Should I Visit Grad Schools Before Applying?

[abraxas]

I just graduated college last month, and now that I'm no longer quite as exhausted as I once was, I'm ramping up on the application process for Fall 2011 (and, in some cases, Spring 2011). I happen to have a family member who works for a major US airline, so I get flight privileges. I'm wondering if its worth it to take the time and hotel expenses to visit several of the campuses and talk to admissions counselors at some of the schools I'm interested in, and I'd also like to see the campuses, maybe sit in on classes or talk to current grad students if possible. I'm applying to MA and PhD programs in IR, either on the East Coast or Chicago (I'm in California). I visited all of the Washington DC ones last year, but I'm wondering whether or not visiting the Boston or NY ones is worth it.

I know that most people choose to visit campuses after acceptance, but I was wondering whether or not its worth it to visit campuses prior to applying? Would admissions counselors even remember me come admissions offer time? Would it demonstrate interest in the school if I flew all the way out there and would that be taken into consideration by admissions committees (who are on those, anyway?) Anyone else visit grad schools before applying?

[matcha]

When I was applying, I broke my list into three parts- "In my dreams" schools, "really good schools I stand a chance in" schools, and "safetyish" schools.

If I had the money, I would have loved to have visited the second tier schools, the "really good schools I stand a chance in" schools. They are the ones I ended up having to choose from and the ones I really should have spent more time focusing.

It might also be good to know where to spend your time, effort, and application fees. If I had visited a few certain schools before applying, I wouldn't have wasted so much time, expense, and heartache on their applications.

[fadeindreams]

Matcha's (mmm...green tea) advice is sound. If you don't have the resources or time to visit all schools, then it makes sense to visit those that you feel you have a reasonable shot at.

Of course, you could also do as I did and just apply to your dream programs and then be pleasantly surprised when a majority say they want you to attend. In January, after I submitted all of the applications, I was certain that I wouldn't be attending school this fall. I thought I'd just wasted hundreds of dollars and hours on a process I'd have to repeat again a year later. Luckily, I was wrong! So if you have a year to take an ambitious shot, I'd say give it a go!

For IR, I recommend checking out University of Denver's Korbel School if you haven't already. They have a great reputation in the field AND they are in Denver.

[aginath]

Keep in mind that depending on the program/school, some of them bring you out during the application process. I applied to three schools. One of those applications included applying for a visitation program through the graduate school (Outreach & Diversity Office) to help you strengthen your application and visit with your prospective program. If I recall, they gave me $100 towards travel and put me up in a hotel. It was worth it to apply early and get that experience. Another of the programs contacted me after I applied and invited me to their visitation weekend. They had narrowed the field to about 12 candidates and brought all 12 of us together in one weekend (paid for airfare and transportation from the airport to the school; all hotels in the area were booked, so they also put us up with current graduate students, which was actually kind of cool) to meet the department, prospective advisors, etc. After that weekend, they culled another 4 and offered admissions to the rest of us. Take advantage of these types of opportunities if you can.

[lifetimestudent]

My answer after doing this last year is yes - unequivocally - you should visit the schools that you really want to get into. You should be thinking about it as a way to network with potential professors. You should be learning as much as you can about the programs, what they expect, what they expect of their students, etc. so that you can tailor your applications towards them and get into the program. What you *should not* do, however, is approach it like you have already been accepted and are just choosing which school to go to. Treat it like an interview, but one in which your initiative is the most important. They will not call you up to bring you in for an interview; it is up to you to go to them.

[Eigen]

I visited one school before I got in (the summer before applications) and it made the process much smoother.

The others I didn't get to visit until after applications had made it in that fall, but that was mostly due to a busy semester.

Visiting helped a lot with the decision process.

I'll also echo picking a few "Good schools that you have a nice shot at", and focusing on those.

I see a lot of people applying to a ton of schools, and I personally went the route of picking a few schools I'd be really happy at, and spending a lot of effort in my applications there (read all the pubs from the last 10 years of any group you're interested in, include some mild critique and suggestions for further research in groups that interest you, etc).

It worked well for me, made applications less stressful, and meant I only had to decide between a few schools I really liked.

Edited August 2, 2010 by Eigen

[newms]

Yes. And if possible try to arrange a meeting with a prof who's work your interested in.