Tag Archives: college visits

college guidance, college prep, college visits

Questions to Ask on a College Tour

college tour

When your student is touring a college for the first time, they will have many opportunities to ask questions. They must not squander the opportunity and take advantage of the chance to get more acquainted with the college and campus life during the college tour.

Before you visit, your student should brainstorm and prepare. Don’t ask questions like “what’s the student/faculty ratio” or “how many people apply every year.”  The answers to basic questions like these are usually readily available in the school’s online and offline publications.

Continue reading Questions to Ask on a College Tour →
college planning, college prep, college visits

Exploring Colleges Near and Far

exploring colleges

Choosing the right college is a pivotal decision in a student’s life, and college visits play a crucial role in this process. A recent study found that 82% of students visit a college before attending.

Whether you’re exploring colleges close to home or considering options that are farther away, each experience contributes to shaping your academic journey.

Let’s explore the significance of college visits, sharing insights on both local and distant exploration.

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college planning, college visits, parenting

Making College Visits a Family Affair

college visits

College visits have become more important today than they ever were in the past. Competition for that coveted admission spot and the competitiveness of the colleges vying for students makes the college visit a key factor in a student’s decision and a college’s recruiting efforts. College visits are the “bread and butter” of the admissions process and if you have a college-bound tween or teen, it’s time to get into the game.

Continue reading Making College Visits a Family Affair →
admissions, college planning, college prep, college visits, financial planning, parenting

10 Ways Parents Can Help With College Prep

college prep

As a parent, you most certainly think about your child’s future and so often college prep is a part of that future. You may see them as an engineer, a teacher, or a doctor. You may picture them at your alma mater, or being the first in your family to attend college. Maybe you just hope they find a passion and pursue it. Whatever you hope, you want what is best for your child and to support them in achieving their goals.

College prep is a team effort. While the student leads the team and is ultimately the one who makes the final decision, parents can participate. This is an overwhelming process to handle alone and parents can ease some of the tremendous stress and burden.

Continue reading 10 Ways Parents Can Help With College Prep →
admissions, college planning, college prep, college visits

Moving Beyond the College Visit

COLLEGE VISIT

Believe it or not, colleges want to know you are interested in attending and many students simply stop with the college visit. This interest will influence their offers of admission. If they give you a coveted “accepted” slot, it only makes sense that those slots will go to the students who demonstrate interest. They are selling a service and they want interested customers, not casual shoppers. You can find out how much weight a college puts on “demonstrated interest” by researching the college’s statistics on College Navigator.

The college visit is a great place to start: taking the student-led tour and connecting with other students on campus. But if the college truly interests you, you should take that college visit a step further by considering these additional campus experiences.

Continue reading Moving Beyond the College Visit →
college planning, college visits, parenting

Coping with the Coronavirus

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coronavirus

I am seriously tired or seeing “coronavirus” on every social media platform. I’m tired of seeing people panic and act like it’s the end of the world if they can’t find toilet paper. I’m tired of hearing about another college or event that has been cancelled. I guess I’m just tired.

If you have a college-bound junior or senior, you probably feel the same way I do. But along with the frustration comes some concern and disappointment. Senior events are being cancelled. Colleges aren’t allowing visits. Admitted student events are cancelled. Some schools are having extended spring breaks.

How will all of this affect you and how can you cope?

There is going to be disappointment

Your teen is going to experience some disappointment. They have been looking forward to this time since they started high school. It may not be the end of the world to you, but it is to them. Be patient with them. Support them. Give them tons of hugs. You know this will pass but they don’t.

There are options available to make this tolerable

Thankfully we live in a digital world. In person visits cannot occur but virtual visits are available. Most colleges have them on their websites and you can also view some on YoUniversityTV video tours. After that, chat online with some current students you can find on social media. Most students are happy to brag about their school.

Mom can help by asking friends on Facebook for help connecting with current students. Grown and Flown is a great resource for current college parents.

If you have questions that can’t be answered by either of these options, reach out to the college itself. They will be happy to help you and understand your frustration.

Take care of your family

It goes without saying that the number one priority is the health and safety of your family. That includes protecting their mental health. Fear and anxiety can take over when everything seems out of control. Have open conversations about what everyone is feeling and find ways to help everyone cope.

The admissions outlook will change

Sarah Harberson, a college counselor, points out these things to expect during these next few months:

  • Expect decisions to be released on time.
  • Admitted student programs are being canceled amid fears of the fast-spreading virus.
  • With great uncertainty, the waitlist will be in full effect.
  • Acceptance rates will rise.
  • Be ready for colleges to aggressively try to convince students to enroll even after they make a decision.
  • Campus tours and information sessions are being canceled for prospective students and families of younger grades.
  • ACT and SAT tests sites are being shut down not only abroad but here in the states as well.
  • Virtual classes are replacing face-to-face in-person classes for high schools and colleges.

We are already seeing many of these things occur. If you need more information on any of these, read the entire article here: How Coronavirus Could Impact College Admissions.

If you need questions answered or just need to vent, hop over to my Facebook page and commensurate with other parents who are going through the same things you are. In the meantime, take a deep breath and hang in there–this too shall pass.

college fairs, college planning, college visits

Tips for Attending Spring College Fairs

college fairs

Nothing says spring like those annual spring college fairs. If you have ever attended one or look forward to attending one this spring, you know they can be a bit overwhelming. Faced with the daunting task of connecting with admissions representatives from numerous colleges, parents and students need a plan. Approaching a college fair without a plan will leave you frustrated and disappointed at the end of the event.

College fairs, when approached properly, can help you in the beginning stages of the college search process. More importantly, however, they facilitate those all-important contacts with college admissions officers. Those connections can be used in the future when visiting campuses, connecting with the colleges via telephone or email, and even as a “cheer leader” when you college application is submitted for consideration of admission.

Spring college fairs are important tools in your arsenal of preparation during the college admissions process. If you approach these fairs with the proper planning, you can use the information you gather and the contacts you make to your benefit.

Preparation prevents panic

As with any college-related task, preparation is key; and the college fair is no exception. Here are just a few tips to consider as a part of your preparation:

  • Do some research about the colleges who will be in attendance. Educate yourself regarding the basic information: campus size, majors offered, location, etc. This will help you make a good impression and appear knowledgeable when talking to the representatives. It will also help you when preparing a list of questions to ask.
  • Decide what you will wear: first impressions are important. Don’t show up in tattered jeans, a dirty t-shirt, and flip flops. Treat the connections you make with the college representatives as a preliminary interview.
  • Set up a college email account: firstname_lastname@gmail.com. Use this email address for all your college-related connections. Doing this will convey a positive impression and help you keep your emails separate and organized.
  • Make self-stick labels that contain your legal name, mailing address, email address, year of graduation, and intended area of study.  This will speed up the process of filling out inquiry cards, allowing you more time to talk to the college representative.

Map out a strategy

When you arrive at the fair, take a look at the physical map of the location and where each college is located. Take a few minutes to map out a strategy and decide which colleges you will have conversations with the representatives in attendance. One Florida admissions officer compared a spring college fair to a buffet: there will be more there than you can take in, but not everything is to your taste. As with a buffet, it is best to scope out your choices before you start adding to your plate or gathering your information. Don’t waste time with the colleges that don’t interest you. You’re on a mission—stay focused.

Take notes and gather business cards

Bring a notebook to the fair and take some notes as you speak with the college representatives. After your conversations, ask for a business card. This will be your first contact with the college and an important one. Turn the card over and make some quick notes after you leave about the person you spoke with. This will serve as a reminder when you make a follow-up contact after the college fair.

Ask questions

This is your chance to ask some questions and conduct your own mini-interview of the colleges. Don’t waste your time asking questions that can be found on the college websites. College admissions representatives learn just as much about you from your questions as they do having a conversation. If you did your homework and prepared, you should have some specific questions in mind. Use this time to gather information and learn things about the college you might not find on their website.

Attend information sessions

If the spring college fair is offering information sessions, make plans to attend some of them. Many fairs have sessions on the search process, applications, financial aid and other issues run by experts in the field. These sessions are a great place to ask general questions about the college admission process.

Follow up

After the fair, spend some time organizing your information and going over your notes. Grab those business cards you collected, along with the notes you made, and send an email to the college representative letting them know how much you enjoyed speaking with them. This will serve to cement your meeting in their mind and provide an opportunity for further connections.

Find a fair near you

Speak with your high school guidance counselor about local college fairs, or find a fair near you sponsored by the National Association for College Admissions Counseling. If there aren’t any fairs in your area, you can attend an online fair sponsored by College Week Live.

college visits, parenting

College Visits Aren’t for the Faint of Heart

college visitsIt’s fall for high school juniors and that means it’s time to jump right in and start those college visits. (Sophomores should start making these as well–there is much to be gained from making some preliminary visits.) If this is your first time visiting with a teenager you are in for a treat–drama on top of drama on top of drama. These visits are not for the faint of heart.

My own experiences with college visits still provide me with much needed comedy relief; although at the time they produced frustration and tears.

Here are four different college visit experiences we had with her. They prepared her for her final choice which wasn’t in Texas and wasn’t her dream school. You just never know where the journey will take you.

Baylor University

This wasn’t an actual visit, but it does demonstrate how emotional college visits can be. She refused to visit Baylor because Waco was the location of the Branch Davidian compound. Even though she had several friends who were considering that college and the setting and course offerings were perfect for her, she crossed it off the list before we ever set foot on campus.

North Texas State University

This was the only public university she visited and we had barely stepped out of the car before she said, “I don’t like it here. It’s ugly.” We did take the campus tour, which further cemented her distaste for the campus. It was one of the only colleges on her list that had a strong program of study that interested her, but there was no convincing her to consider it after the visit.

SMU

When we drove up to this private university, it was love at first sight. The campus is gorgeous and the buildings were immaculately maintained. After taking the tour, she decided to spend a night on campus. Meeting other students, seeing the sorority houses and spending time in a few of the classes cemented her love for this school. It would be the jewel to compare other colleges to; and she found one just like it in Boston.

Newberry College

This was a small college in the suburbs of Boston. She applied to this college because 1) it was in Boston, and 2) it had a strong program of study that she was interested in. We visited this college after she was accepted and offered a full-ride scholarship. She never got out of the car. Her words, “I’m just not feeling it.” You can imagine my frustration but I knew that if she wasn’t happy she wouldn’t excel there, especially this far away from home. So I counted to 10, we drove off, and went to the next college—the college she ultimately  chose–Bentley College (a campus like SMU in Boston).

Those were my experiences, but yours might be entirely different. Prepare for your teenager to morph into these strange characters over the next several months.

The skeptic

Before you even get out of the car your kid announces that he’s just not feeling it. Don’t even attempt to decipher what that means because it’s impossible to understand. You’ve driven (or flown) to go to a college he had on a list and now he’s just not feeling it. Bench your anger, take a deep breath and get out of the car. You’ve come all this way and you’re going to visit the college. In the best of worlds he will get out with you. In the worst of worlds he’ll stay in the car. There’s not much you can do with an obstinate teenager; it’s best to move on.

The architect

And yet another alien appears. You’re walking around campus and your kid announces that he doesn’t like how it looks. Never mind that he’s not going to college for the buildings or the landscaping. He’s going for the academics. But for some reason his blinders aren’t allowing him to see anything but the buildings and no amount of pointing out the pluses is going to change his mind.

The critic

You’re walking around campus and your kid announces that the students don’t seem friendly. Mind you he’s probably not even spoken to any of them and it’s a good bet he didn’t like the tour guide. Don’t try to convince him otherwise because the more you say, the less likely he’ll come around. Just wait until a cute girl approaches him. He’ll change his tune quickly.

The panic-stricken

You get back into the car after your last visit and he announces, “I’m not sure I want to go to college”. Don’t panic. He’s just realized the whole thing is real and he’s terrified. Give him some time to think it through and tomorrow he’ll most likely change his mind again. The worst thing you can do is draw a hard line in the sand now because his feelings are likely to go up and down like a roller coaster over the next few months (or years).

What’s a parent to do?

Even though your kid wants you to treat him as an adult, he’s still a teenager. His emotions are all over the place and this next step in his life is frightening. Remember that college is largely an emotional decision and you should expect that emotions will play into that decision. When the dust settles and the emotions clear, he will make a decision based on all the factors, including his campus visits. After all, you don’t want him to attend a college he just isn’t feeling and you don’t want him to make a decision and leave out the emotional factor. He’s going to spend the next four years of his life at this school. It will become his second home and it’s important that he likes where he is.

As you can see, it’s not an exact science. You can plan and prepare all you want, do your research before visiting, and make a list of likes and dislikes prior to pulling up to campus. But it’s that first impression that will have a lasting impact on their college decisions. There’s nothing logical about a teenager. Prepare for a wild ride.

college visits

Spring College Visits Aren’t Just for Juniors

college visits

Students and their families usually begin visiting colleges in the spring of junior year of high school. But should families start sooner? What are the benefits of making preliminary college visits during freshman or sophomore years of high school?

These are simply informal college visits that include a walk around campus, a visit to the school library, or a stroll through the campus bookstore. It’s easy to fit a brief college tour into your family spring vacation.

Why, however, should you consider doing this?

To get a feel for the college environment.

It’s a proven fact that picking a college is an emotional choice. Yes, students evaluate colleges based on academics, but mostly their choice is based on a “feeling.” By making preliminary college visits, students get a feel for the college environment, the buildings, the layout, the students and everything that makes a college. It helps to prepare students for junior year when they start touring must-see colleges on their college lists.

To start a list of college likes and dislikes.

Believe it or not, the look and the surrounding environment of a campus is important to most students. Does your student favor a sprawling campus with hills and historic buildings or a bustling campus in the middle of a large metropolitan area? Is the idea of a smaller campus interesting? Or is your student craving the excitement a large state university campus? Students can’t know the answer to any of these questions without visiting different types of campuses.

To experience campus life first-hand.

There’s nothing like watching students congregate on the green space for an impromptu game of football. Or seeing students walking between classes having discussions and getting to know one another. Or piling into the dining hall for a meal and some conversation. The list goes on and on. You can’t get that experience by viewing a website or looking at a brochure. You only get it by visiting a campus in person.

To read more reasons why preliminary visits make sense for your freshman or sophomore student, you can read my original article here at TeenLife Magazine: Why Freshmen and Sophomores Should Visit College Campuses.

college visits

How to Plan a College Visit

This article was originally published at fix.com and is republished here with permission.

If you have a child who is a junior or senior in high school, you may be thinking about selecting a college or university. The best way for teens to get to know their options (and to see firsthand what university is like) is to visit! Here’s how to plan a college visit with your high schooler.

How to Narrow Down Your College Search

No one can visit every school they’re interested in, especially if the schools are spread out geographically. Start by visiting schools online using each school website’s “virtual tour” option. Then decide what type of school your child is interested in: big or small, state or private, liberal arts or tech/trade. Once you’re ready to officially tour colleges with your junior or senior, schedule visits via the school’s admissions page. You can also check each school’s Facebook page to find upcoming events. It’s important to visit a variety of schools, so find several schools in reasonable proximity to visit in one trip. Be sure to visit at least one large school and one small school as well as one in the countryside and one in a downtown area of a city. Even if your child thinks they know that a big, urban school is right for them, they may change their mind after seeing a small, rural campus, or vice versa.

If your child is interested in schools that are too far away for a visit, visit a similar school within driving distance. For example, if your child is interested in a small, liberal arts private school on the other side of the country, visit a similarly structured school closer to home. The local school may not be on his or her shortlist, but it will give your child a feel for the general philosophy and campus life of the desired school. And who knows? Maybe you’ll all love it!

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When to Visit

Once you’ve decided where to go, it’s time to decide when to go. It’s important to plan college visits in advance, especially during popular seasons to visit. Schedule each visit by visiting the school’s admissions or “visit” page, where it will be easy to schedule your tour. Look for special prospective student days, during which the school will offer extended tours, dorm visits, and the option to sit in on classes. If you can’t visit during these days, schedule a private visit for any day that works for your family. In this case, it’s important to call the school’s admissions office to find out if your child can visit a classroom or dorm or meet a current student to be shown around beyond the standard tour. This is a great time to ask about the possibility (or necessity) of an interview with an admissions counselor. Some schools recommend one, and others do not.

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Days and seasons to avoid when planning your college visit include school holidays, when the campus will be empty, and particularly busy times, such as “move in” season in the early fall or the end of term, when finals are occurring. Weekends are fine, but weekdays are ideal. Most high school students and their families try to visit on a long weekend so they can get a taste of what a weekday and a weekend is like at the campus.

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On Visit Day

On the day of your visit, arrive early and follow the instructions you were given when you made your appointment. You’ll likely start in the admissions office. Let your child do the talking; this is their time to step forward. Every college visit will include a campus tour; pay attention to the small details your child may not think about. Do most students seem to have cars or do they ride bikes? Is there a sense of fun and community in the common areas, or do students look stressed and tired? What does campus security look like? Are safety precautions evident?

Take time to stop in at a local or campus coffee shop or common area, and walk past recreation areas and sports fields. If your child has an interview, they will do that solo, so take that time to strike up conversations with other prospective parents or take a financial aid seminar (or gather financial aid papers from admissions).

Be sure to teach your child to make eye contact, shake hands, and properly introduce themselves to campus personnel, and always encourage them to send a thank-you email after your visit.

Get to Know the Area

An advantage of visiting several campuses in one college tour trip is the opportunity to stay longer in the general area. Look for a hotel close to at least one of the campuses you’re visiting, and pay close attention to the neighborhoods, public transit options, and general atmosphere surrounding each school. Take the time to read the local newspaper, read campus bulletin board notices to learn about upcoming events for the student body and community, and play tourist in the city you’re visiting.

While you’re on campus, don’t be shy! Encourage your kids to ask current students why they chose the school, whether they like it, and what it’s like to live in the city or town. Learn about clubs to join or sports teams in the area.

When to Hang Back During a College Visit - How to Plan a College VisitEmbed Image

No matter which school your child ultimately selects, visiting colleges can be a fun family trip. Bring siblings so they can get a feel for what lays ahead, and be sure to add some family time into the mix; see a movie, tour sites in the city, or splurge at a local restaurant. Your college-ready child will remember this special time with Mom and Dad.