What school dropped off the list because of your visit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My takeaway from most of this thread is that tours are unhelpful. Though people like to talk about “fit,” I think it’s largely bogus. A lot of kids - maybe most - get to their school and find good and bad points, but most adapt after finding some friends and especially after they decide on a major. Social and academic structure becomes their friend, memories are made, and degrees are obtained. As many have said, tours artificially influence kids, which may lead to a decision that becomes a mistake. It’s important to understand that for teens (they’re really not adults) this is a big emotional decision, as much as an academic one. That means many are looking for comfort, which they may find on a tour but later regret using as an over-weighted criterion.

I vehemently disagree. Maybe school-specific? Former volunteer campus tour guide. I regularly had enrolled freshmen recognize me on campus and belatedly thank me. But maybe I was just that good.

Most all of my tours were parents and HS students who were interested in applying but wanted that personal q and a/inside scoop/student perspective.

What type of inside scoop information did you provide that might have made a difference? Just curious.

This PP and thanks for asking!

I figured out right away that although I had been drilled on campus history and the background and significance of every single building, parents wanted to ask me about my perspective as a student; what was my major but honestly, more about how I spent my time outside of class; i.e., was I a world class partier, was I a stereotype?

I usually offered my unique perspective and insights quite freely, explaining that I was involved in student government, a sorority, student activities planning, intramurals and carried 18 credits my last semesters. Often my tours felt like an interview! I think I calmed fears of many parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just crossed Virginia Tech off our list after a visit on a beautiful sunny day. DD did not like the feel with all the big gray buildings. No tour available so we went around on our own. The provided maps were wholly inadequate for navigating around and construction made some buildings inaccessible. Military drills and large numbers of kids in uniform was a turnoff. The buildings we did go in seemed dingy and run down. Residential side was slightly better but not enough to change her feeling. She couldn’t see herself going to Virginia Tech.

It's important for spoiled young adults to be completely unaware that the military exists, so they can continue to allow other people to make sacrifices to protect them without any sense of responsibility or gratitude.

Wow - project much? What makes you think my DD or our family is “unaware that the military exists?” What makes you think our family hasn’t made sacrifices to protect this country? What sacrifices have you made?

She’s trying to go to college, not join the military. Like I said above, it didn’t make a good impression for her and doesn’t seem like a good fit. I thought that’s what this thread was about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just crossed Virginia Tech off our list after a visit on a beautiful sunny day. DD did not like the feel with all the big gray buildings. No tour available so we went around on our own. The provided maps were wholly inadequate for navigating around and construction made some buildings inaccessible. Military drills and large numbers of kids in uniform was a turnoff. The buildings we did go in seemed dingy and run down. Residential side was slightly better but not enough to change her feeling. She couldn’t see herself going to Virginia Tech.

It's important for spoiled young adults to be completely unaware that the military exists, so they can continue to allow other people to make sacrifices to protect them without any sense of responsibility or gratitude.

Wow - project much? What makes you think my DD or our family is “unaware that the military exists?” What makes you think our family hasn’t made sacrifices to protect this country? What sacrifices have you made?

She’s trying to go to college, not join the military. Like I said above, it didn’t make a good impression for her and doesn’t seem like a good fit. I thought that’s what this thread was about.

Could be that you pointed out the military drills and people in uniform were a turn off and a reason to cross the school off the list.

[Anonymous]

Northwestern. Thought it was in Chicago but it's a half hour north of downtown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern. Thought it was in Chicago but it's a half hour north of downtown.

You probably could have figured that out without a visit.

[Anonymous]

Curious if in COVID times any college has created a downloadable audio tour similar to what art museums offer - " walk here and then listen to audio of your guide" - seems like an obvious improvement to the current - here is a campus map for self- guided campus tour

[Anonymous]

In my opinion, virtual learning is a little more complicated.

[Anonymous]

UofSC- the campus is undefined and melts into the surrounding area, and during our 4 hours on campus on a sunny warm weekday we saw only one student that was not white.

[Anonymous]

Sarah Lawrence. It felt tiny and like a large high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William & Mary. Campus seemed to lack energy and students seemed miserable.

+2 Great way to describe what my kid felt. Absolutely HATED the feel of W&M.

A million years ago. I refused to go on the William and Mary tour onceI saw the town. Never even stepped foot on the campus. 16 year olds can be very influenced by random things.

[Anonymous]

I know this has been discussed, but ... did the tour guide ever put you off?

We visited a SLAC in Pennsylvania twice -- once with DC#1 and once with DC#2. The first time, the tour guide was AMAZING. My kid and I were both very impressed, and she created a wonderful impression.

The second time, the tour guide was kind of an oddball. Not particularly impressive. Said she loved the school but I didn't really feel it. I know the tour guide shouldn't matter, but I'm still kind of scratching my head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this has been discussed, but ... did the tour guide ever put you off?

We visited a SLAC in Pennsylvania twice -- once with DC#1 and once with DC#2. The first time, the tour guide was AMAZING. My kid and I were both very impressed, and she created a wonderful impression.

The second time, the tour guide was kind of an oddball. Not particularly impressive. Said she loved the school but I didn't really feel it. I know the tour guide shouldn't matter, but I'm still kind of scratching my head.

What school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sarah Lawrence. It felt tiny and like a large high school.

Another who didn’t need to travel to know this. Colleges don’t feel tiny or medium or big. They are one of those things. I just googled it. SLC is ~1700 enrolled. It’s small. No need to go discover this.

[Anonymous]

I was finishing up my PhD at Marquette when my son was a junior in high school. I brought him to campus and he immediately didn't like it because the campus is bisected by Wisconsin Avenue which is a busy six-lane street. That helped me understand that he wanted a more compact and quiet environment. He ended up at Grinnell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:U Penn - too many bike police - too city - too much crime around
Georgetown - Crumbling buildings, trash everywhere, homeless on campus
UVA - brick building look like prisons.

How in earth dud you miss the rotunda and the lawn? It’s a world historic site