I'm Planning to Visit...

[APGradApplicant]

With initial decisions now winding down, I thought it would make sense to start this thread so that people can share their thoughts about where they're planning to visit. I've decided to accept travel offers to four of the programs to which I was admitted. My schedule for the next month is as follows:

UC-Davis

WashU

FSU

UT-Austin

So yeah, in addition to racking up a fair share of frequent flyer miles, I'm hoping that I'll get the chance to meet some professors in person, get an overall "feel" for these departments as well as the cities in which they are located, and most importantly, get a chance to talk to some grad students who haven't been selected by professors to "sell" the programs but instead will be willing to speak honestly and frankly "off the cuff" about their experiences. I think that all of this, particularly the latter, are valuable things to figure out and can only be done to their fullest with an in-person visit.

I'd be interested to know where other folks here are visiting as well as how people have narrowed their choices. Post away!

[thatsnotmyname]

Great thread AP! I am only visiting two schools- Cornell and UPenn both in the third week of March. Should be a good experience and will hopefully give me some good information on the schools.

And Rossiya- I am surprised that Madison's visit dates are so late- you would think with an April 15th decision date they would want to have people visit earlier.

[HarrisonWinslow]

Good thread.

I am visiting:

UC-Davis (March 3-5) and;

Michigan State (March 28).

I'll see ya there AP!

[kmp34]

Great thread AP! I am only visiting two schools- Cornell and UPenn both in the third week of March. Should be a good experience and will hopefully give me some good information on the schools.

And Rossiya- I am surprised that Madison's visit dates are so late- you would think with an April 15th decision date they would want to have people visit earlier.

Hey thatsnotmyname! It would be great if you could share the details of the Cornell open house once you get back - I unfortunately can't make it because of other visits.. But would love to hear about what you gathered on the program.

[thatsnotmyname]

Hey thatsnotmyname! It would be great if you could share the details of the Cornell open house once you get back - I unfortunately can't make it because of other visits.. But would love to hear about what you gathered on the program.

I would be happy to! I will probably send a message to you (and anyone else unable to make it) just so I don't clog up the thread/forum will another topic.

[DJ_CA]

Berkeley (this weekend!): March 7-8

UCSD: March 9-10

UCLA: March 11-12 (maybe... haven't quite decided on this one yet)

Wisconsin: April 8-9

Looking forward to seeing some of you at these events!

[allevolve]

I find it kind of crazy that UCLA's visit dates are next week, yet they still have not finished sending out acceptances/rejections.

Edited March 2, 2010 by allevolve

[Yes]

Stanford: 4th - 7th

Princeton: 22nd - 23rd

Columbia: 24th - 26th

[GoCardinal]

Columbia, Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley

[Yes]

Columbia, Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley

I will see you at Stanford then... ... the day after tomorrow. So soon! How seriously are you taking the reading for the seminars btw? And when are you arriving? Are you coming in from Asia?

[anxiousapplicant]

I don't have anywhere to visit as of yet, but how do you think these visits will affect your current courses, assuming you're still in school?

[gsams]

Mizzou over my Spring Break! (next Friday through the following Tuesday!)

[Bobb Cobb]

I am going to the TAMU visit weekend on the 26th. I am already planning to attend, but it will be cool to meet some folks and enjoy the free trip.

[tskinner]

Today I told Davis that I will not be attending their open house (sorry AP!)...and for some reason I also sent the e-mail to Jennifer Evangelista over at UCSD! She sent me an e-mail very confused at why I was telling her I was not attending Davis. So embarrassed.

!

That being said, I will be at UCSD next week. See ya there!

[DJ_CA]

At the risk of asking a stupid, slightly off-topic question, what do you all suppose the appropriate attire is for these events? I neither want to arrive in nice slacks and a tie to find everyone else in jeans and hoodies, nor to roll up in my Communist Party t-shirt (you know, the one with Lenin and Mao, et al drinking from red cups, that only polisci people laugh at?) to find that I am embarrassingly underdressed. Thoughts? (Particularly from anyone who's been to one of these shindigs before...)

[unclejoecannon]

At the risk of asking a stupid, slightly off-topic question, what do you all suppose the appropriate attire is for these events? I neither want to arrive in nice slacks and a tie to find everyone else in jeans and hoodies, nor to roll up in my Communist Party t-shirt (you know, the one with Lenin and Mao, et al drinking from red cups, that only polisci people laugh at?) to find that I am embarrassingly underdressed. Thoughts? (Particularly from anyone who's been to one of these shindigs before...)

I would prepare for a mix. You probably shouldn't need anything dressier than business casual, and I truly doubt you will even need that. At the same time I would NOT wear jeans a t-shirt. Jeans and a button down shirt or sweater are more than acceptable, but you probably should leave the Communist Party t-shirt at home

To be cliche, first impressions matter!

[poli90]

I'm leaving tomorrow (!) to visit Northwestern and the University of Chicago.

[gsams]

In the past, I have worn business casual to these sorts of meetings. A sweater and khakis or dress slacks is really all you need. A button down or even polo would probably be just fine, too! As a woman, I have worn both slacks and skirts and a nice blouse.

[Mearsheimer's Minion]

At the risk of asking a stupid, slightly off-topic question, what do you all suppose the appropriate attire is for these events? I neither want to arrive in nice slacks and a tie to find everyone else in jeans and hoodies, nor to roll up in my Communist Party t-shirt (you know, the one with Lenin and Mao, et al drinking from red cups, that only polisci people laugh at?) to find that I am embarrassingly underdressed. Thoughts? (Particularly from anyone who's been to one of these shindigs before...)

Just email the grad coordinator. They know there are differences in standards from department to department, and by asking they will think you are far wiser than the people who stress over not knowing.

[StudentForever]

Just email the grad coordinator. They know there are differences in standards from department to department, and by asking they will think you are far wiser than the people who stress over not knowing.

As a grad student at a top 25, I highly suggest you NOT email the graduate coordinator. He or she is ridiculously busy this time of year and calls about wardrobe will not endear you to this person. I'd suggest calling the graduate secretary instead.

As for what you should wear, it varies by school. Some tell you what to bring, others give you no clue. It's always better to be slightly overdressed. I'd say a polo and khakis or slacks for guys will suffice, nice pants and a button-down shirt or blouse for women. Depending on the weather where you're visiting, make sure you bring appropriate shoes. It sucks to walk in heels or loafers through slush.

[APGradApplicant]

Yeah, I'm going with sweaters/button-downs and khakis with a nice pair of leather shoes (not dress shoes but not sneakers). It's not like I'm being interviewed for a job I haven't gotten, in which case I'd wear a suit, but at the same time it's not like it's one of those weekends where everybody is going to go hiking together to "bond", in which case I'd go casual. So somewhere in between is my determination.

[irishfan11]

First, I'm going to visit a few schools no one has mentioned on here.

Second, I agree with APGradApplicant, go business casual. However, from my neck of the woods, that could mean sweatpants that look like jeans (http://www.coolthings.com/pajama-jeans-look-comfy/), and a Harley Davidson collared shirt, with a flashy pair of high heeled crocs. I wouldn't lie to you guys (http://www.crocs.com/crocs-cyprus/10122,default,pd.html?cid=240).

I think we have all noticed what some of our past professors have worn, and it's not exactly a runway show in Paris.

Being the metrosexual I am (I have a girlfriend before you all start judging), I'm sure I'll get all kinds of ridiculous looks and people will most certainly feel I am overdressed.

Yeah, I'm going with sweaters/button-downs and khakis with a nice pair of leather shoes (not dress shoes but not sneakers). It's not like I'm being interviewed for a job I haven't gotten, in which case I'd wear a suit, but at the same time it's not like it's one of those weekends where everybody is going to go hiking together to "bond", in which case I'd go casual. So somewhere in between is my determination.

[DJ_CA]

Yeah, I'm going with sweaters/button-downs and khakis with a nice pair of leather shoes (not dress shoes but not sneakers).

Yeah, that was my original plan, but I thought I'd check with folks on here just in case other people were actually going to rock a level of formal above that. I hope no one actually thought I was actually serious about my Communist Party t-shirt!

[natofone]

Second, I agree with APGradApplicant, go business casual. However, from my neck of the woods, that could mean sweatpants that look like jeans (http://www.coolthings.com/pajama-jeans-look-comfy/), and a Harley Davidson collared shirt, with a flashy pair of high heeled crocs. I wouldn't lie to you guys (http://www.crocs.com/crocs-cyprus/10122,default,pd.html?cid=240).

I say just go for the snuggie:

or the baby snuggie:

[poliscigal]

You will soon learn that political scientists are a poorly dressed group. You'll be just fine with business casual. On my visits, I went with jeans and nice tops and was just fine.

I think that the only way that you'd receive comments is if you were overdressed, in a suit and the such.