An essential part of the college search process is visiting the schools you’re interested in. It can seem trivial, but it can totally change the outlook of your search.
Until you get a chance to visit a college, you won’t know how you truly feel about it. What is the layout of the campus? Is there anything fun to do in the surrounding areas? Where do the students hang out? Do they seem happy? Visiting a campus can answer all of these questions and more. Yes, you need to do your homework first and find out which colleges offer the best programs in your intended major, but once you’ve narrowed it down to your top choices, it’s all about the environment on the campus.
You should always call ahead and schedule your visit. It’s the polite thing to do. People in the Admissions Office are busy, but they will make time for you provided you let them know you’re coming. We are there for you, but we expect common courtesy. Sometimes calling ahead can even alert you to events you were unaware of on campus, like an Open House, or even a day off, which will help you avoid making a potentially expensive trip for nothing.
You should also take advantage of campus events like Open Houses and Information Sessions. The Admissions staffs work hard to plan events that will maximize your time spent on campus and ensure that you get all of your questions answered. Plus, it’s usually a better opportunity to meet students and faculty members, which is always the best way to gauge the environment of any campus. Students are always the best way to find out what’s really happening on campus, and talking them will often help a student determine if they’ll fit in on campus, and essentially if they’ll be happy there.
Lastly, and most important, is to ask questions!!! You may spend 4 years of your life here! How is the food? What’s the weather like? Do they have the sports you play or the clubs you want to join? What makes YOU happy, and can this campus provide it? Take as much time as you need to walk around campus and talk to people. You are going to pay a considerable amount of money for your education. Take the time to make sure you’ll be happy with what you’re paying for.
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