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| College Tour de force Make the most of campus visits! By Lynette Mathews
Prepare, prepare, prepare! First, log onto the college website. Most school websites are beyond comprehensive—they’re almost overwhelming! Look for tabs that are labeled: Admissions or Future Students. You should be able to find a place online to register for a campus tour. If you can’t find the online sign-up, feel free to call the school and ask to speak with the Admissions Department. Try to schedule your visit during school hours when students are around, rather than during the school’s holiday breaks. When registering, use your child’s formal name, not yours. Many schools are now tracking what they call “Demonstrated Interest.” It is the school’s attempt to measure the student’s effort or level of interest in the college. You want the efforts he is making by taking the tour to be tied to his application at a later date. This will demonstrate to the Admissions Board that he has done his research, and that he is sincere about his interest in attending their school. After registering for a campus tour, sit down with your child and read about what the school has to offer for her specific areas of interest. What does she plan to study? Does the school offer a special program or something especially appealing? The school website and viewbooks should do a good job of introducing the strengths of the campus. Note the names of department heads, professors, directors or coaches related to her interests and request a brief meeting while on campus. This will allow your child to ask questions and get a personal perspective on an individual that could be a key to her future success. She can also request to sit in on a class in her area of study to gain another opportunity for interaction.
The most important thing to remember during your tour is to wear comfortable shoes. Some say that “Comfortable footwear is the key to a happy life.” I don’t know about that, but it can sure make a campus tour more enjoyable! Encourage your child to “dress to impress.” In other words, save the skinny jeans and concert t-shirts for after their college acceptance. Allow your child to be the main spokesperson for your family during the tour. There is nothing more embarrassing to a teen than a parent asking too many questions! (If this proves tough, just remember: You can always call the admissions department later and ask your list of questions.) Encourage your student to talk to as many people as possible to get different perspectives. Stop into the cafeteria, bookstore, library and other student hang-outs to allow for interaction. Give your child an opportunity to stroll around campus on their own for awhile too. After all, the family won’t be there on the first day of school! Some colleges offer admissions interviews. If your child is comfortable with the concept of an interview, encourage them to take the opportunity to make another personal contact at the school. Offer your support in brainstorming a few questions that will demonstrate that he is prepared and has done some research. If your student does decide to go to an interview, remind him to bring a copy of his transcripts, along with his resume and a list of the activities he has been involved in. (He should have extra copies on hand if he might do more than one interview or if you’re visiting several colleges.) Leave your child with the empowering reminder that they are interviewing the college, as much as the college is interviewing them!
When your school tour is complete, only half the job is done! Finding a good college match for your teen includes exploring the surrounding area where they will be potentially living for the next four years. What is the weather like? Is the school in a small town or a big city? Is it near the beach or in the mountains? Does it offer an atmosphere where they can thrive? Assuming that you and your child will be taking tours of several different schools, be sure to urge your son or daughter to take notes, snap pictures, and gather any school newspapers and publications to help them remember the college. After two or three tours, the schools tend to blend together and you will hear “Which school had the cool cafeteria?” or “Was it this school that had the intense computer lab?” Organize a file to keep track of information and jot down opinions and impressions of each school. This will help everyone in the family keep their sanity! Last, make a list of the names and contact information of all the people you and your child connected with throughout the day. Your son or daughter should send off a brief thank you note or email to each individual. Examples include: the student who gave the tour, the department head or professor your student met, the admissions representative who participated in the interview, athletes who offered their insights into the school’s coaching philosophy, and anyone else who was helpful. File this contact information in case it is needed during the application process. With a focus on preparation, an effort to connect with those on campus and a bit of organization, you can turn your campus visit into a College tour de force!
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