My kids were classes of 2020 and 2022. We got the visits done early for 2020 and he knew by January what his first choice was (which came through, thank goodness). And we essentially devoted the month before school started to getting the 2022 kid on campuses to make an ED choice. But, I certainly know many kids in 2020 (RD), 2021 (RD & ED) and 2022 (ED) who made choices without visits.

And now I’m watching all the 2020-2021 transfers. Kids who screwed up their DL grades and are trading up now that they have a year or two of decent college grades behind them. And kids who are unhappy where they landed. And even DD’s roommate who is a freshman (2022) and did ED without a visit and has not yet decided whether to come back in the spring or not. She is planning to transfer next year.

And here’s what I’ve learned. Make a decision with as many data points as possible the first time (obviously for 2020-2022, on campus visits just weren’t available for many kids). Many/most of the kids/ parents transferring are glad the option exists to get their kid in a better place. But don’t underestimate the stress of a kid with an unhappy freshman year or who struggles as a freshman and then has to turn around and apply for college again— keeping their grades up to transfer in a school they hate. And then start socially without the natural freshman entry. And don’t underestimate the potential cost. I know several kids that are either going year round or taking an extra semester/year because all their credits from their original college didn’t transfer or their proposed major has different requirements.

I don’t see why you would commit without getting a sense of the school. It’s like buying a house without touring it. You may not see the rusty pipes on the tour, but the neighborhood, noise, kids playing, light, maintenance, upkeep, the big kitchen with room for all the pots and pans.

College is a similar commitment. Yes, your kid can transfer if it’s bad enough. But, like moving, transferring is stressful and often expensive (merit aid and even need based aid may not be there). You want to get it right the first time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:expect to get bashed here but we did - and DS was accepted to a reach school. Now we will visit, but he’s going regardless of the visit. In my opinion, there is a ton of data to help kids make informed decisions, and arbitrary crap like a rainy day, snotty tour guide, or empty campus should be kept out of the equation. Let kid do his research and make the call - if a visit is needed to make the yes or no call, the process was mishandled.

Visits are overrated, sometimes bad visits paint a bad picture of a good school and vice versa.

I agree that a couple of hours can give one an incorrect impression but I also remember walking into a campus of a school I thought I would like a lot and feeling the lack of energy in the student lounge spaces, no one hanging out the way I pictured things, etc and knew it wasn’t for me. I was right.

DC felt the same way about Cornell. Bleak, and the students all looked miserable.

we went up there to visit the finger lakes, and just were not impressed by Ithaca. We were there in May, so the hiking in the Gorges and such was nice, but the town was very blah.

I think it's fine to apply early and not visit, if you're comfortable with that, but scratching my head on why you have to criticize others who want to?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we let our kid apply ED without visiting. She liked the school and it’s Duke, so we had no reason to object!

You never know, my senior did not like Duke after a visit.

right? There seems to be a feeling that everyone likes certain schools. Some places just are not a good fit for everyone and never will be, no matter how great they seem to the outside world based on academic rankings and/or school spirit, etc.

I actually had a sorority sister who transferred out of Duke to my school - I never actually asked her the reason.