t_ruth Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 My field doesn't really do interviews, so I guess this means I have to visit the schools on my own dime, right? For those of you who are in the same boat (or were in the same boat), how do you go about arranging visits? Do you contact your potential advisor? Arrange through a graduate coordinator? Will they help you find out about things like campus childcare, or are you on your own for researching those things? Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solefolia Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 One of the programs I got into doesn't do interviews, but after getting an acceptance, I inquired about going there for a visit. I was all set to ask about potential funding, but the grad coordinator offered me a free flight, hotel, and dinner with faculty/students (not to mention meeting privately with current students, getting a tour of the town, transportation to/from airport). I was pretty surprised/grateful to hear this and I'll probably be heading out there late next month -- it's in the South, so it'll be a nice break from the cold of Wisconsin YMMV, of course, but it doesn't hurt to ask. I think most programs realize that before you can make a decision, you might want to check out the place you'll be spending the next ~5 years at. I'm sure the graduate coordinator will be able to give you full details about planning a visit, but if you feel more comfortable talking to your potential advisor, I imagine they'd have a pretty good idea of what the procedure is like as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardnav Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 I visited my top three, but had to pay for the trips myself, granted I arranged them before my application was complete, so they were definitely not going to pay. On my program's websites they listed who to contact -- I believe in all cases is was the graduate coordinator. They were really helpful and told me which hotels were closest to campus and the cheapest so I could minimize expenses like cabs etc. You aren't the first person to go visit so check the site, if it doesn't have any information call up the department and they'll fill you in on how arranging a visit works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adaptations Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Most schools (at least in my field) hold an admitted students day, where they generally provide a stipend for travel and housing, plus they provide food at most functions. Thus, if you wait to visit until after you've heard the results, you shouldn't have to pay much (if anything) to check out the schools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vidman Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 I know getting a paid-for visit is pretty standard in engineering. I think its the same with many science programs. This all happens after being accepted of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_ruth Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 I've received one acceptance, but no news on an admitted students day... When do you usually hear about such things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readyforachange Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 When I was admitted into my program for my master's, upon receiving my acceptance e-mail, the grad coordinator said information would be along shortly about a recruitment weekend. I think I got more concrete information about that weekend (when, where we would be staying, schedule) within the next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_ruth Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 So I guess I can write and ask if there is going to be an admitted students weekend or if I should just plan a visit on my own schedule... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gradlife Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 I have scheduled on visit at my own expense (Higher Education) and am spending Monday visiting with faculty, sitting in on a class, and having lunch with several current students. This is all on my own dime, but in my opinion is well worth the expense. As far as I know, very few schools offer paid visits in Ed programs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_ruth Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 Is that before or after you were accepted? I'm only going to visit the programs where I am accepted. I have no problem doing it on my dime (of course I'd prefer if they paid!), but I am just not sure if they usually have their own program is all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gradlife Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 t_ruth: I have not yet been accepted. I was planning to wait until after I heard, but I scheduled this during the application process and am just getting around to getting down here. The other schools I will only visit if I am actually accepted. I did drive through another college town on the way down here though and decided on the spot - that is not the town for me to spend the next several years (so even just a quick look around helped a lot). Congratulations on your acceptance and hopefully they will inform you soon about whether or not they are going to schedule anything. **For my last two programs (master's programs), they only had visitation days after accepting and committing to attend (not sure if that helps or if it is different for PhD). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rising_star Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 t_ruth, my field doesn't do interviews either. I think 5 of the schools I was accepted to last year invited me for a visit where they paid some or all of the costs. Sometimes a set amount, sometimes we'll pick up your flight. I always had to pick the weekend and let me know since they don't have any admitted student weekends or anything like that. So yea, ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohheygradschool Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 I got into a program I didn't have to interview for and when I heard about my acceptance over the phone, the person I talked to was quick to note when the visit day is and how much they are willing to pay for for getting me there. I totally didn't expect that. I guess it's worth asking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rutabaga Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Is it bad form to use the entire amount of money offered for travel? How many days can you legitimately stay there? I've got $400 to work with and the even is on a Friday. I'd love to stay a 2nd night to check out the area though. Does anyone think that would be frowned upon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expatbayern Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 If I know I'm in at one or more top choices before the campus visit days of some safety schools that have offered to fly me out, would it be unethical to go on the visit while knowing in the back of my head that the chance of my attending there is slim to none? All of the schools I applied to have professors I'd like to meet/network with, and for some it would be nice to see a new city or visit friends in those programs--but I might feel like I was stringing a school along in order to get a free trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rising_star Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 For all of my visits, I arrived on Thursday (midday) and left sometime on Saturday, usually early afternoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slothy Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 would it be unethical to go on the visit while knowing in the back of my head that the chance of my attending there is slim to none? It depends. I might do it if I thought the networking would be truly useful. And if you think the chance of attending is slim, well, you never know if a visit might really make you reconsider your skeptcisim about the program. When you consider that (assuming the program is housing you with current grads) the cost of the plane ticket and whethever you might get from the department (in professors' time and tangible goodies) is probably around $400ish, to me it would be worthwhile to even just slightly better inform such an important life decision as where one goes to grad school. It is very considerate of you to consider your impact on your programs though, particularly in this economy. As for sightseeing, there probably won't be any time - usually these things are fly out on Thursday evening and leave Saturday morning sorts of events. In the back of my mind, though, it has crossed my mind that these weekends would be a great opportunity to finally get elite frequent flyer status. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycholinguist Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Is it bad form to use the entire amount of money offered for travel? How many days can you legitimately stay there? I've got $400 to work with and the even is on a Friday. I'd love to stay a 2nd night to check out the area though. Does anyone think that would be frowned upon? One of the schools I'm going to visit emailed me asking whether I wanted two nights at a hotel, because students from out of town like to take a second day to explore the city that it's in! I'm not sure whether this is a typical attitude amongst graduate programs, but surely anything you could do that might help you explore the local area (and maybe discover that you really like it) would be met with approval on the part of the programs in question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelloFeminists Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 When I was admitted into my program for my master's, upon receiving my acceptance e-mail, the grad coordinator said information would be along shortly about a recruitment weekend. I think I got more concrete information about that weekend (when, where we would be staying, schedule) within the next week. That is basically the sequence of events that is happening to me at my #1 choice program [ and also the only program that I've heard back from so far] They've told me they'll pay for my airfare, but I don't yet know the itinerary, how long, exactly where I'll stay, et cetera. The department is Feminist Studies, so I'm really glad they're offering to pay - I was worried they might have taken a funding cut what with being part of the UC system during CA's massive economic crunch and what with not being a "hard science". I also can't afford to visit anywhere that won't pay. So we'll see what happens... I too am interested in whether they're willing to pay for more than one night, whether I'll stay on campus or in a hotel, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohheygradschool Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I'm really interested to see if my programs are willing to pay for my ticket up front, rather than reimburse me. I don't have the money to pay for any sort of plane ticket on my own. Yay 28 dollars in the bank! I don't know how that will work out, but it will be the determining factor in whether or not I visit 2 of my schools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rising_star Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Use a credit card to pay for the visit. All of my visits were reimbursed by the schools. No one ever gave me the money upfront. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_ruth Posted February 9, 2009 Author Share Posted February 9, 2009 ditto rising_star. That's what credit cards are there for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ampersand Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 It's a good suggestion to use a credit card, but if bubotuberpus doesn't have a credit card or is unable to put an airline ticket on his/her credit card, I suggest calling the department and explaining the situation. They may be willing to directly book your flight for you. I can't imagine that the department would essentially block you from attending the recruitment weekend just because you don't have the means to purchase a ticket up front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miratrix Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 If you're admitted but there's no visiting weekend, what exactly do you ask about arranging a visit? "Hi, I'd like to visit, when should I come and where should I stay and what should I do"? Really, I have no idea how to approach this email.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ampersand Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I would send an email to the DGS or grad secretary and ask about scheduling a visit to campus. You can say something like you're considering several options and you'd like to visit X University to get a feel for the department. If a school is serious about getting you to attend, they should be glad to arrange a visit for you. They'll usually bring you out for a day or two, reimburse you for your flight, and book a hotel room for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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