Last month I offered tips for summertime activities and I’d really like to expand on one in particular this month. Visiting college campuses is so important because it could be your home for the next four years.
I recommend getting to know it well, and make certain it’s a good fit. Here are some valuable tips to consider on campus visits.
Number One: Plan ahead and contact the admission offices of schools of interest. School visit expectations vary so be organized. Some require interview appointments and reservations for information sessions and tours, and some will welcome drop-ins. Be sure to call in advance of your visit, to be sure of any interruptions to the normal summer plan. Construction is the norm on campuses in the summer!
Number Two: Talk to students other than your tour guide. Trained tour guides (even those that claim they are not trained) will have a certain “pitch” that they hope to get across. You benefit from the candor of a truly objective opinion. A word of warning: Many students on a college campus during summer are not enrolled as undergraduate students so qualify them in conversation and check their status on campus.
Number Three: Veer off the recommended tour path and observe as much as you can. Try to figure out the path students take from their housing to classrooms. Do you need shuttle transportation? Read the fliers on bulletin boards and get a feel for life on campus and off.
Number Four: Explore the neighborhood. Students never spend all of their time on campus, so becoming comfortable with the surroundings helps make the most out of college years. If you’ll be getting a job while going to school, it’s a great time to see what kind of businesses are nearby.
Number Five: First impressions last. That intuitive sense of comfort, belonging or even attraction is inevitable at some places. And likewise, we’ve all walked into places that we felt were just not right for us – and it only took a few minutes to determine that. These feelings are valuable. Although they may change, and are only part of the puzzle, take stock in these immediate impressions and consider them later in your search.
Brian Safdari is a Certified College Planner with offices located at 28494 Westinghouse Place, Suite 206 in Valencia. For more information, please call 661-295-9946 or visit www.collegeplanningexperts.com for a free consultation.