

Please attend as many of them as possible.

What was the turn-off for him?

My son is a nerdy type. He did not like the really loud welcome in the sports arena. We visited examples of dorms, and they were old with no central air. The food was terrible, (but I hear that they've improved their meals since). The special program he was invited to be part of was inflexible with far less study abroad options than he was hoping for.

He went to his second choice, which turned out to be far more studious and nerdier (a plus for him), with renovated dorms, central air, better food and many more courses to choose from in the same major, plus exactly the study abroad option he was looking for.

Where did he end up? Sounds like a great school

Elliott School of International Affairs, at George Washington. The rest of the school isn't that highly ranked, but Elliott has a great reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M is always fun - massive event tbh

And my son was turned off by the vibe (and other things besides) and went elsewhere. This is exactly why Admitted Student Days are valuable: some schools look great on paper, and some campus tours are curated such that details important to your kid are glossed over... but Admitted Student Days is when colleges typically let their hair down, dorms and dining halls are open, and the nitty-gritty gets revealed.

Please attend as many of them as possible.

What was the turn-off for him?

My son is a nerdy type. He did not like the really loud welcome in the sports arena. We visited examples of dorms, and they were old with no central air. The food was terrible, (but I hear that they've improved their meals since). The special program he was invited to be part of was inflexible with far less study abroad options than he was hoping for.

He went to his second choice, which turned out to be far more studious and nerdier (a plus for him), with renovated dorms, central air, better food and many more courses to choose from in the same major, plus exactly the study abroad option he was looking for.

Where did he end up? Sounds like a great school

Elliott School of International Affairs, at George Washington. The rest of the school isn't that highly ranked, but Elliott has a great reputation.

NP. What was the first option you described above, the one he didn't choose? Just curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We enjoyed William and Mary's very much. It's not going to give you the day to day feel, but it's a chance to learn more about the school, tour buildings, meet with club representatives, speak with professors in your major, and hopefully get excited about the school. The lunch was nice, and my son met his roommate when we sat at the same table with their family. Finding your student's name on the admission banner was fun and a good photo op.

How did your son find a roommate? Ahead of time on Instagram or?…..

We sat at lunch with a family from NJ who were very nice. After we left for the next session my son thought that he should have gotten the contact info for the other family's son because he thought he might make a good roommate. They ran into each other later that day and decided they would keep in touch. Once my son decided on W&M, they decided to be roommates.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone been to Visitas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone been to Visitas?

No, but it’s my favorite name for one haha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would love to hear more about W&M's DFAS. Planning to attend this year with my daughter. Accepted ED, so not about making a decision, but have heard such great things and she is excited to go in April.

It's a busy day. You'll check in and get your swag bag and find your student's name on the admissions banner. The first 45 minutes or so is in Kaplan Arena. Various student and admin speakers, cheerleaders, rah rah stuff. You'll be able to look online to see the schedule which will include tours of buildings and talks on a variety of topics. There isn't time to get to all the ones you want to go to, but many are repeated throughout the day. My student and I split up some, too, so we could go to more sessions. Lunch is in the Sunken Gardens. Club tables are set up to visit and get info. There will be professor representatives from various majors to talk with as well. Then the afternoon sessions and wrap up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M is always fun - massive event tbh

And my son was turned off by the vibe (and other things besides) and went elsewhere. This is exactly why Admitted Student Days are valuable: some schools look great on paper, and some campus tours are curated such that details important to your kid are glossed over... but Admitted Student Days is when colleges typically let their hair down, dorms and dining halls are open, and the nitty-gritty gets revealed.

Please attend as many of them as possible.

What was the turn-off for him?

My son is a nerdy type. He did not like the really loud welcome in the sports arena. We visited examples of dorms, and they were old with no central air. The food was terrible, (but I hear that they've improved their meals since). The special program he was invited to be part of was inflexible with far less study abroad options than he was hoping for.

He went to his second choice, which turned out to be far more studious and nerdier (a plus for him), with renovated dorms, central air, better food and many more courses to choose from in the same major, plus exactly the study abroad option he was looking for.

Yeah it's definitely very rah-rah. I think that's the atmosphere and school spirit admin has slowly been trying to increase (and successfully - student attendance at sports events is night and day compared to just a couple years ago) on campus, but I also would say to potential parents/students that you shouldn't necessarily let you turn that off. Plenty of students who have probably never stepped foot in a single athletic facility on campus.

Also, they won't still be done by DFAS, but highly recommend everyone walk by the new dorms and dining hall. Almost all of the remaining bad dorms on campus will be closing this summer. There will only be about ~250 non-air-conditioned beds left on campus next fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M is always fun - massive event tbh

And my son was turned off by the vibe (and other things besides) and went elsewhere. This is exactly why Admitted Student Days are valuable: some schools look great on paper, and some campus tours are curated such that details important to your kid are glossed over... but Admitted Student Days is when colleges typically let their hair down, dorms and dining halls are open, and the nitty-gritty gets revealed.

Please attend as many of them as possible.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VT was great in '22. Got to meet in smaller groups for his major and talk to current students about their classes, team sports, dorm life, etc. Even got to tour a few dorms. Felt very authentic. Some of the larger events still felt like a sales pitch, but that's to be expected. Made my son's decision easy.

We were also there in '22 and had the same experience. My daughter fell hard for the school and loves it there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We enjoyed William and Mary's very much. It's not going to give you the day to day feel, but it's a chance to learn more about the school, tour buildings, meet with club representatives, speak with professors in your major, and hopefully get excited about the school. The lunch was nice, and my son met his roommate when we sat at the same table with their family. Finding your student's name on the admission banner was fun and a good photo op.

How did your son find a roommate? Ahead of time on Instagram or?…..

She said they met when they sat at the same table for lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M is always fun - massive event tbh

And my son was turned off by the vibe (and other things besides) and went elsewhere. This is exactly why Admitted Student Days are valuable: some schools look great on paper, and some campus tours are curated such that details important to your kid are glossed over... but Admitted Student Days is when colleges typically let their hair down, dorms and dining halls are open, and the nitty-gritty gets revealed.

Please attend as many of them as possible.

What was he turned off by?

[Anonymous]

Davidson admitted student’s day was outstanding. DS picked it over Notre Dame, Tufts and CMC. Very happy freshman.