COLLEGE VISITS

We are receiving a lot of information from companies who are sponsoring tours for high school and college transfer students.  These tours can be very valuable experiences, and so we want to share some of this information with you.  Some students are comfortable to go off on their own and experience the tour by themself..  Others fee that they would prefer to have their families tour with them as a family mini vacation,  and begin heading off in the summer months to visit colleges nationawide. 

Before you hit the road,   we recommend that you do some research if you are opting to not do a pre-programed tour.   Be willing to spend some time on each of the school’s website that you are planning to visit and/or read about the different schools on College Prowler’s web site (www.collegeprowler.com). 

If you are considering a pre-planned tour, Educational Unlimited has a tour going out July 14- July 20th to the East Coast Schools.  They still have room available and you can contact them at:

Education Unlimited
1700 Shattuck Ave. #305
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 548-6612

This is a great time to also look into research opportunities, strong departments, well-known professors, and undergraduate research conferences held on campus, as you might also find some part time work or other opportunity you might miss.

 

Here are some ideas that you might want to consider as you prepare for your college visits--  and your time schedule.   

1) visit a class (some institutions have summer classes and seminars), talk to students, head to the campus center, vist the dorms,  dining halls, and fitness center.  You might also want to tour the Sororities and Fraternities, student store, and any other areas of interest.

2) visit the library and see if you feel comfortable there. See a dorm, talk to a professor or administrator about your interests and find out information about specific departments, 

3) visit any special places that correspond to your interests (music studios, art museums, local coffeehouses, etc...) This is a good time to check out special department like Art, Architecture, Music, etc. that will require supplemental applications and interviews.

4) take notes! Your mind will become scrambled, and have notes to go back to will help you.   

These visits will help you later when you write about why you are choosing a particular school.

 

Also, check out the tips we have recently found from the following online resources which we recommend using while planning your summer college visit trips:

 

U.S. News and World Report:  http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/twice-the-college-advice/2012/05/22/plan-college-visits-this-summer

 

NY Times: http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/planning-a-college-visit-readers-suggest-questions-to-ask/

 

Virtual College Visits (take advantage of the opportunity to visit a college virtually and then in person, when you can): http://www.youvisit.com/collegesList.php

 

Make your college visits work for you! Don't just take the tour/info session route  –venture out!   Talk to students, locals, stop by your favorite academic department and speak to a professor, see a dorm, do an overnight visit, stop by a local park. 

Don't tour more than two schools a day -- by taking your time,  it will give you a better feel for the school and the local community to help you figure out where to apply.  You might learn that a school your thought was perfect , isn't.   Knowing what the school has to offer may offer you some useful information in writing your application. 

Each evening after you tour a school, think about and jot down WHY you are considering applying to that school and WHY you consider yourself a good match for the school. It will help you decide your final destination down the road.

Take the time to prepare for your college tours!  It will help you make an informed decision about which school is best for you!