College Campus Visits
By Dr. Patricia H. Smith
Whether you are parents of a high school senior or junior, you are seriously evaluating colleges. High school seniors are looking for that “college fit” to select the college. High school juniors are exploring colleges to create a college list. Selecting colleges where students can thrive academically, socially, and financially is a big decision. College visits provide both parents and students with the opportunity to engage in a thoughtful and meaningful process. Specifically, the visits provide the chance to become familiar with the colleges’ academic offerings, environments, student body, social atmosphere, and facilities; with the hope of selecting the right college. These visits help both high school seniors (as you make the college selection decision) and high school juniors (as you decide which colleges to include on your college list).
High school seniors
Parents and high school seniors (recently admitted to colleges) – this campus visit will help you make your final college selection. You are focusing on academic, social, and financial fit by looking beyond all the campus tours, marketing presentations, and the beautiful campuses. You are considering whether you will receive a return on this investment (ROI). Therefore, you may also be thinking about the guidance and real world experiences your student will receive during the four and five years on campus. Real-world experiences offer the opportunity to demonstrate new knowledge and skills to meet requirements for career/industry entry opportunities. Real-world experiences include internships, externships, and role-play competitions that will allow the student to practice and demonstrate new skills and knowledge. For example, most students seeking an architectural degree may be encouraged to take a design one course in their freshman year – offering them hands on experiences. “To do anything well students need to practice it ideally in the presence of a teacher who can guide them when they struggle” Professor Lang, University of Notre Dame’s. Yes, evaluating the colleges’ real world experiences opportunities may contribute to your return of investment and your student’s readiness to compete for employment (summer, part-time, on- and off-campus jobs).
High school juniors
Spring break is a wonderful time for high school juniors to visit colleges. College admissions representatives are eager to present and share the colleges’ admissions requirements, specifically on how to apply to the college, the cost and financial assistance to attend their institutions. You will also tour the campus and experience social life and campus activities, classrooms, lecture halls, academics and professors, and campus facilities.
Months before the campus visits have a family meeting to decide what colleges and when to visit. To get the most out of visiting college campuses, it is important that students and parents stop, look, and listen to each other and agree on what they want to achieve during the college visits. There are many topics you will agree on during your family meeting; however, there are topics that are of major concern to parents. According to Gallop surveys, more than 70% of parents have worries about the cost of college and paying for college.
Below are suggestions on how to prepare and manage the college visits.
Before the visit . . .
Be prepared to speak with the financial aid counselors, the admission counselors and current students attending the college.
Agree as a family what questions you will ask – no surprises – remember that parents should be in the background.
Check to see if there are separate programs or sessions for parents (financial aid or Q&A sessions with admissions staff and professors, Office of Disability Support Services staff, and residence and student life counselors).
Create a checklist or a scoring card to compare colleges.
Prepare questions that are particularly of interest to you about the college.
If possible, make an appointment to talk briefly with a professor in your field of study/interest.
After the visit
College visits are the best ways to understand the institutions, however, colleges may seem similar, so communicating and evaluating each institution after a visit over pizza may be helpful. This evaluation process will assist with determining the character and distinctiveness of a college and aid in comparing the colleges. Just remember to evaluate the colleges using the same categories – for example: students’ real-world experiences, cost/tuition and fees/room and board.
Enjoy the college visits!
Bio
Dr. Patricia H. Smith is the CEO/Owner of Holmes Smith Consulting Services, Inc. Holmes Smith Consulting Services is an award-winning firm that offers college planning consulting, career coaching/counseling, and employee development consulting services to families, individuals, and organizations.
Dr. Smith is a Certified Career Counselor, Certified Educational Planner, and Certified Practitioner: Strong Interest Inventory® Assessment. For over thirty years, Dr. Smith has counseled, coached, and equipped countless clients with tools and guidance to achieve their career, educational and life goals. She is often referred to as “Dr. Pat” the expert who brings her authentic and customized approach to help clients. Dr. Pat is also the author of “The Power of Parent Involvement in the College Planning Process.”
Dr. Pat is the current President of the Maryland Career Development Association, a member of the Pennsylvania Career Development Association, National Association for College Admission Counseling, National Association of Career Development, American Counseling Association, Independent Educational Consultants Association, and Organizational Development Network.
For more information call 302-884-6748 or visit HolmesSmithConsulting.com.
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