selecting the college that's best for you — part 2
STEP 4 - CAMPUS VISITS
Many
schools can meet your needs academically. I believe the greater challenge
is in finding a school where you also feel comfortable.
Once you have selected a handful (I would suggest three to
five), it is
critical to visit the campus. Every college in the country seems
to have a viewbook with beautiful pictures of trees, buildings
and smiling
faces. Be assured that schools similar on paper may be very different
when you spend time on campus.
Be honest with yourself - are you really going to attend "The
College for "Intellectual Giants" 1,000 miles away without
ever visiting? If you are unable, or unwilling, to visit a campus,
that school should be immediately removed from your list. Why even
consider a school that you will not have the time, energy, and/or money
to visit? This would be like buying a house without ever seeing it!
I would suggest campus visits during your junior year, completing
them early in the fall of your senior year. During your visit you
should
keep in mind the following objectives.
1. Visit At The Appropriate Time
Be sure to visit while school is in session. If you visit during
a break or summer, you will not get a clear picture of what the
college or university is really like. You also may miss out on
many of the
opportunities listed below.
2. Admissions Interview
Whether or not the school requires an interview, you should always
set up a meeting with an admissions representative. This is an
excellent opportunity to confirm that the school has the important
characteristics
you have outlined. If the admissions representative does his/her
job effectively, you should leave the meeting with a clear picture
of the
school's strengths, weaknesses, goals and expectations.
3. Financial Aid Interview
Specifically request a financial aid appointment when you set up
your visit. Some colleges or universities may have their admissions
representatives
handle this type of initial meeting. However, if possible, try
to get at least a short meeting with a financial aid representative.
You will
be able to address specific questions about scholarships and financial
aid forms at this time.
4. Attend Class
Ask in advance to attend a class in your major. Although classes
vary, this will at least give you a sample of the class atmosphere.
Keep
in mind if the class is a general education requirement or a lower
level course, chances are it will be larger than a 300 or 400 level
class which is more focused for students within that major. If
you're uncertain about your major, attend one of the general education
requirement
classes.
5. Faculty Appointment
Schedule an appointment with a professor in your area of interest.
This is where you can get more specific questions answered about
your major including course requirements, placement rates, internships,
co-ops, etc. Ask the questions that are most important to you.
6. Tour Campus
View the academic buildings, dining hall(s), residence halls, library,
athletic facilities, bookstore, administrative offices, student
union and any other part of campus that is of interest. At smaller
schools
you will probably be able to see about every building on campus
during your tour. Larger schools may have separate tours for different
areas.
This is a great opportunity for you to hear from a student and
get some "inside" information. Get student opinions regarding
professors, classes, social activities, residence halls, etc. Be sure
to ask what they like least about the school as well.
7. Eat In The Dining Hall
Have at least one meal in the dining hall. This will give you an
idea of the quality of food. While I would never recommend choosing
one
school over another just because of food, it is one more factor
you may wish to consider.
8. Stay Overnight
I believe that an overnight stay can be extremely helpful. This
will give you a more informal look at the college atmosphere. You
will
probably be staying with a student. This will provide an opportunity
to ask
questions in a less structured setting. You may be surprised how
much a night on campus can sway your opinion - negatively or positively.
9. Open-House Versus Individual Visit
Both structured programs and individual visits have their advantages,
and both are worth doing if time permits. Visiting a campus twice
may be more feasible if you have narrowed down your options to
just two
or three schools. The advantage of an open house is that the school
will have a schedule already established. The open house will probably
be more "polished" and you may feel more comfortable with
other prospective students present. The disadvantage of the open house
format is that it is less focused on your specific concerns and interests.
If your only visit to campus is for an open house, be sure that the
appointments with admissions, financial aid, and faculty are still
covered. If not, try to schedule time for these appointments before
or after the open house, or plan a second visit to the campus if you're
serious about the school.
10. Be Consistent
As much as possible, follow the same process with each school you
visit. Don't stay overnight at one school and not the other, or
attend class
at one and only speak with a professor at another. Having similar
visits at each school provides a fair comparison.
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