Picking a college is much like picking a home. You can think of college visits like house tours; which environment do you think you belong in? Here are some ways to prepare for a college visit!
Go when school is in session – To get a real feel for what the school is like, attend when students have classes. Check out the semester calendar for the school and try to visit during the middle of the semester.
Take your own tour – After getting an official tour of the campus, get a map of the school and take your own tour. This way, you can check out facilities that might not be shown during an official tour. Or, if you know someone at the school, ask if they’d be willing to give you a tour.
Sit in on a class – To get a feel for the school environment, ask if you can sit in on a class. If you can, try to sit in on a lecture and on a discussion section. Lectures tend to have 100’s of students while discussions are smaller, with 10-20 students in a classroom. Doing this will help you get a feel for the student culture, the teaching methods of college instructors, and the learning environment.
Go on as many college visits as you can and don’t be afraid to visit the same school more than once. Remember, you’re not just choosing a school, you’re trying to find a home away from home.
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