Visiting colleges is an incredibly important – not to mention fun! – part of the college search and admissions process. After all, you’re checking out schools where you might spend the next four years of your life! Here are some tips for making the most of your time on campus:
THE TOUR: Use the tour as both an opportunity to see the campus and a chance to ask the guide (usually a student) questions. If you have a choice between student guides as the tour commences, you should try to choose the guide whose academic or extracurricular interests are most similar to your own.
INFO SESSIONS: Plan to attend one of the college’s information sessions, which are usually hosted by admissions officers who will go into detail about academics, extracurricular life and the admissions process. Bring a list of questions - this is your chance to have them answered in person by an admissions officer at the college. Take good notes - as you visit several colleges on a trip, you will find that it can become hard to remember who said what!
MEETING WITH ADMISSIONS OFFICERS: When you call to arrange tours and information sessions, ask for the name and contact information of the admissions representative in charge of your high school or region. It is generally a good idea to make contact with that person. If it’s a small school, you could ask the receptionist if you could schedule a meeting with that person – or if it’s a bigger school, it’s likely better to email them yourself. If you send them an email, and they aren’t able to meet, at least they’ve seen your name and had some indication of your interest in the school!
ATTENDING CLASS: Try to attend a class by making arrangements in advance through the admissions office. Or, if you have a friend or know a graduate of your high school who is a student at the college, contact them to see if there is a class you could attend with him or her. Most professors welcome visitors - just be on time!
MEETING WITH PROFESSORS: An increasingly common question from students and parents is whether or not they should arrange a meeting with a professor. Meeting with a professor in a particular subject area in which you are interested can be helpful – but remember that you need to know what you’re talking about! If you do arrange such a meeting, you need to be well-prepared and have a list of things about which you want to talk.
INTERVIEWS: If the school you’re applying to offers on-campus interviews, and you are a rising senior, you should schedule an interview along with your tour and information session. This chance to meet with an admissions officer can be a great way to show your interest in and learn more about the college – just be sure to spend some time preparing for the meeting.
THANK YOUS: Remember to send thank you emails to any admissions officer, teacher, or student interviewer with whom you met while you were on campus!
The views expressed herein are those of their authors alone, and do not necessarily represent the views of Hundreds of Heads or of IECA.
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