is the visit for me or for them?

[flagler20]

Ultimately it's for me if it will improve my chances of being accepted, but then the question is will it? If I already know that I would accept an offer of admission to a school I have never visited, is there a point to visiting? Does it make all that much difference to the admissions committee if they have met you? What if your prospective adviser isn't even on the committee?

[ktel]

I'm assuming they are not going to pay for your visit? If they are refunding you, the decision is obvious, you should go visit. I still think some sort of visit is extremely worthwhile, even if you do have to pay out of pocket. It could help your chances, especially if you are meeting professors who could vouch for you or who would offer to be your adviser (in programs where this is necessary for admission)

[Sigaba]

The advantage of a visit is that face to face encounters allow opportunities for chemistry checks. The disadvantage of these chemistry checks is that you may get some information that is misleading if your field is one in which graduate students can have up and down relationships with their advisers.

When you talk to the contact at the institution you plan to visit, listen very carefully. And do listen more than you talk during the visit itself. Do not let your apprehension prevent you from hearing key bits of information--such as clear cut cues that you are going to be admitted and that the visit is about sizing you up for the type of financial support you're going to get (fellowship or teaching assistantship).

[LLajax]

Sigaba- Do you think the "sizing you up" thing counts for pre-application visits? I'm visiting a few places this month, and of course, I know I'm applying there, but until I submit my application, they don't have any official information on me (aka I don't exist). I've contacted POIs and arranged to meet with them, in the hopes that face time will work in my favor, but I can't imagine I'll get any cues about being admitted. For me I definitely view visiting early as something I can do to help my chances of finding a school that fits and will accept me. I figure that it can't hurt to visit. In the cases where I've contacted POIs and been invited to check out the departments, if I turn down the opportunity, then it may work against my favor/application.

[maeisenb]

Well it's for both of you to see if you get along, so it can't hurt and, if you really dislike someone for whatever reason personally even if you like their scholarship, then that would be a good sign that maybe you shouldn't apply. It could help your application depending on if you make it past the first round or two, the person remembers you, and argues for you to work there - but that's not necessarily true everywhere of course.

If I was you though, I'd definitely do it for the first reason and wouldn't turn anyone down, assuming it isn't going to cost you a ton of money.