Visit days: What's the deal?

[chillinlikeavillain]

Hi Everybody,

I'm going to be going to a couple of department visit days and I am totally unfamiliar with the process so I had a few questions:

1) Where do you stay?

2) Do you bring anything? Other than clothes, obv.

3) Do you go alone?

4) What happens at these things?

5) Do you pay for it (travel, accom.) or does the school?

6) Is there anything you should do to prepare?

7) Maybe this is a good thread to see if anyone is going to visit the same schools? I don't really know how that would be helpful...I guess you could walk up to random people at visit day and say "Hi, are you 'Freaking_out_Sociologist" or "Sparkle1234"?

[psy_to_soc]

Hi Chillinlikeavillain,

I've been to one visit weekend and am going to another in a couple weeks so I'll try to answer your questions based on those experiences. The first one was more of an interview, since they haven't made final decisions yet. The second (upcoming) one I have already been accepted to.

1) Where do you stay?

Usually with current grad students.

2) Do you bring anything? Other than clothes, obv.

I brought a notebook and my questions. I also brought printouts of information (current research, publications, courses taught, etc.) about the profs I'm interested in working with, for reference.

3) Do you go alone?

Yes. You'll likely have a full schedule and, like I mentioned, you'll be staying with a grad student, most likely.

4) What happens at these things?

For me, the two visits are pretty much identical in structure. The first day, you get a general orientation from the Director of Grad Studies and maybe hear from the Chair and others in the department, get a chance to ask questions, and usually get to meet with professors you're interested in working with, as well as current grad students. The second day, there might be tours, a social event with grad students or at a professor's house.

5) Do you pay for it (travel, accom.) or does the school?

This depends entirely on the school and its recruitment budget. One paid entirely for the visit and food. The other is only partially reimburses travel expenses. I've been invited to another tentative visit, for which they'll also likely reimburse at least part.

6) Is there anything you should do to prepare?

Definitely be prepared with questions. It's not a bad thing to have a typed list of questions to ask different people. Be prepared to speak with profs who could potentially be your advisor. Also, be very prepared to articulate your research interests. You will be asked this a lot.

Hope this helps!

[coqui21]

Hi Everybody,

I'm going to be going to a couple of department visit days and I am totally unfamiliar with the process so I had a few questions:

1) Where do you stay?

Either with grad students or in a hotel, depending on how much funding the department has for recruitment.

2) Do you bring anything? Other than clothes, obv.

No, not really.

3) Do you go alone?

Usually, but depending on how the visit is scheduled, some students have their significant others come along and check out the area while they are in mandatory meetings.

4) What happens at these things?

You meet the faculty and graduate students and learn a lot about the program. Ask as many questions as possible. There is a helpful link on the sociology forum with good suggestions for what to ask. You also get a feel for the environment that you'll be living in over the next 3-6 years.

5) Do you pay for it (travel, accom.) or does the school?

It depends. Some schools pay, some don't. Some pay for every student, while others only pay for their top picks. Make sure to ask.

6) Is there anything you should do to prepare?

YES, Read the work of the professors you're interested in. The impression you give at these meetings are often directly related to your funding (if funding is still up in the air). I would actually encourage you to read the work of the graduate coordinator, regardless of whether you're interested in working with them or not. They usually have the most power with regards to funding decisions.

7) Maybe this is a good thread to see if anyone is going to visit the same schools? I don't really know how that would be helpful...I guess you could walk up to random people at visit day and say "Hi, are you 'Freaking_out_Sociologist" or "Sparkle1234"?

[hardboiledegg]

This is going to sound silly, but how does one dress? Suit? Jeans? Business Casual? Beach attire?

[socialpsych]

This is going to sound silly, but how does one dress? Suit? Jeans? Business Casual? Beach attire?

From what I hear, somewhere between business casual and suit.

[ewurgler]

From what I hear, somewhere between business casual and suit.

What? I've only heard casual.

[coqui21]

I'd probably dress business casual for when you meet with professors (though it's not necessary, unless it's an actual interview), and I'd definitely dress casual when you're doing other things. It's really up to you, and may depend a bit on the environment of the department.

[doctoraldude]

From what I hear, somewhere between business casual and suit.

suit minus tie or suit minus jacket?

[slothy]

I would say definitely minus tie and you probably don't need a jacket, depending on the weather and what you're comfortable with... the email Duke sent out made it sound like jeans and a t-shirt would be normal, but personally I wouldn't feel comfortable dressing like it was just another day at school (although I don't want to stand out too much).

As a disicipline, sociology tends to be far more casual than the other social sciences (from what I've observed at my department and ASA), so you might want to take that into account... I would bet that a lot of your colleagues won't really be dressed up.

[scsuh]

From what I hear, somewhere between business casual and suit.

I really think it depends on what you're visiting for. If you're there to impress the faculty and grad students (ie. interview), then it's probably in your best interest to dress somewhat formally. I've been told (from the grad students who I will be staying with) that dressing in jeans and a nice shirt/blouse should be more than enough. After all, they're the ones trying to recruit you, not the other way around.

[chillinlikeavillain]

ok, i'm a female. now, what do you guys think i should wear to:

a) department's open house

cocktail party at a professor's house

thanks!

[ewurgler]

ok, i'm a female. now, what do you guys think i should wear to:

a) department's open house

cocktail party at a professor's house

thanks!

a) open house: I say jeans and a sweater, or whatever you would wear on a school day.

cocktail party: If it were me, maybe a nicer shirt, but still jeans (maybe darker, dressier jeans).

I really don't think anyone will think twice about what you wear. But I tend to wear dark colors in unsure situations to fly under the radar. Dark jeans + black sweater + colorful scarf seems to suit me well for any occasion.

[scsuh]

Hi Everybody,

I'm going to be going to a couple of department visit days and I am totally unfamiliar with the process so I had a few questions:

1) Where do you stay?

2) Do you bring anything? Other than clothes, obv.

3) Do you go alone?

4) What happens at these things?

5) Do you pay for it (travel, accom.) or does the school?

6) Is there anything you should do to prepare?

7) Maybe this is a good thread to see if anyone is going to visit the same schools? I don't really know how that would be helpful...I guess you could walk up to random people at visit day and say "Hi, are you 'Freaking_out_Sociologist" or "Sparkle1234"?

I just came back from a recruitment day at UIC. All in all it was a great experience and I learned a lot about the program and graduate school in general. Hopefully I can answer a few of your questions.

1) The dept paired me up with one of the grad students and I stayed at his apt for 2 nights. It was a little uncomfortable at first, but it ended up being fine. I think this really helps because you get a small sense of how the housing situation is like in the area. In retrospect, I wish I would have bought a bottle of wine or a something to give to my host because he was awesome.

2) I brought clothes, laptop, Nintendo DS, phone/mp3 player, some reading material, and a notepad. I ended up only needing the clothes, phone, and reading material.

3) I was at the recruitment day with other students in my potential cohort.

4) Basically, talking is the only thing that happens during the time there. I'm pretty sure I explained my interest to faculty members and grad students at least 15 times. When you're not talking, some one else is. You get told about the city, the program, funding, and pretty much anything else you want to know. It is exhausting. haha

5) The school paid for everything. I ended up spending less than $20 during the 2.5 days I was at Chicago.

6) Have an idea of what your interests are because you'll be explaining them often. Also, have a list of questions that you can ask grad students/faculty.

No one dressed to impress. Nearly everyone there was wearing a pair of jeans. I'm not saying you can't dress nicely if you really want to, but you'll likely stand out.