If you have college-bound children, sooner or later they will be bombarded by colleges. Brochures, emails, posters and all other manner of advertising will likely swamp them. On paper, all colleges and universities look like small wonderlands of education and recreation. Yet a campus visit is by far the best way to determine if a college is a good fit for your budding collegian.
For many college-bound students, now is the time to begin visiting a variety of campuses. There is no comparing the depth of understanding for the programming offered, dorm life, community environment and accessibility of the local community than a visit to a college campus. Many a student has professed a strong desire to attend a certain college only to return from the visit with stars in their eyes for yet another institution. I have heard many a student profess a laundry list of disappointments after visiting a campus. The size and location of dorm rooms, the smell of the city, the poor access to off-campus activities all can be a deal breaker for your perspective student. To help your child find the best college fit, I recommend the following:
Take advantage of any and all opportunities to visit college campuses. Before you visit, I strongly recommend you contact the admissions office in advance to arrange a visit. Take the time to prepare yourself for this visit. Ask about lining up interviews, attending informational sessions, sitting in on a class and visiting with professors.
Before you step foot on campus, you should go back through all of the information you have collected about the college in question. Take the time to review the college website. Write down questions that come to mind. If you are lucky enough to have on-campus interview, you must be prepared to answer questions about your high school grades, activities, hobbies, goals and, most importantly, why you’re interested in attending this college.
Once you have arrived on campus, walk around. Pick up copies of the student and local newspaper. Talk to students on campus. Current college students are the best source of information, as they will talk openly and honestly about their experiences. This is your one opportunity to collect honest, on-the-ground feedback. Remember, everything a college puts out there is designed to paint the institution in the best possible light. Small dorm rooms and poor access to local events will not be highlighted in the brochure! Find out how many hours a week students study and if this seems typical for everyone. Find out if professors are interested in and accessible to students after class. Are the athletic facilities open to all students? Do you have easy access to computer labs? How easy or hard is it to get into the classes you want? What do you like most about the college? Like the least?
Visit a dorm room. Is there space for you to be alone, or are you always surrounded by people? Were the dorms pleasant and quiet enough for studying? Were there laundry rooms and kitchens? Where can you keep a bike?
Check out the cafeteria. Do the dining options suit your dietary needs?
Be prepared to ask admission’s representatives questions. If you do not have any questions about a college campus, you are more than likely not a good fit for the college. Ask if the college offers programs fitting your interests. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the college’s advising system? What jobs, if any, are available to first-year students on campus? Does this college have any core-graduation requirements, and what are they? Find out what sets this school apart from others. Ask what are its most recent graduates doing now. Find out if there are new programs, buildings, etc., in the works.
After your visit, take the time to write down your impressions while they are still fresh in your mind. Reflect on the friendliness of the people you met and whether or not they fully answered your questions. Determine if the quality of instruction and the academic environment will meet your needs. Were students learning? If you had the chance to visit a class, ask yourself if the learning environment was one you could excel in. Did the people on campus seem like the type of people you would like to get to know?
So, in anticipation of campus visits, and to you parents out there, make sure to plan and budget ahead. This is just the beginning of a financial commitment; might as well make sure the school of your student’s dreams is more than as advertised.
Deborah Mendenwaldt is the college and career coordinator and a senior counselor at Durango High School. Reach her at dmendenwaldt@durango.k12.co.us.
