Hopefully you’ve decided that you’re going to visit a campus or two or ten during Kentucky Private College Week. Since it is summer, these are designed to be introductory visits and there may not be many students on campus. But you still want to make the most of your visit. Here are ten tips to help you make the most of your campus visit.
1. Keep in mind that a summer visit shouldn’t be your only visit
Summer is a great time for a first campus visit, but if you’re going to keep the school on your list you’ll want to make sure it’s not your only visit. So if you like what you see during Kentucky Private College Week you’ll want to schedule a time to come back in the fall when students will be on campus.
2. Do some research on the college
Your visit will be much more valuable if you know something about the college before you visit. Utilize the college website, this website, guidebooks, the college’s official Facebook page, and any information you have received from the college to familiarize yourself with the institution. Think specifically about items of interest or concern for you in your college search.
3. Develop a list of questions
Write down a list of questions to ask during your visit. Have your parents do the same. You may want to have one list of questions to ask admissions counselors, one for students, and one for faculty.
4. Dress appropriately
Check the forecast before you head out. You will probably be walking a lot during your visit, so dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes. You don’t need to “dress up” for a visit, but steer clear of attire that is too casual or revealing or otherwise inappropriate. (Save the pajamas on campus look for when you are actually a student. Or not.)
5. Give yourself plenty of time to get to campus, park, and check-in
Starting a campus visit late or in a rush can put you in the wrong mood and frame of mind to make the most of your visit. Build some extra time into your travel plans. Make sure you bring the admissions office phone number with you so you can call in case you get lost or unexpectedly run behind.
6. Smile
Show the admissions staff and student guides that you want to be there. (Even if you’ve just had to ride in the car for two hours with your little brother.) Ask questions. Use that list of questions you prepared, but don’t be afraid to ask others that occur to you during the visit. Take something to write on so you can jot down questions and answers while you wait or travel between visits.
7. Get multiple perspectives
If you have the opportunity, talk to as many people as possible about the college and their experience there. Don’t restrict yourself to just admissions staff. Talk to students and to professors. And don’t be shy about talking to the folks in the cafeteria or working outside on the grounds crew – you can learn a lot about a campus environment by the way it’s employees talk about it. (This may be harder to do in the summer. But give it a shot. And keep this in mind if you do come back again.)
8. Load up on informational materials
There’s a good chance that you’ve already researched the college online, and you probably have a stack of promotional materials at home, but take a minute to grab available brochures and materials while you’re there on campus. You never know where you’ll discover a new program or a piece of information that will resonate with you or prompt you to ask more questions. Be sure to grab business cards of admissions officers so you will have contact information so you can follow up later.
9. Wander around
If you have time, take advantage of unofficial opportunities to explore the campus. Get there early and wander around unguided for a few minutes. Stop in and explore public buildings. Sit down on a bench and observe the sights, sounds, and smells of the campus. Tell people that you are thinking about going to school there and ask what they can tell you about their experience.
10. Reflect on your experience
Private College Week gives you a chance to visit multiple campuses, so if you’re driving from one campus to the next you may not have a lot of time to reflect. But while you’re in the car, or even later that night, talk about the visit with your parents, siblings, or friends who visited the campus with you. Write down your impressions, make a pro/con list of things you liked or didn’t like about the campus, and then file that somewhere where you can come back to those notes periodically as you visit other colleges and continue the search process.
And if you do all that and you’re the kind of student who likes to overachieve, here’s a bonus tip: send thank you notes. It’s an easy way to make a great impression. A quick note goes a long way. You never know – that admissions counselor you meet during your summer tour might ultimately be the person deciding upon your application. It can’t hurt.
Special thanks to Deana Ison, Sr. Assoc. Dean of Admissions at Transylvania University, who let us borrow liberally from her handout on this topic.
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