College Planning Guide

College Visits

Scheduling

The ideal time to visit colleges is in the late spring of the Junior year, and fall of the Senior year. The “best” time for visiting is whatever works best for the family. There has been an increase in the number of students who apply to colleges they have not been able to visit prior to the application. If admitted, and if there is a very strong interest in the college, these students visit the college in the interim between the admission date and May 1. However, visiting a college often demonstrates your interest in that college or university.

Obviously, Spring Break offers an opportunity to visit colleges without losing school time. However, some colleges will be in the final, desperate days of decision making, and you may not be particularly welcome. Or, if the college is having its own Spring break, you may see the campus without students and activity. Contact each college to plan ahead and avoid these pitfalls. Summer may not the best time to visit colleges if you want to see them in “normal conditions”, but for many families this is an ideal time to visit. Colleges welcome your visit and are indeed very busy in the summer months.

Your college advisor wants to be involved in the planning of your college visits. You are free to visit any colleges you want, but she would appreciate having the opportunity to add an additional college or two on your itinerary before you leave. Also, the college advisor is always eager to hear your impressions about the colleges you visit. Be sure to schedule a meeting with her once you return from your trip to share your views.

There are some basic guidelines to follow when visiting a college:

• Please plan your visit in advance . Call the college to make an appointment for a tour, interview, or group information session (ask about what would be most appropriate if depending on whether you are a senior or junior). You should call at least 10-14 days in advance of your visit, and due to the high volume of summer visitors, many colleges recommend 3-4 weeks of advanced notice. Most colleges will send you a confirmation with driving directions, parking permits, and a listing of hotels in the area. Some colleges offer the opportunity to plan your visit on-line through a convenient form.

• Plan your itinerary so that you have ample time to accomplish whatever you've planned at each campus . At the very least, plan to spend at least two hours on each campus (one hour tour and a one-hour info session or interview). Check as thoroughly as you can on residence halls, classroom buildings, the library, eating facilities, student center, and activities. Try to determine whether the atmosphere and the environment are what you are looking for. If you have time, you may want to try to visit a class (you’ll need to ask about this when you schedule your appointment through the admissions office), or talk to several students and a faculty member. You may want to eat a meal in the campus cafeteria or food court – not necessarily to sample the food, but to sample the campus culture. Use this opportunity to observe your potential future classmates. Do not be thrown off by your emotional reactions to the interviewer, the student guide, the architecture, or the athletic facilities. Try to make as reasonable and objective an evaluation as you can.

• Interview vs. Group Session? If you want an interview, please be sure to ask the receptionist when you schedule your visit. Not all colleges and universities offer on-campus interviews (for example, the University of Pennsylvania does not), but even those that do offer interviews typically have several different ways in which you may choose to spend your day on campus. A group info session and tour is quite common on large campuses because they simply do not have enough admissions personnel to interview the hundreds of students that visit their campus each day. Most small colleges enjoy the opportunity to interview students. These types of interviews are nothing to be worried about and can be a great way for the college to learn about you and for you to learn about the college.

The Interview

Some colleges have replaced the interview with a group information session. If you find yourself in a group situation, participate as fully as you can and try to ask at least one question. If you are granted a one-on-one interview, remember these tips:

First--relax. Most admission officers say an interview can only help you, not hurt you. Use it as a chance to find out some of the things the catalog doesn't say; e.g. academic pressure, chance for independent study, study abroad, inter-departmental courses, class size, living regulations, social pressure. Remember that an interview truly starts the moment you arrive in the admissions office lobby. Treat the receptionist and others with the same respect you do your teachers. If you are going to be late for any reason (we all get lost in unfamiliar places!), do call ahead to inform that admissions office of your delay. This will allow them time to make the necessary adjustments in their schedule as well as yours.

Secondly--Most interviewers are pleasant people, take the initiative, ask questions, try to draw you out, and seem very easy and enjoyable to talk with. Others range from very serious to passive, may start by saying, "What do you want to know about XXX College?" or "Do you have any questions?" Therefore, you should have some questions ready in advance (sample questions below). Don't be afraid to ask about social life as well as academics.

Don't try to bluff or charm the interviewer. Be yourself, as much as possible, and remain calm and poised. Answer questions truthfully and ask questions openly. The interview should be a sharing of information about each other--the college and the applicant.

Remember the name of your interviewer. Ask for a business card that has his or her contact information. It is always a plus if you write a note thanking him or her for the interview.

Pick up application forms and any other information you might want or need. You may also want to take along a camera and snap some photos of campus to help you remember the college or university.

Questions To Ask

Here are some suggestions for questions to be pursued during a college visit. Questions with an asterisk (*) are good questions to use in an interview. Others are for your student tour guide.

What is the physical location, and how is the surrounding environment? How are the residence halls? Are they clean, well-lighted, and pleasantly decorated? How easy is it to get your first-choice of dorms? How does the college match first year roommates?

What about campus security? Do you feel safe on campus?

*Are you guaranteed housing after freshman year? If not, how do students find housing? How many students live on-campus versus off-campus? Do living conditions throw sizable groups of students together democratically? Are freshmen segregated in their own dorms?

What are the rules governing dorm life? Are there visiting hours? Are there open dorms? Are there co-ed dorms? Is there drinking in dorms

How many students to a room? Is there chance for a change of roommate assignment?

Is there off-campus living? What are the rules? Does the school help to find reasonable accommodations?

How are the dining facilities? Are they clean and well-maintained? What are the options for meal plans and different dining halls/food courts? What is your favorite dining hall meal?

Is there a student center? How satisfactory is the schedule of social and cultural activities?

*How many students leave on the weekends? What is a typical weekend like at the college?

How much does it cost to get home and return? How much does it cost to get to the nearest city?

Where do students shop? Where do students eat when they go off campus?

*What kind of guidance and counseling is available?

Academic advisors? Dorm counselors (commonly referred to as R.A.s or Resident Advisors)?

Psychological and other student support services?

*Does the school have much of an impact on student life? How much emphasis is placed on fraternities and sororities (what % of students are greek)? Is there a chance to be independent?

*How about student activism on campus? What are the major issues being discussed? What are the hot-button topics on campus right now?

How spacious and well-equipped are the science laboratories? The library? How available are they to students (what are the hours)? What are the chances that you’ll get to use them as a first year student?

*How big are classes, especially at the beginning levels? What is the average class size and how many of the classes taught are AT or BELOW that average class size?

*Who teaches freshmen and sophomores? Instructors? Graduate assistants? Full-time profs?

How strong is the academic pressure? How many fail academically? How many students do not return at the end of the freshman year (ask for a %)?

*Is the student/teacher relationship personal as well as professional? How well do you know each other? * (ask the tour guide) – Why did you chose to come to this school? What do you like best about this college?

Are there opportunities to move around academically? Are the distribution and major requirements rigid? What are the chances for interdisciplinary studies, double majors, and self-designed majors?

What special programs are there (January term, study abroad, independent study, internships, pass/fail options, etc.)? How difficult is it to arrange for a special program?

Requirements for graduation (how many classes per semester to graduate on-time)? Is there a placement and advisory center for graduates?

*What is the school's record in relation to professional and graduate schools? What percentage of the college’s graduates is accepted into professional and graduate schools? What are the most populate graduate schools that students attend?

What is the scope of the extra-curricular program? How many clubs does the school support? How many students participate? Does the ordinary student have a chance to get into activities early? Will the school help to develop individual interests and abilities? Can you create a club if one does not exist for one of your interests?

Is there a good athletic program, both interscholastic and intramural? Are women's athletics as supported as the men's programs? How good are facilities and equipment?

Finally, ask yourself,

"Does this seem like the kind of place where I would enjoy living and learningfor the next four years?"