Life as a junior can be just plain busy! Between studying for standardized tests, participating in extracurricular activities, working (if you’ve got a job) and just doing your homework, it can be easy to feel like applying to colleges is the last straw that will break your high school back. On the other hand, possibly one of the most fun and exciting parts about the college search is scouting the schools in person. If you have the ability to do so, a campus visit could be the most useful key to unlocking what you truly desire in a college. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your campus visits.
RESEARCH FIRST
Start with a look at the website for each school you’re interested in to get an idea of what the campus looks like and whether it’s located in a city, a small town or out in the country. Many schools also have virtual campus tours on their websites, which can be helpful as a preliminary glance at the campus, as well as a window into the thoughts of people already attending. Susan Elsass, vice president for student affairs at Daniel Webster College (NH), suggests, “Listen to what the students, faculty and staff who are part of the virtual campus tour have to say about the college, and develop some questions from that video so you are prepared once you arrive on campus.”
Keep a list of criteria as you do your research for each school. Is the university a big research campus or a small teaching-based college? How strong is your intended program of study at the school? What financial aid is offered? What does the student body seem like? How are the campus living situations set up? What fun traditions does the school have? Look at social media in addition to official websites—you can glean a lot of insights from what college students post about their schools.
But don’t be distracted by the bells and whistles, cautions Elsass. “Figure out in advance what you want to learn about the college you are visiting. Make a list of questions,” and then once on campus, “ask those questions of multiple people you meet.”
Next, get briefed from your admissions contact. (Make sure to make contact with the admissions staff before you visit.) “Your admissions counselor can be your biggest resource as you navigate through the college search process,” says Jaclyn Freeland, senior assistant director of admissions at Wells College (NY). “Demonstrated interest will enrich your college search and visit experience.” Remember: the admissions staff can’t help you if they don’t know you’re planning to visit!
WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR VISIT
The first thing to do may be to schedule a tour with the admissions office on a day when school is in session, either in the spring of your junior year or early in the fall of your senior year. You’ll get a better feel for the campus if most classes are in session, rather than out for the summer.
Every college does things slightly differently for prospective students, but the day will probably start with a campus tour. Then you’ll most likely get to meet with current students, especially some majoring in the programs in which you’re interested.
“Take time to ask yourself the major questions,” says Taryn Hamill, associate director of enrollment management at Lynn University (FL). “Can you see yourself studying here, sleeping here, eating here, making friends here?”
Some schools tailor their campus visits so they’re a little more cus-tomized. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL) is developing a program “where our tour guides address every prospective student’s individual academic interests,” says Deborah Bandy, director of strategic marketing initiatives at Embry-Riddle. If a student is interested in a particular program, “we’ll take them to the … classrooms they’ll actually be exposed to as a student.” If you have a definite idea of what you want to study, check with your schools to see if they offer more personalized tours.
Some tours might end with an interview with your admissions officer. Be prepared to show your interest in the school and to speak honestly and passionately about your own interests. An admissions officer “will be instrumental in your college admissions decision,” says Freeland of Wells College. “Put your best face forward, shake hands and take the experience seriously.”
After the official visit is over, allow plenty of time to wander around and get your own take on things. Sit in on a lecture. Walk through the student union. Non-tour-guide students will probably give you some wonderfully genuine answers about their college experiences. “Talk to anyone not along the structured path,” says Hamill of Lynn University. “Listen to conversations in the dining hall and ask to see a real residence hall room”—not just a prepared showroom. “Take time to explore the local area and ask where students hang out at nighttime and on the weekends.”
THE IMPORTANCE OF VISITING
Now that most schools offer virtual tours and direct access to admissions counselors, you might think it’s fine to save time and money by skipping an in-person visit. But if you can swing it, it really can be worth it. Admissions officers take note of students who take the time to visit the campus—personal contact can establish you in their memories. “Our research has shown that students who visit our campus matriculate at a much higher rate than those who don’t,” says Bandy of Embry-Riddle.
“It is very important to visit as many different colleges and universities as possible,” says Joseph Balduino, director of recruitment at Pennsylvania College of Technology. “Today, colleges and universities use similar vocabulary to describe themselves, their academic programs and social settings.” Visiting these schools in person will help you differentiate between them and figure out which few really feel right to you.
Many universities also provide financial aid for students to come out and visit on a case-by-case basis, or they might refund students for the campus visit after they’ve decided to enroll at the college. Check with the schools you’re interested in to see if these are options before you decide not to visit because of financial reasons.
“The true climate of the college—and whether you fit socially and academically—can only be felt by walking a college campus,” says Balduino. “You need to end the visit knowing you can see yourself being successful at that college.”
IF YOU CAN’T VISIT
Sometimes a student just isn’t able to visit a campus because of the distance, cost or other factors. If that’s the case, you can still go the extra mile to show the school your interest.
“Ask the admissions office to send … videos of campus and students, and set up Skype calls,” says Hamill of Lynn University. “We have several international students that enroll each year that will never have the opportunity to visit, and we know the importance of creating this connection online.”
Also, “prospective students may contact undergraduate admissions to ask if they will be visiting their school in the future for a possible college fair or perhaps at a venue near their home,” adds Joseph Garzione, welcome center manager at Manhattanville College (NY). Check with your schools to see if they’ll be at a recruitment fair near you. Sometimes you can even have a college interview with an admissions counselor there.
But try to pull out all the stops to see if you can visit before you go this route. Utilize the resources you have, and don’t be afraid to ask the college or your high school counselor for help. “Don’t sell yourself short of that magical moment when it just ‘feels right,’” Hamill adds. “That moment does exist—if you take time to really experience the campus … you can find that fit.”
Jill Hicks is a writer and editor living in the Twin Cities.
9 THINGS TO DO to get a true feel for the school
1. Make a list of questions you can’t find answers to anywhere else. Don’t ask the questions that are likely addressed on brochures and websites.
2. Once on campus talk to different students and if possible visit their dorm rooms.
3. Meet with someone in the financial aid office. Keep in mind that the earlier in your junior year you start the more beneficial it will be to you in the long run. Financial aid officers at each school can provide you with information about scholarship deadlines and help you make a timeline.
4. Read the college newspaper or arts magazine.
5. Attend a sporting event a concert or any sort of cultural activity the university has on the schedule for the day.
6. Look at the bulletin boards around campus to see what sorts of activities and clubs are active.
7. Research a professor in your field of interest—then before your visit request an appointment to stop in during his or her office hours. Or contact the admissions office for help arranging a meeting with a professor during your time there.
8. By the time you get home from your college visit you might forget what the university was like. Take some photos and specific notes of moments or places you really loved.
9. You might also be able to follow students or faculty members you’ve met on social media to stay updated about events going on at the school.
