HELPFUL HINTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE VISIT
Do not schedule more than two schools per day. Give yourself ample time to roam the campus before or after the interview, tour, and/or information session. Record your thoughts/observations immediately. When visiting a number of campuses it is easy to confuse details or it becomes difficult to remember what distinguishes one college from another. We recommend you bring a copy of the Evaluating a College Visit Form (available online at www.milton.edu under Academics – College Counseling – Resources – Class II Resources) to record and organize your thoughts after each visit. Be flexible. Schools may not be able to accommodate your ideal schedule, but with some adjustments you should be able to see all the campuses you hope to see. BE PUNCTUAL! Make sure that you give yourself a cushion of time to accommodate any missed turns, traffic jams, or foul weather. If, despite your best efforts, you are still going to be late, call the admission office to inform them of your situation. Because the campus visit can play an important part in the admission decision, particularly at smaller schools like Bates, Franklin & Marshall, Oberlin, Davidson, etc., and at schools that track demonstrated interest like BU, Case Western, Dickinson, George Washington, Rhodes, and Washington University, be sure the school makes a record of your visit. Sign up for on-campus interviews at schools where interviews play an important part of the evaluation process. Be sure to note the name of the admission officer you meet. (REMEMBER TO WRITE A THANK YOU NOTE OR EMAIL!) That person may well become your first point of communication with the school as you continue your search. While visiting, keep in mind that you are interviewing the college as much as it is interviewing you. Do not be afraid to probe, but, at the same time, remember that you also describe yourself by the questions you ask. Be thoughtful and articulate.
Read the campus newspaper to discover the burning school issues.
Scan the bulletin boards and kiosks for announcements and for messages; these sorts of communications reveal a great deal about the life and the tone of the school.
Talk with students on your own, without parents and without the folks from admission offices; you will get more candid answers. The way you are received will also give some indication of the friendliness of the community. Visit the dorms. Sample the food in the cafeteria. Are the students respectful of the school and its facilities? Does the menu have variety? Can you live comfortably there?
Explore the layout of the campus and the accessibility of the campus to the surrounding town.
Parents – Take a moment to enjoy a coffee or two in the student center while your child explores the college a bit.
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