Overnight Visit Dos and Don’ts
Overnight Visit Dos and Don’ts
The opportunity to spend the night on a college campus as a prospective student is very instructive in making your ultimate decision about where the right school is for you. And even more importantly, it can be very fun!But when you are on someone else's campus as a guest, it’s crucial to know how to conduct yourself. We’ve composed a list of some of the most relevant dos and don'ts to help you get the most out of your visit and not do anything that puts your admissions decision at risk.Keep reading to learn more.
DO Go to Class
One of the main reasons that you are on your overnight visit is to test out being a student in that particular environment. Have as much fun as you want talking to students and roaming the campus, but attending multiple classes should be one of your priorities.Choose several classes that are intriguing to you, preferably in different departments so you can get a wide-ranging perspective on what that school has to offer. If possible, see a class in a large lecture hall and one in a smaller, seminar-style setting. Gauge your comfort level in each setting.Arrive several minutes early so as not to distract the class and to introduce yourself to the professor. As an added pro tip, email the professor in advance of your visit to try to get a sense of what might be going on and to double check that it is actually OK for you to attend that particular session.
DON’T Try to Take Over the Class
As tempting as it may be to try to show off, remember that you are a guest in the class and on campus in general. It is not appropriate to try to dominate the conversation or even to necessarily participate at all unless specifically invited to in advance by the professor.You will likely not have the proper context or background knowledge to dive headfirst into whatever the discussion of the day is. But you can learn a lot about the level of conversation and how students interact with each other simply by being an active listener.If you do feel strongly compelled to share your opinion, consider writing the professor an email after class. He or she may provide valuable follow-up reading and point you in the direction of further knowledge.
DO Eat in the Dining Hall
One of the most common questions prospective students have when talking to current college students is, "How's the food?" You have the chance to get a first-hand answer as a part of your overnight visit!Though there are undoubtedly many restaurants and cool-sounding eateries in the college town you're visiting, a major part of getting the full college experience is eating in the dining hall. Ideally, you'll have multiple meals on campus. If you're visiting a college that boasts more than one student eatery, sample them all.Not only are you getting a sense of the various culinary options that would make up the bulk of your college stay, you can learn a lot about campus dynamics by watching dining room behavior.
- Does the school seem open or cliquish?
- How friendly are students to each other in line?
- How courteous are they to the support staff?
- Is there conversation abuzz about current events or politics or other engaging topics?
- How welcomed did you feel as a visitor?
If you're able to have overnight visits at multiple schools, this will be a major point of comparison for deciding which campuses make you feel most comfortable.
DON’T Leave a Mess
Be a good steward. Leave your environment cleaner than you found it. Even if you observe a general apathy among students to keep their area clean or bus their own trays, don't assume that this is appropriate behavior.This may seem like a small thing, but you don't want to do anything on your overnight visit that detracts from any positive will you've built up on campus. I can recall anecdotes getting back to me from my days as an admissions officer about prospective students who were overly wasteful or who disregarded their surroundings. It leaves a sour note.Make a good impression on your host student and respect your environment by properly taking care of your trash and recyclables and by not making a scene in the dining hall.
DO Engage with Professors
Perhaps there is a particular professor or department chair that you would like to meet who isn't teaching a class on the day of your visit. Attend his or her office hours and spend a little one-on-one time diving further into mutual intellectual interests.You may not only find valuable information about a potential major, but you can also learn a lot about the nature of instruction on that particular campus in general.
- How available are research opportunities for underclass students?
- How invested are professors in building relationships with undergraduates?
- Is the academic environment on campus more collaborative or competitive?
DON’T Be Unprepared
College professors are busy people. In addition to instructing and mentoring their own students, most are enthralled in research projects within their own disciplines.When a professor takes time to meet with you, make sure to use that time wisely. Have a sense of the questions you want to ask and how the professor’s background interplays with your own interests. Do not spend time asking questions about things that you can easily Google on your own.Go the next step and engage in meaningful dialog that shows you are a serious student. Many colleges make it easy to find information on what their professors are currently researching and the opportunities that are available for undergraduate and graduate students alike. Before you meet with a professor, start here and form your approach.
DO Have Fun
It should be a fun experience taking the opportunity to try on the life of college students at various places and to have most of them be interested in impressing you a little bit with how great their school is. Make friends and memories. As much as you want to gain an academic experience, it is also important that you begin to understand how you might spend most of your time on campus—which will actually not be inside a classroom.What events are going on during your visit? Perhaps there is an a cappella concert or an improv show. Maybe the International Club is putting on a dance exhibition. Or maybe there's a really intriguing lecture on geophysics.Look for opportunities to connect outside of the classroom and see how the campus functions when the business day is over. And by all means have fun!
DON’T Break the Law
It should go without saying but because it happens every year it needs to be said, you are not a college student and you are not of legal age to partake in many of the things that college students can engage in.When you visit a campus overnight, be on your best behavior. Do not do anything that might jeopardize your admission or, even worse, attract negative attention from campus or local police. Be careful when and if attending campus parties and exercise your best judgment at all times. Treat everyone you meet with respect, and you will have a great time without any trouble.Keep solid notes of your overnight visit so you can recall what resonated with you when it’s time to apply. And be sure to follow up with everyone who made your visit pleasant with a thank you email expressing your gratitude. The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.Ready to get started? Schedule a complimentary 20-minute conversation today!Want to stay informed? Subscribe to our newsletter.See what others are saying about us