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With Rachel Korn, former admissions officer at several top universities.
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What to Ask College Students
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Interact with Schools -
Contact Students
HEAD Start
Learning about a school on paper is necessary - you need to have an idea of statistics and majors and clubs, etc... but how can you REALLY assess a school? The students, of course. So to do this research, go to the source.

HEAD Lines
Each school has student volunteers to speak with prospective students and their families. While it's true these students are the most excited about their colleges (after all, they've volunteered to do this), you will still get a sense of some of the personality nuances in a school.

Look on schools' Admissions Web sites for some way to contact current students. If there is no formal program, write to the admissions officer responsible for your area of the country and ask if he can put a current student in touch with you. Talking to ANY student is better than nothing, so even if you are matched with someone completely different from you, you can still learn something. Some suggested questions:
  • What do students do for fun during the week and on weekends?

  • Is there a Greek system, and do most students rush?

  • What are some of the fun traditions?

  • What do the students like best and worst about the school?

  • What's day-to-day life like? Are the students stressed out? Always partying?

  • Are there other students like you (ethnically, religiously, politically, etc.)?


Joan Bress is Director of College Resource Associates, offering full service guidance for students and families preparing for college or graduate school admission.

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Interact with schools - contact students by Joan Bress
Students love to talk about their college. As you plow through the pile of view books and brochures that colleges send you, you should be sure to tap into the most honest resource around. Whether your interest is politics or philosophy, the colleges you are considering are likely to have an organization devoted to that topic. Many club and activity websites list members or officers along with their e-mail address. A few simple questions, whether related to the organization or to college life in general, are likely to give you insight into college life for someone who shares at least one of your interests. Can't find an organization that interests you? Call the admissions office and ask to be put in touch with someone from your hometown.

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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From Other HEADS
IF YOU VISIT A SCHOOL, find a random person to talk to: students are brutally honest.

-- SARAH BORMEL
BOSTON UNIVERSITY


NO MATTER WHOM YOU ARE DEALING WITH, don't swear and don't show up late for a meeting. I did both of those the very first time I met with one of my high school teachers to ask for a recommendation. He really got on me about it and said if I did those things at the wrong time, it could really affect my future. I really took that advice to heart.

-- RACHEL LYNCH
COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY


Web Resources
Another option is to get on Facebook and do a search for students at the school. It can't hurt to e-mail them cold - after all, some might ignore you, but some might be an even better source of info than the student volunteers.

HoH Tip
Ask only open-ended questions of students you happen to meet. By asking a question that only requires a "yes" or "no" response, you will not really receive the information you are seeking.


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