Before you have been admitted
Visiting after you have applied but before you have been admitted gives you a chance to impress your potential colleagues, especially those on the admissions committee. During this stage in the application process, visits tend to be more structured, longer in duration, and more formal. Some departments will even have your visit serve as the interview portion of the application process. Typically, you will be assigned a student host who will pick you up at the airport, escort you to your appointments, take you to lunch, and so forth. Your appointments will likely include meetings with faculty, current students, and office staff or managers of labs where you could be working as a graduate assistant. Other events could be planned as well, like a department symposium or colloquium, dinner at a faculty member's home, lunch with current graduate students, and tours of the city and campus.
At this point, the department knows you are serious and will expect you to come to the visit prepared. Instead of just browsing university and department websites, spend quality time researching faculty, including their research interests, areas of expertise, and recent publications. Don't forget the importance of also learning about the department as a whole and the institution. This will help you prepare questions to ask during your visit and identify things to pay particularly close attention to — in essence, maximizing your time on campus. Treat the upcoming visit like an interview for a job. Read about department events and activities, and make notes about faculty with whom you may be meeting.
Come prepared with questions for current students, too. They will be able to offer first-hand accounts of what life is like as a graduate student in your department. In addition, most are willing to share their experience in making decisions between programs and transitions to graduate education. Remember they were once in your shoes, and take advantage of their experience and knowledge. Topics ranging from how the department handles family commitments and supports travel to conferences to aspects of day-to-day life are fitting for conversations with current students.
Overall, the visit is an important opportunity to impress the department, but it is also their opportunity to impress you. Don't hesitate to ask for additional appointments or to meet with someone outside of the regular schedule. For instance, if you will be relocating with your spouse or family, make a list of things that concern you about such a move. Ask about local school systems, places of employment, cost of living, housing options, places of worship, specialty stores — grocery or otherwise. Don't leave the visit without the name of someone to call if you have additional questions. Spend time at the Office of Graduate Studies and learn about the resources and services available to all graduate students like grant writing workshops, teaching observations, fellowships for continuing students, and more. If you would like to meet with students who can specifically talk about diversity, ask to meet with members of the Black Graduate Student Association or another similarly affiliated group.
Finally, funding policies for campus visits vary, so be sure to ask if the department provides travel assistance and what will be covered. Perhaps you will have to pay the bulk of your travel expenses, but meals during your visit will be provided. Ask for hotel recommendations or inquire about staying with another student in the department. Your one to two days on campus will be busy, so come prepared to make an impression.
Before you have accepted an offer
It's clear the department wants you — you've already been accepted, so this visit gives the department a chance to impress you and for you to truly "try on the school." A visit to your department now means that you will have the opportunity to meet with your potential adviser or mentor and discuss your research interests. You will also meet potential colleagues and other graduate students with whom you may share office space or work with on projects. You can discuss what to expect once you have accepted the offer, registering for classes, orientation, and more details of getting started as a student at the institution.
A campus visit at this stage in the process can be longer and more involved, as the department tries to show you everything you will need as a graduate student at their institution. Ask for your tentative schedule ahead of time, and communicate with your host or department about your expectations and what you hope to accomplish during your trip. Be sure to request any schedule changes you might need before your arrival. Over-scheduling or pressure to make decisions can overshadow your visit. Know that the national acceptance deadline set by the Council of Graduate Schools is April 15 and you shouldn't feel pressured to give an acceptance decision to the department and faculty while on your visit.
In addition, don't overlook the importance of coming to the visit prepared. Although you are not in an "interview" situation like you would have been if you had visited before you were admitted, you still want to maximize your time on campus and in the community. Ways to prepare include spending time researching the department faculty (including research interests and recent publications) as well as the department and the institution as a whole. This will help you prepare questions and identify the areas where you will want to gather more information during your visit.
It's likely the department will provide some travel assistance or even all travel costs. Be sure to clarify what will and will not be covered and what types of documentation you will need for reimbursement. If you intend to meet specific people or tour specific facilities, ask in advance to have those meetings set up for you. Consider a lunch with current graduate students, sitting in on a course you might teach, getting information about student organizations you might join, and meeting with people in specialization areas or special interest groups.
Don't forget to spend time off campus as well, getting to know the community and looking for housing. Call a local realtor for a tour of housing options in your price range or coordinate with a current student to tour apartments in the area. This information can save hours of online research and another trip back to the city or town.
Ask about school systems, places of employment, cost of living, places of worship, specialty stores — grocery or otherwise. Don't leave the visit without the name of someone to call if you have additional questions. Schedule time at the Office of Graduate Studies and learn about the resources and services available to all graduate students like grant writing workshops, teaching observations, fellowships for continuing students, and others. If you would like to meet with students who can specifically talk about diversity, ask to meet with members of the Black Graduate Student Association or another similarly affiliated group. Finally, plan something fun and enjoy your time on campus and in the city — it may very well be home next fall!
Questions to ask during your visit
Ask faculty and staff
- What distinguishes this department? What are the unique features of your program?
- What are the characteristics of students who have done well in the program?
- How are faculty mentors or advisers assigned to new students?
- How are students evaluated for progress in the degree program?
- If a master's student wishes to pursue a Ph.D., will he/she have to reapply?
- How diverse are the graduate students in the department? Are there support services or organizations for ethnic minorities?
- What types of resources are available to assist students in designing, conducting and publishing their own research?
- How are graduate assistants selected? What are the typical responsibilities and do they have office space?
- Are there funds to help defray costs to attend professional and disciplinary conferences or meetings?
- When are admissions decisions typically made and how are candidates notified?
- Are students automatically considered for assistantships or fellowships?
- What are the options to study during the summer? Is summer enrollment required?
- What are the options for taking course work outside the department?
- Are there any assistantships available in the department?
Ask graduate students
- How would you describe the graduate students' relationships with faculty?
- What is the culture like in the department? At the university? In the city?
- What was the biggest challenge you faced as you began your graduate work?
- What are some examples of support you have received through the program?
- How is feedback given to graduate students in the department?
- Are diverse opinions and ideas accepted in the department?
- What are some things you wished you had known prior to beginning your graduate program?
- Why did you choose to attend this institution?
- Typically, where do graduate students live?
- How much are monthly costs? Does your funding or financial aid cover your cost of living?
- Is there faculty or staff that you would suggest I get to know if I decide to pursue graduate studies here?