Guides: Visiting Your Admitted Schools

Out of all the various college admissions events that applicants can attend, one is most important of all. That is the college visit to the schools you could attend. With admissions for most schools released (or impending), applicants should be aware of what their true options are now. Once you know which schools you are choosing between—”then plan accordingly. Visiting your admitted schools is an important stage of your transition.

What is the biggest thing differentiating admissions events after receiving acceptance, from admission events before? Firstly, it's that the applicant must consider the programs very carefully. Previously, applicants were trying their best to impress the admissions committee. They worked to show that they can be a hard-working student. The metaphorical tables flip, though, once the applicant has been admitted into the school.

Now it's time for the admission committee to convince the admittee that their school is better than the other ones that the admittee has received admission from. This is why the college visits after being admitted are so important. This is when the college will showcase all its potential resources, highlighting its most exhilarating attractions, and more or less giving admittees every single reason it can to convince them to come in the fall.

Visiting your admitted schools is also helpful because you can find the most honest advice. Honest advice is sometimes hard to come by in college admission or at college admission events; but one group of people who are bound to give genuine advice? The current students at the school. As mentioned in a previous blog, talking to students during winter break helps because students have insight to both the academic rigor and the general atmosphere of the school. Yet another few months' instruction should give a student an even better idea! Doing this should fill in most of the other missing questions that an admittee may have about general life on campus.

While it may not be on the agenda, finding time when visiting to talk to other students is wise. The insights gained can make or break a decision for admittee. There's only so much the admission committee can say in hour-long info-sessions; so it's imperative for admittees to seek out other perspectives on campus.

The biggest thing about admissions events for admittees is simple. They are important because it's a whole new game after admittance. From how the staff treats them, to the type of advice they're given, new perspectives are brought into the fold. This is why visiting the college for its specifically catered events is emphasized. It's ultimately the final push for an admittee's decision. A decision which will decide the next four years!