Making the Most of College Visitation

It’s that time of the year: many hopeful high school juniors and seniors are looking toward college educations. A lot goes into the process of picking a proper school that is both affordable and fun. It can be a confusing time for students, parents, and everyone else involved in the process. Here are some tips about how to get the most out of college visitations to judge which school might be right for you or your student.

The first thing that experts really want to stress to possible students on any college campus is to start early. The earlier you start the better the process will go. This can be difficult, given that most students’ senior year is filled with both social and academic challenges. Many are balancing a full plate of college prep classes and extra circular activities. It is suggested to carve out time for serious thought about the colleges that you want to visit.

One of the crucial aspects of college is financial aid. Students should explore every possible scholarship and other financial aid opportunity that they can. Even the smallest amount of money can go to great lengths. If your student is thinking about taking out student loans, stress to them that loans are not something to be taken lightly and will have to be paid back once school is over.

Experts suggest, once the list of potential colleges has been narrowed down and seriously considered, to begin making appointments as soon as possible. You or your student should get in touch with a professor in their preferred department of study who teaches some freshman level classes. This way upcominging college freshmen will have a heads up on what class is typically like, as well as class size and course load for the classes. Also, you may want to consider asking about graduate and post graduate opportunities.

Once you get on one of the potential campuses, there are also several options to explore. Encourage your student to explore their potential academic department first hand by sitting in on a class or talking to some of the professors. This way, students can have a feel for what class is really like, what is being taught, and what other things might be available to them within the program.

It is also suggested to talk to students who live on campus. This way you will get the feel for what life is really like around the potential school. If for some reason you or your student has a bad experience at their potential school, experts say not to judge the school by the single experience, but rather look at it in perspective: one day versus four years.

Once all the potential schools have been visited and considered, make a mental list of all the aspects that you liked and did not like about each. This may help with the narrowing down and decision making process. In the end, find a school that makes you happy and excited about attending. The first step in doing that is getting out there and getting informed on what college is really like.