College visits can overwhelm and excite

The point of a college visit is to see if you will like your possible future home and school. It??s all about picturing yourself happy and comfortable there. If you can??t do that, then the college probably isn??t a good match. When thinking about college visits, be sure to keep some questions and tips in mind.

As a teen going off to college in just a few months, maintaining my explorative mindset is pretty helpful. It??s great because it makes me want to familiarize myself with everything around me: people, buildings, learning programs, etc.

However on the first college visits I went to, I was shy at first and didn??t want to ask any questions, but then I realized how silly it was not to ask questions. It??s simple, if you don??t ask questions, you can??t learn more about a college and won??t be able to see whether you??re meant to at this particular institution or not. You must ask questions.

From then, I made it a point to ask lots of questions about schools, in order to get a better feel for a possible, future home. If you??re at a loss for words consider asking questions about the following:

• Possible major/minor
• Dorms
• Cafeterias
• Classroom settings
• Teachers
• Current student perspectives

In addition to asking questions, you also need to consider some certain factors to find a good match: Where is the school? How much money does this school cost? How far is it from home? and, most importantly, Why choose this school over all others? College visits can help you answer all these questions and more.

For those who may not know, a campus visit consists of a tour of a college or university’s campus, including tours of the housing facilities, classrooms, etc. The best days to go visit a college are on the weekdays, because you can see what classes and students are really like. Seeing students and classes in their natural habitat, can help you get an honest answer and perspective of what the school is like on a normal basis.

??You don??t get an actual view in college visit [just talking to guides],?? said senior Anna Rice. ??They won??t tell you anything bad about the school, only the good things, but you learn things otherwise that you can??t learn from the internet. Every school will highlight the same things- it??s a little generic.??

Trying to get the ??real view?? of a college I think can best be found by talking to the students there, the ones not giving the tour. The students assisting you on tours are helpful because they can answer all of your questions about the college, but the actual students who go there will be honest with you about what they like and dislike about the school. That??s what makes college visits helpful.

Colleges are complex; each school has something different to offer. And finally, after months and months of complicated college websites, I??ve managed to visit all of the colleges I??m applying to. It is exhausting work, but is definitely worth the time if you give it.

Finding the right college that suits you is very important, not just because it??s where you will learn beyond what high school can teach you, but also because it is where you will discover yourself.

Pick the school that is right for you as a person. Don??t go there if you like it, go there if you love it and can??t see yourself going anywhere else. That??s why college visits help.