Does visiting a school first have any influence on admissions?

[GwenWoods]

I was hoping to visit Columbia before applying for the 2013 school year, but money is a bit tight right now and I'm not sure flying to NYC and back would be the best use of funds if there's a good chance I might not even get in there. Does anyone think that visiting this fall would be advantageous to the admissions process, or does it hold no weight? Has anyone heard of the admissions department reviewing who visited the school before?

Ideally, I'd like to wait until after I was accepted and then check out the school immediately so I can make a decision.

[Quant_Liz_Lemon]

I guess it depends on the program. What are you applying for?

[GwenWoods]

I'm looking into their journalism program.

[Usmivka]

Yes, visiting makes a difference (in my field, I'm extrapolating that it is also worthwhile in yours). It gives the faculty a chance to meet and connect with you. This is important because grad apps aren't a strict meritocracy--having someone go to bat for you in the admissions committee is a major advantage. A faculty member who says "I met this person and would be interested in working with her" or "I think she would make a great addition to the program" can tip the scales if you are an "on the edge" admission candidate. By this I mean your GRE, GPA, CV and recs are all good, but not at the very tippy top of the admissions pool. If you think you are such a candidate, it may be worth the expense. If you can't go, make sure to try and have some e-mail or phone contact with profs prior to applications (as is more common in the sciences and humanities, but perhaps less so with professional schools).

[Seatbelt Blue]

As I was just posting elsewhere, I agree with Usmivka. I was admitted to Seton Hall on a pretty mediocre 2.7 GPA primarily, I am convinced, on the grounds of my interview. I'm sure my high MAT score helped, but I was able to meet and connect with the head of the admissions committee, we had a great conversation about the weaknesses of my application, and I'm quite sure the interview is what landed me an acceptance letter.

[TakeruK]

I think it definitely makes a big difference. As others said, grad apps are all about finding the right fit, not just having the right grades/scores/skills (although this factors into fit). I didn't visit any schools before application, but at all of the schools I did get into, I found a connection before applying (meet with prof at a conference, meet with their students/post-docs, having a mutual friend/contact introduce you by email or write them to say "hey I heard Student X is applying to work with you and I think he'd be a good fit!" etc.) I would have only visited a school if I happened to be traveling through/near that area anyways! If there is a big conference that you're attending (even better, if you're presenting), then write up your POIs and ask if they will be there and suggest you meet up sometime!

[rising_star]

It depends. It can be both positive and negative. I remember an applicant that visited our department and wanted to work with my advisor. After meeting her, he didn't want to work with her, even though he liked her on paper. And this was before admissions so they just didn't admit her. She wasted hundreds of dollars visiting a program that she didn't even get into.

Even before that happened, I always said that people shouldn't visit until they've been admitted. Sure, it might help but, it might not. What if you can't meet with the faculty you want to work with that day because they're out of town, teaching, out sick, etc.? Then it's a waste of a flight, hotel, food. The only exception is if somehow you get offered a paid visit before getting accepted. Then you should definitely go since it's not coming out of your wallet.

[ktel]

I visited a few profs when I happened to be in town for Christmas visiting my boyfriend and his family. Was then flown out for a paid visit later. I would say it was very beneficial for me, but I think I would have been accepted regardless. But if I had been on the cusp, getting admitted in my departments completely depends on whether a prof will pick you or not to join their group, so the visit can be very important.

[Usmivka]

[1]Even before that happened, I always said that people shouldn't visit until they've been admitted. Sure, it might help but, it might not. What if you can't meet with the faculty you want to work with that day because they're out of town, teaching, out sick, etc.? Then it's a waste of a flight, hotel, food.

[2] The only exception is if somehow you get offered a paid visit before getting accepted. Then you should definitely go since it's not coming out of your wallet.

1. You would of course schedule the visit with who you want to speak with if you were making a trip specifically to visit the program!

2. This is exactly what happens in the natural and physical sciences, but probably not in journalism.

[TakeruK]

2. [Getting a paid visit] is exactly what happens in the natural and physical sciences, but probably not in journalism.

Just want to add that many smaller schools, including the one where I did my MSc, if you are a strong applicant, they will fly you out and pay for your visit BEFORE you even get accepted (or necessarily submit an application). Getting a paid visit before you even submit an application is probably not going to happen at a big name school but I know many smaller Canadian schools do this to convince students to give their school a shot. To set one of these types of visits up, you should email the grad coordinator and let them know you're interested in applying (or that you will be submitting an application etc.). For a lot of students (in Canada), our mid-term break is in February so many students try to visit during this week. You can say something like "I'd like to visit your school during my break if possible" and they will either offer to fly you out or say that they don't have funds but they will generally offer to help you set up appointments with profs. It's definitely not a good idea to assume/presume that they will pay for a visit or you will likely hurt your chances! But it doesn't hurt to ask if you're interested in the program.