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Counselor's Corner |
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The Scoop on College Visits
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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LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF THE DORM ROOMS, the measures that the campus has taken for security
(do they have emergency call buttons?),
get to know the town (walk around a couple times to get a feel of where you'll be living),
visit the registrar's office to get information for the upcoming year,
visit the religious center that you may want to become involved in,
and find out the type of food they serve (because some places can have a really gross food service).
-- JENNA ISZAUK
OHIO UNIVERSITY
A BAD VISITING EXPERIENCE doesn't mean you won't be happy at the school.
You might have a bad tour guide or host, or the weather might be gross,
making the campus look uglier than you had imagined it.
So if you're not sure, visit again;
it's worth a second trip to make sure you'll spend the next four years in a place where you feel comfortable.
-- ELANA BROWNSTEIN
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
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Can't make it to a faraway school? Try a "virtual visit" with the clever Web surfing tips at:
www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/majors_careers/45103.html
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If you do see an admissions officer, follow up with a thank-you note -
an e-mail is fine - for his or her time.
This is a gesture that shows your continued interest -
and it is the polite thing to do.
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