Skip to main content

College Visits and Tours: All you need to know



















As mid August approaches high school seniors should already have a good idea on what type of school they want to attend. Now is the time to start planning those exhilarating visits and getting ready for the next chapter of your life.

Your First Steps on Campus


Your first college tour can be a mix of emotions. It may seem intimidating walking across campus when everyone knows you're still in high school, but don't be scared. Every single student has been in the position you're in and some of them probably wish they were you.

It's very important to land a solid tour guide. These visits can easily make or break your decision to attend, so make sure you put them on the spot and ask plenty of questions. Don't be the shy person in the back not listening to a single word they say. Some standard questions for guides are as follows:
  • What is the average class size?
  • What types of programs does the college offer? 
  • How easy it to switch majors?
  • What are the dorms like?
  • What's the food like?
  • What do students do for fun?
  • What are some types of clubs and activities on campus?
  • What specifically are their favorite things about the school?
  • What makes the school unique?

Now one thing you must understand is that these tour guides do not know everything. They are simply just trained students doing this to earn money. So, be sure to set-up meetings with faculty or advisers to ask specific questions concerning graduation rates, job placement, financial aid, specific courses or majors, etc.

Important Things to Remember


Of course talking with students and faculty is important but make sure you are made aware of your surroundings on the tour. Explore the campus and see what is has to offer. Visit the dorms, cafeterias, student unions, classrooms, etc. Imagine yourself in the shoes of the by standing students and feel if it's right for you.

This next tip is extremely important. If you attend a tour with your high school friends do not in anyway let their thinking deter you. Meaning, if you really enjoyed a portion of the school but they did not, don't change your opinions to satisfy theirs. People see and think differently and that is perfectly okay. You shouldn't base your college choice on where all your friends are going anyways, it should be what is the best fit for you personally. Although your parents may know best for you, don't let them shut you down on a school you love as well.



It may seem like going for a tour on the weekend or in the summer would be easiest, but we definitely don't recommend it. Of course there will still be people, but there's no more real experience than seeing a college while class is in session. Take a morning off school with your parents and go visit the school during the week. It's the only way to see a university in it's natural setting. High school teachers are mostly understanding when it comes to this and consider it an excused absence.


Also, do not let horrible tour guides crush your dream school. As mentioned above, they are simply students paid essentially minimum wage just trying to make a little extra money. If you fell in love with the school on paper but didn't have a great experience it is definitely recommended to request another tour. As a matter of fact, before choosing which school you are going to attend it should be an absolute minimum of two trips. Application deadlines are usually in December but that does not mean you have to make a decision quite yet.

Overall, enjoy the tour experience and what is has to offer but do not forget to enjoy that last year of high school because before you know it it'll be over.  


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Adjustable Split King Beds: 2 Twin Extra-Long Size Beds Combined

On the surface, the answer to "What is a split king mattress?" may seem quite simple -- but there are several different types of split king beds to choose from. No matter what your budget or your particular circumstances, there is a split king that will suit you just perfectly. Why Are Split Kings Made?   A split king is made as a solution for comfortable sleeping for a couple. The bed is divided into two sections so that each person has their own customized side of the bed. This would allow for one person to have a firm mattress while the other person has a soft one, or for one person to have an electric blanket while the other one can sleep blissfully in the chilly night air that they prefer. Sometimes a split king is made for people with medical issues so that the person needing specific medical bedding -- like a bed that sits up and reclines automatically for example -- can have it on their own side but not on the side of the person who is not in need

Social Media in College

Social media and college almost go hand in hand. There are a few college courses that even use social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to start discussion pages and post content related to class. College age kids use social media a lot.

History of The College Dorm Room

For centuries now, the college experience has long been associated with living in dormitories. From the first university in the United States the modern colleges and universities of today, students have had the opportunity and experience of living with one another at a pivotal time in their lives. All students in dorms are relatively young, typically between 18 and 23 years old, and all of them have a goal of getting a degree in mind. It's an experience that defines those first moments in an adult life, and that helps students learn the importance of responsibility, the benefit of independence and the joys of student camaraderie. However, while the general experience has remained the same, the dorms themselves have changed a lot over the years. From the archaic and cold buildings that were built hundreds of years ago to the modern dorms of today that more closely resemble resorts, the style and feel of college dorms has continued to change over time. The Very Fi