It
is very important that you visit the colleges that you have
a strong interest in attending. A personal visit allows you
to observe, ask questions, and determine if you like the “feel/personality”
of the school as well as assessing the features and services
offered to their students.
If you plan to visit a college, call their admissions office
to:
• Arrange a campus tour.
• Inquire about an information
session.
• Inquire about spending the
night in a dorm.
• Inquire about an interview
with an admissions officer.
• Inquire about an interview
with a financial aid officer.
A campus visit usually takes at least half a day. During
the visit, you will do a lot of walking so dress presentable
and appropriate for the weather, and wear comfortable shoes.
It’s important to visit the campus between 10 AM -
3 PM. Between this timeframe the campus will be the busiest
and you can see for yourself what the academic and social
environment is like.
Your
visit to each college should include:
•
A
campus tour.
You should be assigned a tour guide (normally a student)
to show you and your parent(s) around the campus and
to point out the features and services available to
students. If you are not assigned a tour guide, ask
the admissions office for a campus map, then highlight
the areas you want to tour. During your tour, you should
visit all the major places such as: academic department(s),
central hangout for students, dorms, cafeteria(s), recreational
center – gym, library, student center, computer
labs, cultural centers for ethnic/racial groups, and
surrounding community.
•
A
tour of the dorm rooms
You should ask for a tour of the various dorms to get
an idea of the various living arrangements (i.e. single,
double, triple, or quad occupancy). If possible, see
if you and your parents can stay in a dorm room for
one night.
•
A
tour of the academic department.
You should definitely make an appointment with a faculty
member or advisor in the academic department you plan
to study. During your tour, ask questions about their
program, departmental scholarships, internships, job
placements programs, corporate partnerships, etc.
•
Observe
classroom lectures
If possible, you should sit in on one or two classes
as an observer. This will give you a feel for the academic
environment and class size. You should definitely try
to sit in at least one class in your intended field
of study.
•
Talk
to current students.
Try to speak to students on-campus and in your intended
major about their academic and college experiences,
likes/dislikes, and whether they would recommend the
school to friends and family members. There may be graduates
from your high school attending the college who could
also answer many of your questions. Remember, however,
that you are an individual with your own needs, likes,
and dislikes. After listening to the students, make
sure you form your own opinion about the college and
the academic program.
•
Read
the college newspaper and other campus literature
Read the college newspaper and other campus literature,
magazines, and newspapers to gain knowledge about the
school’s academic, political, and social environments.
This information will give you an excellent insight
into the issues affecting the average student. Plus,
if there are any problems with the school, you'll read
about them here.
•
Take
notes during your visit
You should bring a notebook to write down your experiences,
facts, likes/dislikes, and most importantly your impressions
of each place you visited and of the school
Make a final decision.
The college you choose to attend ultimately depends on your
educational and career goals, the school’s personality,
and most importantly the quality of education you expect
to receive as a student. Before you make your final decision,
you should reassess your visits and compare all the schools
against one another, and then against your career goals.
If you select a college that meets your goals and needs,
and matches your personality, you will feel comfortable
in the learning environment and hopefully enjoy your college
experiences.
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