I'm on vacation near one of the schools I'm considering for my masters degree. Can I go check out the department without making an appointment?
2006-08-22 05:42:51 · 34 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
"A"university, gal, not "an". It's a consonant sound at the beginning of the word, although represented by a vowel letter.
Be warned, that's the sort of pedantry you're in for in a university!
Do go in though.
2006-08-22 05:54:17 · answer #1 · answered by RebelBlood 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course you can. In fact, it's a good idea since you can roam the campus freely on your own without a guide hovering over your shoulder steering you away from the less-manicured areas or giving you the official school marketing line.
I also suggest you check out the facilities (labs, gym, dorms, admin offices), take in the environment and ask yourself, particularly if you'll be living on campus, will you be happy being there for the next few years? Talk to a few students you meet, get a feel for what they like and don't like about the school. Preferably, you should talk with a few people who are in the same department your degree will be in.
I found that if you ask nicely at the department office, they will usually recommend professors you can talk with.
Lastly, if you can drive or walk around the perimeter of campus, check out the local neighborhood. Does it make you feel safe? Are amenities and stores for supplies and groceries within easy reach?
Good luck and have a productive trip.
2006-08-22 06:00:21 · answer #2 · answered by 3kewenay3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep. If anyone says anything to you, just let them know why you are there. Think about it....if you look like their typical student, why would you stand out? No one at a college of any size knows everyone that attends. And this is the beginning of the year, so there are bound to be new faces everywhere. As a matter of fact, you might be able to stop by the main office and see if they have any scheduled tours you can get in to. That way you can get a lot more information about the university. Hope this helps.
2006-08-22 05:51:02 · answer #3 · answered by Chris P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can go on campus & check things out. You just may not get into certain places you would on an official tour. But by all means take the opportunity to check out the campus as much as you can while you're there. Make sure to ask the faculty that you see, questions about the univ. Have fun : )
2006-08-22 05:51:26 · answer #4 · answered by Steph 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I direct a graduate program, and I would consider a visit to my office without an appointment to be inconsiderate, especially since it is the first week of the semester, and all of our faculty are extremely busy. This unplanned interruption would cause me to question the candidate's wisdom.
I would, however, love to meet with a prospective student if s/he emailed me first, and asked to set up a mutually convenient time to meet.
And of course you could tour the campus on your own without notifying anyone. But please, if you plan to drop by the department, let the director of graduate studies know first. Departments also wish to make a good impression on prospective students, and the unavailability of many faculty members would prevent you from truly learning about what the department has to offer you.
2006-08-22 06:19:02 · answer #5 · answered by X 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is best to make an appointment, but most schools will let you do a tour by yourself of the campus.
2006-08-22 06:56:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No that could be considered stalking.
However you could stop by and ask at the department if there is anyone around who is an expert in your specialty that you could chat with. You might make a great connection worth following up with a future appointment.
2006-08-22 05:50:54 · answer #7 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably not...most of them have a day where everyone comes and tours the campus ...or ya otherwise you would probably have to make an appointment ....its worth a try though to see if you can get a tour of the campus without an appointment....good luck
2006-08-22 05:50:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most schools have days where you can show up without appointments. You can almost always walk around a campus without an appointment, but if you're wanting to talk to specific professors, its best to call ahead.
2006-08-22 05:49:34 · answer #9 · answered by ThePrez98 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes you should tour the campus, in fact its mandatory prior to yr decision.
Appointment is not essential, university officials usually welcome a prospective student with open arms, but try to do before you drop in cuz it reflects yr etiquette!
Also, take a virtual online tour of the campus.Spot the camera icon on the website.
2006-08-22 05:51:23 · answer #10 · answered by cerebral onus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋