MAKING AN IMPRESSION: NAVIGATING COLLEGE FAIRS AND COLLEGE TOURS (Part 1)

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GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE COLLEGE VISIT AND TOUR

Whether you are just beginning to research colleges or you’ve narrowed your list down to a few, visiting the campus is possibly the most important step in actually choosing your college.  The visit will allow you to see for yourself whether or not the college is a good fit for you.  The photographs you see and the information you read in brochures and on the Internet are useful to an extent.  The visit is crucial as you consider which school will become your home for several years.

One economical way to visit a variety of campuses is to check out nearby schools during family vacations.  Even if the institutions in the area are not at the top of your list, it is an opportunity to experience a school in terms of its location, size, and overall “feel”.  There are many benefits to setting up a formal tour. Perhaps the most important is to have your “demonstrated interest” recorded with the institution.  Admission officers pay close attention to, and track how students are engaging with the school prior to submitting an application for admission.  And coming out to tour the school is one of the methods for demonstrating interest.

  • Plan your visit(s) well in advance, especially if you intend to complete a tour of several colleges during the spring of your junior year or during the summer prior to your senior year.
    • Visit no more than two schools per day! If you visit multiple colleges during a tour, you will become tired and increase your chances of arriving late to your next appointment.  Plan your tour accordingly.  Ask colleges for advice on travel times, ease of schedule, etc.
  • Contact each college at least two weeks in advance. Difficulty in scheduling one visit could affect your visit to others.

Regardless of when you visit, you should plan to:

  • Arrive on time (If you will be late or need to postpone your visit, call ahead of time as a courtesy)
  • Dress appropriately. Remember that first impressions DO matter!
  • Bring your parents/guardians. Campus tours with friends can also be a good way to get different perspectives of a school.
  • Tour the campus. Guided tours are effective.
  • Speak with an admission representative and/or attend a group information session if available
  • Interact with current students, even working some free time into your schedule to wander around and talk to students who do not work for the admission office
  • Attend a class, if available. Talk with a professor and/or coach
  • See a residence hall and/or student room and eat a meal in a dining hall
  • Collect business cards of the representative you meet with. Also get contact information for students with whom you speak if they are open to being contacted with questions you may have in the future.

After the visit, you should:

  • Make notes of your thoughts, while they are still fresh in your mind and consider having your parents do the same (These will come in handy in the future)
  • Send thank you notes to those with whom you had appointments
  • Contact the people you met if questions arise after the visit

When visiting a college campus you should be prepared to ask questions concerning the things that interest you most.  Don’t be intimidated by a large tour group!  Remember, if you have a question, someone else on the tour is probably wondering the same thing.  Happy touring!

Antoinette Battiste is an Independent Educational Consultant and resident of Evergreen.   She is the founder of Educational Pathways with Antoinette Battiste, a consulting practice that provides college planning and counseling services to high school students and their parents. We focus on the individual needs and talents of students and guide them to find the best match for a great college experience.  For more information about upcoming workshops, available services and additional college planning resources, go to www.antoinettebattiste.com