College Visits Ideal for Holiday and Summer Travel

Are you traveling some where for the holidays or the summer with your family? It is never too early to talk about college with young people. And a visit or tour or drive through gives everyone an opportunity to see a college campus – even if you just get out and walk around an empty campus.  Take the time to drive through a college or university or actually schedule a visit!

Appointments to consider setting up ahead of time:

• Does the college give tours? If so, sign up ahead of time.
• Just drop by the “college or community relations” office to say hi.
• Visiting the college bookstore often is fun.
• Can you set up an appointment with someone in the department(s) you think you want to be part of? If so, it would be good to do so, so you can ask questions specifically about how their program might meet your needs.
• Can you set up an appointment with someone in the Financial Aid department? If so, it would be good to do so, so you can ask questions specifically about what this college might be able to offer you I you are accepted.
• If you have the chance, it would be good to make a connection with someone in the Admissions Office, so if you have questions down the road, you have someone you can contact directly.

When you are on campus, here are questions to ask yourself:

• Can I see myself attending this school?
• What feeling do I get from the people I am interacting with?
• How do I feel about being on this campus? What kind of “vibe” do I get for myself?

Keep in mind the 3 fits we talk about: academic, social, and financial. So, it would be good to ask questions like:

• Academics: What are the classes like in the business department? How many students are in most classes? What kind of support is there to be successful in the courses?  I might ask about study abroad opportunities as well.
• Social: What are the dorms like? How does the university help students with the social adjustment to being away from home? What ongoing activities are available for students?  (In your case, since you’re interested in business/organization, ask what kind of opportunities are there to meet other students interested in the same thing?)
• Financial: What does the university have in place regarding scholarships and financial aid for students? Once a student is accepted, what is available from the university to help finance the education?