Do I really need to visit the school and city before I attend?

[thesnout]

Just like the topic title says, I'm trying to decide whether or not I want to spend upwards of $800 to $1000 to visit the university. I'm in Ontario and the school is in Calgary. I'd rather put that money towards tuition or books or other expenses. If I went it would be for about 3 days max.

I have a cousin in Calgary who has told me about the city and I trust what she says. Some people say to go and visit, while others say it's a waste of money. Travelling in Canada is quite expensive (in my opinion). I could probably go to the carribean using this money!!

I guess I'm undecided and leaning towards not visiting and just going in September. I'd rather use this money towards residence. I chose to live on campus so I wouldn't have to visit the school early.

Any opinions would be good. Have people visited their schools after getting accepted? Or did you just go when school started? Thanks

Edited April 29, 2011 by cherylsafina

[sociolog86]

I don't think a visit is absolutely necessary in your case. If you have had decent contact with potential advisors and have contact with someone who lives in the area.

Personally, I did not visit the school I chose to attend (although I visited others) until I moved here in July. Actually, I had never been to my new city until I came to find a place to live!

It ended up great. I love it here!

[lyonessrampant]

It may be a little different with a trusted source to tell you about the city, but when I was visiting for my MA and then Ph.D., it wasn't the city I was going to visit but the department. Do you LIKE the people in the program you'll be working with? I don't know, but I wanted the feeling that I liked the advisors I'd be working with intimately for quite a few years. Some people are off putting in spite of brilliance. . .I don't want to be in that type of dynamic for 4-6 years, personally. I'd go visit, I think. In the States, you usually get at least all if not most of your visit paid for, even if you get reimbursed later rather than at the start. Can you talk to your program about some financial help? Good luck!

[runonsentence]

I think the only reason I'd urge you to visit (at this point) is to scout out places to live—but you've already chosen to live on campus, and you have a cousin in town. I say go ahead and save yourself the money and trouble.

[fuzzylogician]

If you've already decided to go and you're not going to change your mind then I don't see why you need to go. Enough people get to a new city in the summer, get settled into a good apartment and do just fine. You also have contacts in your new city so there's really nothing to worry about. I agree that in theory it's always to visit than not, but given other considerations I don't think that it's worth the money in this case.

[thesnout]

Thanks for the responses. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to go for a visit before attending. Plus my summer job won't let me take time off (unless I want to lose my job).

I'm set in my decision to attend the school and already paid $500 deposit. I really like the way the program is set up and the advisor(s) I may be given are really good professors/professionals, so I know I'll be happy there. I've called them with a lot of questions in advance too.

The program will not reimburse me for the visit so I'd rather put that $1000 towards my rent. If I were rich or had more money I'd definitely find a way to go but I'm footing the bill for 1st with scholarship/bursary opportunities for 2nd year. Every penny counts right now.

Thanks everyone.