How to Get the Most Out of a College Visit
Credit: Benjy Renton
The Main Quad at Bowdoin College.
May 1, 2016
The busy schedule of a Hackley student leaves little to no time to visit colleges, but Spring Break is the perfect time to get some of those visits out of the way. College visits allow students to see what the college is like on a normal school day, as well as offer a great opportunity to find out information about the school that it may not provide online. Many colleges offer tours led by the students themselves, who can provide great insight into how they feel about their own experience at the school. Although you may have heard specific things about certain schools, it is important to go into each visit with a completely clear perspective.
When attending an information session, although it may feel like the speaker is just throwing out facts and statistics, it can be very beneficial to take notes on the content that interests you. More specifically, a list of pros and cons would be helpful to remember both the positive and negative aspects of the school. It’s important to consider what sets that school apart from others in order to prevent your memories of the visits from molding together. Oftentimes, many schools will leave time at the end of the information session for questions. This is a great opportunity to ask about any curiosity you may have. Senior Ally Petitti says, “It’s a good idea to ask questions about not only the academic life, but also about the campus life.”
When on the campus tour, if you stay towards the front of the group, the guide might talk to you and answer any questions you may still have. If you have more time after the tour is over, go see parts of the school that the tour did not show you. If you enjoyed your tour guide, it is always a good idea to ask for his or her email in case you come up with more questions and want to contact a student in the future. Try not to lose the handouts that the school might provide for you as they usually have some useful information and will remind you of what you heard at that college.
If you happen to know a student who attends the college you are interested in, whether a Hackley graduate or from your town, reach out to that student. Maybe they are willing to meet up for coffee or food or even spend the night with them. This will give you a chance to hear new opinions about the school that may be a little more honest or realistic. Senior Elana Stern says, “Message people you know that go to the school you’re visiting to meet up with them and ask them questions that you didn’t get to find out on the tour.”
Although you won’t be able to visit every school, it is very important and helpful to visit any schools you are seriously considering. Junior Jack Weyndling, who visited two schools all the way in Scotland, says, “If you are considering an international school, going the distance to visit it is definitely worth it and you get to see the international programs that they have available for students all over the world.” Seeing the environment that surrounds the school might help you decide whether or not that school is for you.
The college process can get very stressful, especially when all you know about a school is what you see on their website. In the end, it is crucial to make sure that you find the school whose surroundings as well as classroom environment work for you. Visiting schools will help you figure what you do and do not want in a school, hopefully making this significant decision a little easier.
