College visits are the best research tool.
Whether you take a trip during spring break of junior year, or wait to visit only those school to which you are accepted later in senior year, we recommend, as much as possible, that you see colleges first hand. Viewbooks and the internet are fine, but most informative are the campus itself, a student led tour, visiting a classroom, maybe spending a night in a dormitory.
Colleges handle visits in varying ways. The best approach is to call each college and ask for admission office guidelines for times to visit, tour and attend information sessions. If necessary, colleges will often even give you nearby lodging information and travel directions, as will many college brochures. If you are offered an interview, it is a good idea to have one; these usually provide a closer look at the institution and another opportunity to have individual questions answered. Sometimes schools will help you speak with faculty and coaching staff in areas of your interest. If you have individual interviews, it is a good idea to send a thank you note later to the individual who spoke with you.
When you visit, go prepared with good questions. Do your homework so you don't ask fundamental questions like what the school calendar is. Do not be afraid to ask challenging questions, especially of the students you meet; press them to tell you, for example, how much studying they do in a given week; do they seem excited about their school, their work? What are the issues on campus? What happens on week-ends?
After every visit, write down your impressions very soon after you leave. You will be amazed how much this will help you remember campuses when you try later to compare them and make decisions. |
