Visiting Grad Schools: Tips for Requesting a Visit

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the etiquette and considerations for requesting visits to graduate schools after receiving admission offers. Participants explore the nuances of visiting, including potential travel reimbursements and the importance of engaging with faculty and current students during the visit.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about how to request a visit and travel subsidy, noting their tight financial situation and the absence of open house days from the school.
  • Another suggests contacting a graduate adviser or associate chair to arrange the visit and inquire about reimbursement, indicating that some schools may offer this while others may not.
  • A participant mentions that being an international student might influence the lack of open house dates provided by the school.
  • It is noted that most US schools do not typically invite or reimburse prospective graduate students for visits, although some do, and that the absence of mention regarding reimbursement may indicate budget constraints.
  • One participant shares their experience, stating that their schools included information about visits and reimbursements in their acceptance communications.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that it is acceptable to request a visit and inquire about reimbursement, but there is no consensus on the likelihood of reimbursement being offered, especially for international students. The discussion reflects multiple perspectives on the norms and practices of different schools.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the variability in practices among different schools regarding visit invitations and reimbursements, as well as the potential impact of being an international student on these offers. There is also an acknowledgment of the financial implications of travel costs.

Who May Find This Useful

Prospective graduate students considering visits to schools after receiving admission offers, particularly those in tight financial situations or international students navigating the process.

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Much to my delight and surprise, I have recently been offered admission grad school. I currently have one offer but am going to wait to hear back from a few more schools before possibly visiting and committing to one. I've kept in contact with the school and let them know of this intention.

The school has not stipulated any "open house" days or travel reimbursement as some other schools seem to offer, and I am wondering what the proper etiquette is for requesting a visit (and possibly a travel subsidy, if it's not a stretch, as I am in a tight financial situation right now). How should I go about asking this or any additional schools that send me an offer of admission?

I have a few ideas of what I would like to get out of a visit (talking with current grad students and the prof's who are most likely to supervise me, as well as gathering some idea about the living costs in the area), but it seems like a big request to ask for an "open house" day for a single student.
 
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Usually there is a graduate adviser or associate chair in charge of graduate students who can serve as a primary contact. I would email one of these people and simply tell them that you're interested in coming for a visit and name anyone in particular you'd like to talk to. If you have a particular supervisor in mind, you could also arrange the visit with that person specifically.

It's fine to ask about reimbursement. Some schools will offer this. Others won't. Although, chances are if they haven't already brought it up they don't really have the money for it.
 
As far as I know you are an international student. This could also be a reason why they have not mentioned any open house dates. It is worth contacting them, though.
 
Most US schools do not invite (and reimburse) prospective graduate students to visit, although some do. Choppy is right - they can usually arrange for prospective students to visit, but if they didn't mention reimbursement, it's likely they don't have a budget for it.
 
Open House visits are reimbursed if your school has the money. I haven't seen anyone do it for international students though which makes sense (A ticket from East-West Coast runs ~$200 while an international ticket will run 2x to 5x that).
 
For my schools, they all mentioned it in the acceptance and two sent specific follow up emails for RSVPs and more information.
 

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