Invited for campus visit... How to appropriately interpret this?

[Biostat11235]

Hi all, I've made an account to ask this.

I'm applying to Biostat PhD programs and today I received an email from Boston inviting me to BU's School of Public Healths Doctoral Recruitment Day.

I'd certainly be interested in attending, but given the expenses (about $700 for me to visit), Im not sure if its worth it given I wasn't actually accepted. I'd hate to spend the money to visit and then not get in.

So my question is, how often are students invited to a "recruitment day" and then not actually get in? I understand this may vary depending in program, but is it fair to say the chance of actually being admitted is pretty high if they invite you up? Or do they send these out to nearly every applicant and does it not really mean anything?

Thanks for your thoughts/advice!

[echlori]

Well, I've made a thread on this as well. I would like to know the answer too! 

[echlori]

Please note - This event is not an interview or admission for the PhD program. It is a prospective students day. All students who applied or are thinking about applying in the future are invited to attend. It is just to learn more information about the program. Travel costs will not be reimbursed.

 

I guess this answers the question.

[crazystat]

Basically, If I were you, I won't go for this recruitment day. This is just like a advertising, and the admission committees should know that due to the travel cost, lots of top candidates won't come. So, it is really no harm to just decline the invitation. Personally, I don't think the recruitment day should be earlier than the admission results come out.... 

 

I know that for some programs, they would like to invite you for a department visiting, and it's more like an interview. So, they usually pay your tickets and hotel, even shuttle services from airport to hotel, etc.