Once you’ve narrowed down your choice of schools to just a few, you should should make a strong effort to visit the schools on your short list in person. If you’ve been talking with these schools already, chances are they’ve already bombarded you with mailings on how you can come over and visit them. If not, just call up the admissions office, and they’ll be sure to set you up with a guided tour.
However, simply going through the motions on a tour like this will be a waste of your time. Sure, its easy enough to show up, follow the tour guide around, and attend the workshops, but if this is all you do, you’re not getting the full story. See, the school wants you to come, so they’re putting their very best foot forward on the official tour. This is all well and good, but to get the real story, you’ll have to dig a little deeper. By not taking the school propaganda at face value, you stand a much better chance of successfully narrowing down your short list to the one school that fits you best. Here are my top ten “digging deeper” tips:
- Ask to see real students rooms, not the perfect model tour rooms.
- Make sure you talk to students who aren’t being paid by the school for the tour.
- Go without your parents. If they still come, try to spend some time talking to students without them around
- Be sure you tour the department you’re interested in, and talk with its students.
- Try to get invited to a party. This will be a good way to get an idea of what the social life of the school is like.
- Ask detailed questions during all the presentations.
- Try to explore the surrounding area, and see if its a place you’re be happy living for the next four years.
- Do you like your fellow tour mates? These could very well be your future classmates.
- Get an idea of how the campus will feel to get around if you were attending. Can you walk everywhere, or will you need to drive or bike?
- Try to eat a meal in the cafeteria, just so you know what you’re dealing with.
In addition to getting a better feel if the school is right for you, the campus visit is also a great time to make some contacts and follow up with logistics in person. A few ideas:
- Talk to the financial aid counselor in person, and get ideas for scholarships and aid you can be applying for if attending.
- Talk to professors in your field, to get an idea of what their classes will be like.
- Talk to the housing director, and make sure you understand all your options.
- Talk to whoever handles transfer credit, if you have any, to make sure everything is on track.
- Meet with any coaches you might be playing for, and get a feel for their personalities.
Overall, the more effort you put into your campus tour, the more you will get out of it. Be thorough, ask questions, and talk to as many people as possible. This will go a long way towards helping you choose the best school for you. Good luck in your hunt.
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