The College Blueprint Buzz

With summer fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about which colleges you may want to visit. An in-person visit really is the best way of assessing your interest in a particular institution. Nothing is better than seeing the students and campus facilities first-hand. There is so much to be learned from such a visit. You will want to get a sense of how your life could change when you move on-campus. A visit can tell you if location matters, if you enjoy the local climate, or if you can easily gain access to the beach or mountains. Throughout high school, look ahead to your university future; the summers between 9th and 10th grade and 10th and 11th grade can be wonderful introductions to a campus community. In this piece, we will look at three different types of visits and how they differ from one another.

Looking around: This visit is geared towards early information gathering. It is frequently included in a family vacation to the area. Parents may encourage their children to visit their alma mater as well as any colleges in the area when visiting family or friends. These trips may not include a personalized visit with scheduled campus tours, information sessions or Open Days. It should, however, include a walk around campus, a meal in a dining hall, a visit to the library and a chat with students you see out and about. Always drop into the Admissions Office to pick up materials and find out who your local representative is. This general visit will also help you craft a list of questions that can be refined over the coming months and years. Your goal in these early forays should be to figure out which aspects of the university campus experience really matter. Examine the size of the student body, clubs and organizations of specific interest, and scope of academic options. Above all, take good notes.

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