What to do before, during and after college tours
At RingTrue, we encourage students to start touring a few college campuses as early as their Sophomore year. Why? Because college visits are the quickest way to determine your college priorities, and one of the best ways to find ideal college fits.
However, to get the most out of your visits, you'll need to spend some time preparing beforehand, as well as reflecting after you're done. Here's everything you need to know to make your college visits successful.
Getting Started
This is where a lot of students get stuck. But don't overthink your first visits. Start with colleges close to home that offer a major or two that you're interested in. Or, tack on your college visits to any trips you're already taking. Be sure to start with two or three schools that vary in size, public vs. private, and urban vs. suburban or rural. This will give you a great idea of the general size and environment that you prefer.
Set Up A (Small or Individual) Tour
It can be tempting to visit campuses for open houses or college experience days, when large groups of high school students are invited to tour. Although these days are nice for younger students who plan to return to campuses another time for smaller group or individual tours, we don't recommend it for students who are wanting to take a deep dive and get a lot of questions answered. To set up a small group or individual tour, call each college's admissions office, or sign up online.
Understand Any Current Campus Restrictions
Knowing each school's current touring protocols, rules and restrictions has become increasingly important the past few years due to Covid-19. Check with each college's admissions office; most require an appointments and that you fill out a health check the day of your tour. Some restrict the number of people you can bring along and/or require masks. Others only allow you to tour outside. Some don't allow tours at all during certain times of year. It's very difficult to get a feel for a campus if you aren't allowed inside the buildings, so be sure to take advantage of times of year when restrictions are low (typically late spring through early fall). If a school ends up on your final list and you simply can't get on campus, be sure to take advantage of online options. From virtual tours, to live sessions with professors, most colleges provide a variety of digital opportunities to connect and get a good feel for a school's environment and offerings.
Do Your Research
You'll only get as much out of your tour as the effort you put into it – before you set one foot on campus. So be sure to do some investigation on each school's website and social media profiles, as well as through sites like Niche and College Scorecard. Get your basic questions answered – such as size, rankings, acceptance rate, etc. – so you can go a bit deeper during your visit. Note any item of interest you'd like to discuss or explore, including particular majors, programs, financial aid, housing or activities. Be sure to mention these items to the admissions office before your tour so that they are prepared with any out-of-the-ordinary opportunities during your time on campus.
Have Your Questions Ready
What are the most important questions you need answered at this stage in your research process? And what will you want to know later? A quick search on Google will reveal millions of articles and blogs you can study to come up with a list of questions for your college tour. If you'd like to make it easier for yourself, check out our list of top questions for your college tour here. When coming up with your list, be sure to include a mix of both fact, or objective questions, as well as feeling, or subjective questions. (e.g., "How many meals are included on the weekly meal plans?" vs. "Do you like the food here?")
Know Where You're Going And Get There Early
No one likes to feel rushed or frazzled on tour days. (Trust us, you'll likely already be a bit excited and nervous under the best of circumstances.) So check and double check your confirmation emails, the college's website and with admissions about where and when you'll start your tour. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive a bit early. You can always walk the campus a bit or check out the school's bookstore if you have extra time on your hands.
Count On Your Tour Guide (With A Side Note)
Your tour guide can be an excellent source of information and opinions about the college you're touring. Be sure to take advantage of your time with your tour guide by asking questions that only a student might be able to answer, such as:
"Why did you choose this school?"
"What do you like best about this school?"
"What dorms are the most popular and why?"
"What do you and your friends like to do on the weekend?"
Side note: Keep in mind that your guide offers only a single perspective of their college. You should not judge any school entirely on one student and the tour they provide. Sometimes you get stuck with a less-than-impressive guide who can't answer many of the questions you have. Other times, the student is required to follow a script, and may be instructed to redirect any questions back to the admissions office instead of answering with their own, honest opinion. So, if you find a college is a good academic fit, you should talk to a variety of students who attend before you form your final opinion about the school overall.
Document Your Visit
For many students, their favorite school at any given time is whichever school they toured last, because it's the one they remember best. This is why it's important to document your visit during your tour, as well as immediately after. Don't be afraid to use your phone during the tour to take photos and record notes about your personal favorites and low points. Once you've completed each visit, take some time that day to record the details and impressions you have. Use the photos you took and the people you brought with you for help remembering details. Go the extra step and create a college comparison spreadsheet to record and compare your most important college criteria. This will help you keep each school on an equal and fair footing as you move along the process.
Circle Back With Admissions
Hopefully each college does its job and your visits deliver more than you expect. However, you'll likely still have some questions that don't get answered on your tour that will require you to check back with your assigned admissions counselor. Not sure who that is? Check before you leave the day of your campus visit. Or, once you're home, check your emails from the school. You'll typically be assigned to an admissions officer who is responsible for guiding you throughout the process with their school. Otherwise, don't be shy about calling the admissions office directly. The staff in admissions is dedicated exclusively to getting you the answers you need, from your first contact to final acceptance.
Looking for more helpful information for your college search? Learn more about how RingTrue can provide personalized guidance to you and your family throughout the admission process.
Comentarios