As the deadlines to apply for college are creeping up (or creeping past if you are applying for early decision) how do you decide whether to apply to one school over another? Many students are blindly applying for ten, fifteen, or twenty colleges during this time. It’s an expensive way to get into college, with each application typically coming with a $50 fee or higher. You might be better off scheduling a campus visit in the fall, instead of waiting until the spring. You can get a better sense of whether this is really a college you want to go to, and save yourself the hassle of applying to dozens of schools knowing that you will only go to one.
If you plan to visit a college campus, here are some suggestions to maximize your trip.
Go It Alone or Go with the Parents?
Let’s face it, your parents want to be involved in the college search process. If you feel comfortable making the visit on your own, maybe you should pitch the idea to them. But there is nothing wrong with going with your parents. It reassures them that they are part of the college search process and gives you a chance to share ideas about what you want and what you do not want in your college experience.
When to Visit
You can visit a college during its open house because the admissions office will schedule many activities during that day. That means you can get a lot of information about what to expect from financial aid to study abroad programs to academic life. But there is a downside. A lot of planning goes into open house and you may not see the campus on a real day. The college is going to put its best foot forward on that day for prospective students. They want you to see the school in the best possible light.
Instead, visit the campus while classes are in session. Go during the school week if possible, and see if you can attend a class in a subject that interests you. This way you get the best sense of what the campus is like during a normal semester, inside the classroom and out.
What to Do When You Visit
You should take the campus tour. Check with the admissions office for times and if you can make a reservation. Even though the campus tour is the “official” look at the college, it will force you to walk around and just look at different parts of the campus.
Talk to current students. The best way to find out whether a college is a good fit for you is stop and talk to some students. Ask them what the best thing is about going to school there? The worst thing? Students will be candid with you and no one is going to care that you’re still in high school. Even if they don’t say very nice things about the college (and some will be that honest) they will all be friendly and welcoming. And if they are not, what does that say about the college?
Eat at the dining hall. Ask the admissions office for a list of on-campus dining.
Schedule an interview with an admissions counselor. You will definitely need an appointment in advance for an interview, but this is essential. If you are driving/flying all the way to visit the campus, make sure you spend some time in the admissions center and talk to counselors. Competitive schools look to see how much interest you express in their college and an interview is a great way to show your interest.
Take a drive and get lost. Make sure you take a drive off campus, not just back to your hotel, and look at the area. Is the surrounding area a big city? A suburb? Woodlands? See if you can find the nearest train station, the nearest movie theater. And make sure you ask an admissions counselor about getting off campus, whether the school provides transportation or if there is city public transportation nearby.
If possible, you should visit every college campus before you apply. Maybe visiting every school on your list is impossible during the fall semester, in that case, plan to visit the campuses in the spring. How can you know whether the campus might be a good fit if you never step foot on the grounds before the first day of orientation? You could, of course, skip the visit altogether and take a chance based on what you have read in college guides and heard from other people. Don’t put the decision about the next four years of your life into the hands of others. It’s your decision, and a campus visit will arm you with the information to make it wisely.
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