Bringing Significant Other on Grad School Visit

[thebignc93]

So, my girlfriend is coming with me on a paid official visit to a graduate school next weekend and they just sent me the itinerary. For the first part of the day when I'm meeting with faculty and touring the facilities I'm obviously doing that alone while she explores the town/shops/sleeps herself. Now, it says after the planned events the graduate students will be taking us out around town in the evening, is that something that is appropriate to bring my girlfriend with me or is that something that should be done alone as well?

[TakeruK]

1 hour ago, thebignc93 said:

So, my girlfriend is coming with me on a paid official visit to a graduate school next weekend and they just sent me the itinerary. For the first part of the day when I'm meeting with faculty and touring the facilities I'm obviously doing that alone while she explores the town/shops/sleeps herself. Now, it says after the planned events the graduate students will be taking us out around town in the evening, is that something that is appropriate to bring my girlfriend with me or is that something that should be done alone as well?

I had one visit with my spouse and for the "academic" part, such as research meetings with professors and students, it was alone and my spouse find their own things to do around campus and in the town. It would be weird if your spouse was also part of these meetings, in my opinion, unless they are also a student in the field. However, my spouse joined us for all of the social events (and spouses/partners of current students often joined for this part too).

I would say though: don't have your SO be a "surprise guest"! Let the school know ahead of time what is happening and they will likely make it work. The school I visited was very happy to have my spouse visit as well. They even set up some optional activities for my spouse, arranged a work space in the building for my spouse and provided campus maps, city maps etc. I also say it's important to let them know your plans because some plans might be depend on the number of people (e.g. dinner reservations, whether or not you're sharing a hotel room etc. and having an unexpected guest there could be unprofessional and awkward). So make sure the school knows about your guest, if they do not already know!

[thebignc93]

13 minutes ago, TakeruK said:

I had one visit with my spouse and for the "academic" part, such as research meetings with professors and students, it was alone and my spouse find their own things to do around campus and in the town. It would be weird if your spouse was also part of these meetings, in my opinion, unless they are also a student in the field. However, my spouse joined us for all of the social events (and spouses/partners of current students often joined for this part too).

I would say though: don't have your SO be a "surprise guest"! Let the school know ahead of time what is happening and they will likely make it work. The school I visited was very happy to have my spouse visit as well. They even set up some optional activities for my spouse, arranged a work space in the building for my spouse and provided campus maps, city maps etc. I also say it's important to let them know your plans because some plans might be depend on the number of people (e.g. dinner reservations, whether or not you're sharing a hotel room etc. and having an unexpected guest there could be unprofessional and awkward). So make sure the school knows about your guest, if they do not already know!

Awesome, thank you! Yeah the part where I'm actually with the professors and touring the facilities I know I'm doing alone. The school is aware she is coming because they are paying for the hotel for the both of us. This was just in regards to the optional social go out on the town with current grad students that is unofficially happening after the main part of the day!