Eli Clarke, Associate Director of counseling, private high school, Washington DC
Nothing can replace actually visiting a campus. You’ll get to talk to students face to face, take a look at residence halls, and gather all kinds of information first hand, as well as making meaningful contact with the admissions office.
Yet some students and parents do not come prepared for the college visit. In many cases, people don’t take the time to effectively plan this vital step in the process. They may simply show up, or just drive by, which can lead to a hasty, and often incorrect, impression of the school.
Get the most out of your college visit! Here are a few tips that will help you:
Pre Planning
Call to schedule the visit at least two weeks ahead of time.
Many people do not pre-plan their college visit and this can lead to an unproductive visit. If you call ahead of time, the admissions office will be able to accommodate you and ensure you have a great visit.
Make sure to get proper directions to the admissions office.
In order to make a good first impression, make sure you know where you’re going so that you can arrive on time. Get a map if possible, and if you have any questions, call the Admissions office back to clarify your directions.
If there is anything specific you wish to see, ask ahead of time.
Depending upon the year, they may not be able to accommodate you. For example, in the summer months staying overnight or seeing a professor usually does not happen. However, it does not hurt to at least ask if there might be something of specific interest to you.
Be flexible.
It may not be possible for the school to schedule everything you would like to see, particularly during the summer. Be willing to try something else, and always remember that you want to present yourself positively-- you might want to apply to this school later.
If you need to cancel or reschedule, call ASAP.
Of course, you cannot predict emergencies or unforeseen circumstances but it is a common courtesy to contact the admissions office to let them know that you can’t come.
During the Visit
Take notes.
Every student should write a few things down during the visit. Click here for a sample Campus Visit Sheet that you can print out and use. Your notes will be a valuable reference when you are comparing colleges later.
Ask questions.
Take an active role. This is a golden opportunity for you to ask questions about what really matters to you.
Try to do some extra things on your own.
Eat in the cafeteria, talk to students, see where they hang out and look around the neighborhood of the school. If you look around, you can get a more complete picture, and not just what the admissions office highlights.
Don’t discount the school because of bad weather or other uncontrollable circumstances.
Some students cross a school off their list simply because it rained, or because they visited during a school break when activities are minimal. Don’t fall into this trap.
Post Visit
Always write a thank you note.
In order to make a great impression, write a thank you note to those you met on campus. This gives you the opportunity to be remembered when your application is reviewed.
Make sure you have contact information for any future questions or concerns.
Keep business cards and pamphlets in some organized folder so that you can refer back to them if necessary.
Make sure to remain in contact with the school.
Some schools keep a record of contact information and in some cases use that as a measurement of interest level for admissions consideration.
Talk with your high school counselor about the visit.
Parents, relatives, and friends are great people to bounce ideas off of when it comes to college visits. But your counselor can provide a neutral and informative perspective on your experiences.
