Since I'm a Stephens Ambassador, I get to give tours, host lunches, and host students overnight. the Admissions Office creates an itinerary of activities for the student depending on what they want. Listening to (hopefully) future attendees of Stephens has reminded me of my own experiences last year.
While arranging a visit to Carnegie Mellon University last year over the phone, I asked the Admissions Dept. if I could sit in on any classes. "We don't permit students to visit classes" the woman over the phone snapped. 'But this would be through the Theatre School" I replied. "Oh, alright, I'll transfer your call".
It seems the bigger the school, and the more money they charge students, the more rudely they treat prospectives. (Ironically enough, when I did make the visit, the front page article of the Tartan was about how most students weren't getting enough financial aid, and that they felt like the administration wasn't doing anything about it)
I admit, there are some disadvantages to going to such a small school (only about 700 students), but there is very little bureaucracy to contend with, and admissions counselors do everything that they can to make a students trip enjoyable. They even photograph all of the prospective students and, with their permission, put them on the college's website!
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I had a similar experience, but with a small university. They were rude everytime I called to verify they had recieved the paperwork they had asked for, whereas the larger school I applied to was so nice and willing to answer my questions. It could just have a lot to do with the area of the school and the demographics of the attending students.