Anyone NOT going to accepted students weekend?

[wantaphd]

I've been accepted in to my top choice graduate program and have received all of the official notifications (except the one on funding of course) and only found out TODAY that there is an accepted students visitation weekend, NEXT weekend. They are not funding the trip, and the director of the program wants an answer by Friday because he might be able to arrange accomodations with other graduate students. I live about 1800 miles away and factoring in the cost of a plane ticket, ground transportation, and a hotel room for three nights, I'm just not sure I can go. More importantly, I also have a daughter (she's 18) who lives 2500 miles away that I was planning to visit during my spring break (late March). I won't get to see her again until May. I really want to see my kid and parents in March, and I've pretty much decided I won't go to the visitation weekend. But I'd still like input from you all.

What would you do?

[purplepepper]

I'm in a similar situation..one program I was accepted to only offered to reimburse me $250 of the total airfare. Well I am living 7,000 miles away and an air ticket would be about $1500 (on top of the 15 hr. plane ride for, if i make a trip out of it, about a week). But, I have decided not to go as it's just too much time and money. I've decided that I will try to get the most I can out of emails and phone calls and hope that everything works out for the best.

[socialpsych]

If the timing is the issue, you can ask to reschedule--I've done this with two schools due to conflicts with their official visit weekends, and both were very accommodating.

If cost is the issue...well, you have to make your own decisions. If you're seriously thinking of going there, I think visiting is pretty important--the question is just how important, and how much you can afford it. Do you know anyone in the area who might be able to host you for a night or two? That way you just have to pay for airfare, not a hotel...

[wantaphd]

Thanks for the replies. I don't think I'm going to be able to make it next week, but I'm going to see if I can reschedule for the week that I'm actually going to be closer to that part of the country. If not, I'll try to visit sometime before school starts.

[irrealised]

I would go, but I would beg the director to find me housing with another graduate student (or, really, talk to my potential advisor and lab-mates and see if one of them could put me up). One thing I'm learning over and over is that none of these schools seem the same in person as on paper. I don't think it matters so much that you go on the same weekend as everyone else (though meeting people that will be part of your new cohort is always nice), but I think it is important to go and meet your potential advisor, other students, and really get a feel for the program.

[wantaphd]

I've already worked it out. When I told the director I couldn't make it this week and asked if I could come at a later date, he enthusiastically agreed and immediately gave me the names of several professors and graduate students he thought I might be interested in talking to. I emailed most of them, and have spoken with four of them already! I'm visiting later in March, and have already made plans to tour the campus and visit with potential advisors and students while I'm there. I hope the communications I've had so are are indicative of my upcoming visit. Everyone has been wonderful and honestly, barring something crazy or unexpected, I'm pretty sure I'll accept their offer. (Ahem, as soon as they finalize funding!)

[miratrix]

I'm having a similar issue, with much lower costs - it would only cost me $15 to take the train there and stay with friends, but I don't know if I can get the days off work with two weeks' notice. Knowing about these further in advance would be really useful. I'm also looking into making the trip in early April on my own if I can't go, but it would probably be fun to go to the organized events, wouldn't it?