Your kid needs to treat admitted student day/weekend as a serious opportunity to choose their home for the next 4 years. Would they like the school when the weather is bad? Would they like the school when the work piles up and everyone around them is tired/stressed out? Are the kids able to get into classes in their major easily or get into classes that interest them? Is it common/easy for students to explore and take classes outside their major? Are there social/extracurricular outlets that interest them (outside competitive Greek life and competitive student clubs)? Do they see themselves spending their weekends on campus?

Anonymous wrote:Eat in the dinning hall and just get the vibe. It’s your home for the next 4 years so it should feel like “your people “. God luck!

My son swore by this method. And area around the “student center” - often around the bookstore.

^Balanchine appreciation conference not Stravinsky. With various famous ballet artists who worked with him present for panel discussions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend looking for campus events that aren't part of the admitted students day.

What I love about the large flagship where I got my grad degree and where my oldest attends now is the wide variety of events.

I have been to so many interesting lectures, concerts, theatrical works, etc. over the years. Many of them free and just walk-in. It's one of the major strengths of my flagship and all the info is on the web.

Also, I have experience with studying at 3 different flagships and this one has way more on offer than the other 2.

I think getting restaurant advice can also make a visit nicer.

Which one?

Michigan. I just love it. I'm not sporty at all - have only gone to a few football games over the years. Some of my favorites over the years: Armenian shadow puppetry, Indonesian gamelan orchestra, Indian musicology lecture on time signatures, Laurie Anderson concerts, Complicite doing a Murakami-based show, Shakespeare in the Arb (outdoor strolling show), lots of student plays and musicals, a Stravinsky appreciation conference, and students doing readings from their long-form journalism articles about Great Lakes Ecology (English class final project).

I was an MBA student long ago. During my years there I went to lots of student run conferences. These are mainly for current students but depending on the agenda they may be of general interest. Examples include: Net Impact/Students for Responsible Business, Women in Leadership Conference, Black Business Students Conference, Asia Pacific Business Conference. They are usually open to non-business students and the public although the ticket prices go up for general public.

Lots of famous and semi-famous people come through to give lectures. I like the departmental talks that aren't necessarily by famous people.

I moved from MoCo to Michigan and stayed here. I still go to Ann Arbor to do cultural things. It's a great local resource to keep in touch with the world.

Anonymous wrote:You don't ask any questions, you let your kid experience them and make their own decision. Truly, don't be that parent

Let the student take in the experience. You’re really just there to observe from the background. No need to overthink or over prepare for these events. Register, show up, and let the student see how they feel afterwards. Often a clear favorite choice will emerge.

Anonymous wrote:See whether students tend to go off campus on weekends to socialize or if there’s enough going on on campus most weekends to keep students busy.

+1. Several kids I know were surprised that their college felt more like a commuter school on weekends.

See whether students tend to go off campus on weekends to socialize or if there’s enough going on on campus most weekends to keep students busy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask how many classes are online, ask how hard it is to get the classes you need for your major, ask about housing after freshman year.

Are there still schools with online classes post covid? I thought all classes were in person now.

Some classes are still online. My DS had one ( and only) at JMU last semester. It involved all group projects so required him getting together with other students every week, so he actually loved it, but the teaching and tests were online.

I have heard from friends that the Univ of Tennessee and Univ of Florida have a lot online.

Anonymous wrote:Ask how many classes are online, ask how hard it is to get the classes you need for your major, ask about housing after freshman year.

Are there still schools with online classes post covid? I thought all classes were in person now.

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend looking for campus events that aren't part of the admitted students day.

What I love about the large flagship where I got my grad degree and where my oldest attends now is the wide variety of events.

I have been to so many interesting lectures, concerts, theatrical works, etc. over the years. Many of them free and just walk-in. It's one of the major strengths of my flagship and all the info is on the web.

Also, I have experience with studying at 3 different flagships and this one has way more on offer than the other 2.

I think getting restaurant advice can also make a visit nicer.

Which one?

I would recommend looking for campus events that aren't part of the admitted students day.

What I love about the large flagship where I got my grad degree and where my oldest attends now is the wide variety of events.

I have been to so many interesting lectures, concerts, theatrical works, etc. over the years. Many of them free and just walk-in. It's one of the major strengths of my flagship and all the info is on the web.

Also, I have experience with studying at 3 different flagships and this one has way more on offer than the other 2.

I think getting restaurant advice can also make a visit nicer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid cannot decide so we're visiting schools in his top 5. What should he be looking for, questions to ask, things to note?

Doesn’t he already know what he wants in a college? How did he put his initial list together? He should review his criteria, prioritize it and evaluate how each school matches up. My kid was down to two and did a pro con list.

You realize that some colleges can be super similar in size, location, majors, etc? It gets down to less of a pro/con list and more of a feeling like this will be a better fit.

Totally. I told my very math type kid that she had to put away all her spreadsheets at admitted student day. It wasn’t about numbers anymore- it was about what felt right.

Our kids liked seeing the other potential students so they could get a feel of who their classmates might be. They observed the current students going about their day and tried to really get the vibe of the campus. When they originally toured and met with faculty, learned about their majors and programs.

For them, admitted student day was to get a better glimpse of campus life. One school that had been a front runner fell down on the list. It’s a subjective day. They were there with a friend and for our DD, admitted students day confirmed the no but for the friend, it confirmed the yes.

Anonymous wrote:Pay attention to what you’re NOT seeing. I remember going to an admitted students day on a Saturday with our son. Partway through on the tour, I started noticing things like the no fliers posted in the dorms for campus events & meetings. Also noted that there were no bike racks. These seem like small things, but they made me wonder how kids connected outside the classroom. Were there opportunities to start clubs, go to film series, protest something, go on a sponsored nature walk…anything? Or did kids just hang out in their dorms or the library and go home on the weekends?

which college doesn't have bike racks?

Pay attention to what you’re NOT seeing. I remember going to an admitted students day on a Saturday with our son. Partway through on the tour, I started noticing things like the no fliers posted in the dorms for campus events & meetings. Also noted that there were no bike racks. These seem like small things, but they made me wonder how kids connected outside the classroom. Were there opportunities to start clubs, go to film series, protest something, go on a sponsored nature walk…anything? Or did kids just hang out in their dorms or the library and go home on the weekends?