Exploring Futures: Tips for a Productive College Visit
Before you apply to college, or while deciding what college to attend, it is a good idea to visit the campus. This will be your life for four years, you want to make sure you have a realistic idea of what to expect.
College visits can be a lot of fun. But they can also be extremely stressful if not planned properly. Here are a few tips to follow to make sure you have a pleasant and productive college visit:
Plan your trip in advance. If you’re a high school junior, start planning now. Don’t wait until you’re already filling out college applications. If you’re a senior and have already filled out the college applications, go visit immediately. This will give you time to explore and weigh other options if your dream school turns out to be a nightmare.
Visit when classes are in session. Empty campuses can sure look beautiful, but they do very little to give you a realistic sense of what campus life will be like. Visit early in the semester (Spring semester is just around the corner) when classes are just starting out and haven’t gotten too hectic yet. Don’t visit around midterms or finals. At this time, the campus will be chaotic and no one will have much time to talk to you.
Talk to current students. These people are the experts on the life you are about to enter into. Don’t limit yourself: talk to as many students as you can. Ask for advice and recommendations on classes and professors as well as social activities and clubs.
Stop by the admissions office and introduce yourself. It makes you much more memorable if these officers can put a face to your name. Don’t take up too much of their time, but a simple conversation will do. Ask any questions you have about the admissions process. Get contact information so you know who to reach out to when the time comes.
Take your own tour. In addition to taking a formal tour, take a tour of your own. Stop by the dorms. Eat in the cafeteria. Visit the buildings and locations you will likely frequent. For example, if you’re there to study science, visit the labs and libraries to see what kind of research opportunities will be available to you. Sit in on classes and introduce yourself to professors of the subjects that interest you and/or that you plan to study. Ask questions about the curriculum so you know what to expect.
Take notes and photos. You’re not going to remember everything you see or learn about the school. Write it down. Make notes about your first impressions and what you like and dislike about the school. Refer to these notes to help you narrow down your choices. And when sitting down to write your admissions essays, use these notes to reference specific qualities about the school that make it a good fit for you and, more importantly, make you a good fit for the school.
Follow up. If you introduce yourself to the admissions officers and professors, make sure to send a quick follow up email. Remind them of your name and the conversation. Remember, these people talk to dozens of students a day so they will need a reminder of who you are. Don’t make the email too long, a short paragraph will do. But again, you want these people to remember who you are for any future correspondence.
So sit down and start making a list of the colleges you want to visit. Don’t wait until it’s too late!
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