10 Things to See and Do on a College Visit (Part I)
So, it’s about that time of year where your parents are on your back to make those campus visits. They may seem like a drag now, but when it helps you make the right choice, you’ll be happy. The college you select is such an important decision that it warrants those excessively expensive visits, to make sure you choose a college that is right for you. In the meantime, if you’re not at that stage yet, be sure to check out the CampusCompare College Search which should help you find some potential suitors. With that in mind, here is the list…
Update: Be sure to check out 10 Things to See and Do on a College Visit (Part II)!
10. Quad / Hangout Hotspots
Since you can’t make friends playing World of Warcraft in your dorm room all day, you’ll find yourself out on the quad (or a comparable hangout spot) quite often. Your school should have a nice lawn to read on and an open area to play football or frisbee. If this doesn’t exist, or if it does and there’s nobody there, this might be a school you want to rethink; you’ll be surprised how important little things like playing catch with your buddies in between classes will factor into your enjoyment of school.
9. Dorms
When you’re not in the classroom or grabbing a bite in the cafeteria, there is a pretty good chance you’ll be hanging out in your dorm room. While you’re visiting the campus, ask to see the freshman dorms, but ask to see the upperclassmen dorms as well. Freshman dorms will almost never be great, but make sure that you’ll be moving on up as you progress in class years. You don’t want to be living in a shack for four years…just one is okay.
8. Dining Halls
The dining hall is the simplest and most efficient way to eat on campus, and with all the studying we know you’ll be doing, you generally won’t have time to prepare yourself a nice lunch or dinner. The average student will eat at the cafeteria twice a day; it’s possible you go a bit less, but it’s likely you go even more than that, whether for a snack or late-night meal. Be certain that the cafeterias are large, clean, provide a variety of quality food, and are readily accessible. If the campus is big, chances are the school will have multiple dining halls; make sure you see them all.
7. Classrooms
If you think you can ace exams without ever going to class, think again. Not only do you need to go to class once in a while to make sure you’re up to speed with what’s going on with exams and homework, but a lot of smaller classes also base some of their grades on participation. Granted, you can miss class once in a while, but don’t forget that attendance is often mandatory. Make sure that you like the classroom setting of the school you’re visiting. Are they big or small? Are they flat or stadium-style? Is the technology adequate, or better yet, very advanced? Will you be a nameless face or someone your teacher will be able to interact with?
6. Interview
While you’re on your campus visit, why not put a face to your application? Make an appointment to meet with an admission counselor so that they can get to know you as more than a list of test scores and activities. This is your chance to show your personality, and you can even use the time to ask any questions that you might still have about the school. Just be sure that you’re friendly, polite, and articulate because the first impression is a lasting one.
Check out 10 Things to See and Do on a College Visit (Part II)!
This entry was posted on Friday, July 25th, 2008 at 8:39 am and is filed under Articles, Student Views. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
July 25th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
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