StudentAdvisor.com's Campus Visits Guide by StudentAdvisor.com

TH E MOR E YOU LEAR N, TH E MOR E YOU EAR N

WWW.STUDENTADVISOR.COM

CAMPUS VISITS GUIDE WHY COLLEGE TOURS ARE ESSENTIAL

YOUR COLLEGE INTERVIEW THE TOP QUESTIONS TO ASK

THE SA COLLEGE CHEAT SHEET RATE A COLLEGE “HOT” OR “NOT”

GUEST EDITOR GREG TITUS Chairman & Founder

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR COLLEGE VISITS

BRIAN EBERMAN Chief Executive Officer

BRIAN LISOWSKI Web Designer

s my son and I visited a large public university last summer, there was a telltale sign that it wasn’t for him: Cliques started to form on our walking tour. We were among about 50 parents and students and as the tour went on, the jocks started gravitating toward each other and walking together, as did the pierced-and-dressed-in-black goth crowd. Parents migrated toward each other in the back. My son summed it up best: “OK, this is just like one big high school.” He decided it wasn’t for him; but for others, maybe finding an immediate friend to fit in with sealed the deal. As B R I AN C AR R Molly Rideout of Madison Wisconsin bcarr@studentadvisor.com found out, you just don’t know if a school is a good fit until you take a tour. She tells us how a campus visit tour changed her college decision and her life (see “Grinnell is Swell,” page 22). At StudentAdvisor.com, some of our most passionate responses are from parents who felt they have wasted hours of their lives visiting campuses on disorganized tours. So take advantage of the tips you’ll find in this guide. For example, Colleen Ganjian, founder of DC College Counseling in Washington, DC, recommends that parents and students split up when the college tour groups are formed, so that they can see the campus from different perspectives (see “Campus Tours: What to do Once You Arrive,” page 14). When it comes to visiting, college expert Beth Fredericks, M.Ed., says applicants should be comfortable but also “do their homework” before a tour (see “All About Your College Interview” page 27). As one admissions director told us, taking a tour may even help you get accepted, because you are showing a true interest in the school. In addition, don’t miss our advice on how to ensure a drama-free road trip (page 18) and our top questions recommended by five college admissions counselors (page 30). We trust you’ll find the tips and advice in this guide helpful. Please help other parents and students by passing on what you learned on your tour on our reviews for that school.

AMY WILSON Junior Web Designer

Happy touring!

BRIAN CARR Chief Marketing Officer bcarr@studentadvisor.com DEAN TSOUVALAS Editor-In-Chief dtsouvalas@studentadvisor.com ROB CARBONARO Vice President of Sales rcarbonaro@studentadvisor.com CLIFF W. LIBBY Director of Business Development clibby@studentadvisor.com TODD RODGERS Vice President of Engineering SANDRA PROULX Community Manager sproulx@studentadvisor.com TRACEY TOPOR Content Manager ttopor@studentadvisor.com ASHLEY WALLACE JONES Production Manager ajones@studentadvisor.com

Brian Carr www.studentadvisor.com

Advertising Opportunities ajones@studentadvisor.com

Join the StudentAdvisor

online community

THIS PAGE COULD CHANGE YOUR MIND

• Compare stats on more than 7,000 schools and colleges. • Thousands of reviews from parents, students and alumni. • Download free planning guides. • Get unbiased answers to your questions from our experts.

CONTENTS

22 COLLEGE TOURS 6 WHY THEY’RE ESSENTIAL

It may seem quaint to pack up a prospective student and physically visit college campuses, but there are some things you cannot get from a video on your computer.

8 PLAN AHEAD

Whether it’s a quick pass through the local community college, or a week-long tour of distant colleges and universities, these are some questions to consider before you hit the road.

14 WHAT TO DO

ONCE YOU ARRIVE

There is more to a college visit than just walking around and checking out the scenery. Consider participating when you arrive to really get the lay of the land.

18 THE NO-DRAMA COLLEGE VISIT ROAD TRIP

Are you ready to “road trip?”Here are some tips to help you make the most of a few days in the car with your college-bound student.

MAKING A DECISION 20 HAVING THE COLLEGE “AHA” MOMENT

HAVING THE COLLEGE “AHA” MOMENT

The signs are different for everyone, but Katherine Price, Senior Associate for Montgomery Educational Consulting, tells us her story.

22 TRANSFORMATIVE TOURS: GRINNELL IS SWELL

A lovely story of a girl truly finding where she belongs in a very unexpected place.

How do you know I made the right decision?

24 TRANSFORMATIVE TOURS: VISITING COLLEGES

Scott White, Director of Guidance at Montclair High School in New Jersey, tells SA, from a parent’s point of view, what visiting colleges was like.

COLLEGE INTERVIEW 26 ALL ABOUT YOUR

COLLEGE INTERVIEW

Lloyd Peterson, former Head of Admissions at Yale University and current Vice President of Education at College Coach gives SA the ins and outs of the college interview process.

30 SA’S TOP QUESTIONS

TO ASK YOUR ADMISSIONS OFFICERS Six admissions experts from across the country sound off on the best questions to ask when the “Big Interview” comes around.

33 WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU CAN’T VISIT

A list of convenient alternatives if cost, time and travel are an issue.

CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM •

COLLEGE TOURS:

Why They’re Essential By Marcy Black, Special Correspondent StudentAdvisor.com

n this day of streaming video, YouTube clips, and phone apps, it may seem quaint to pack up a prospective student and physically visit college campuses. Many schools offer virtual tours on their websites. But there are some things you cannot get from a video on your computer. • College visits can open a teenager’s eyes to the possibilities of life after high school. Think back to when your identity was defined by where you sat in the cafeteria, the classes you were tracked into, whether you earned a varsity letter, or got stuffed in your locker. Rigid cliques determined social standing. Your high school friends were the most important people outside your family, and life without them was unimaginable. Whether your student is basking in the sun at the top of the social heap, or struggling to find a comfortable niche, some highschoolers can’t imagine anything beyond these four years. One parent described her daughter’s immersion: “It was all about the dynamics of high school, fitting in and finding her place in a social system that she thought lasted forever. So I showed her there is

an alternate universe outside of high school.” Campus visits give teens a peek at life after 12th grade. A visit will show your student that high school is just a stepping stone to their future. • Campus tours help teens get to know schools more intimately. By immersing themselves in campus life, kids can better judge whether or not a school has those indefinable qualities that would make it a “good fit” for them. It’s easy enough to research a student’s checklist for school size, location, majors offered, student / teacher ratio, etc. But so much more goes into selecting an educational environment in which a student will feel comfortable and thrive. In fact, a 2004 student poll by educational consultants The Art & Science Group found that the campus visit is the single largest influence on student application decisions. As carefully as they try, a parent cannot pick up on the subtle clues that scream at a teen, “This place is full of snobs,” or “I’ll fit in here, easy.” High school

65% OF STUDENTS

SURVEYED CITED VISITING CAMPUSES AS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN DETERMINING WHERE TO APPLY.

6 • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM • CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE

COLLEGE TOURS

ORGANIZED COLLEGE TOURS Here are some businesses and organizations which escort students on campus tours. counselor Scott White describes watching with fascination as his daughter drank in the scene at several schools. He says, “She could pick up, by the pocketbooks the girls carried or the brand of jeans the kids wore, some things I was blind to. She could interpret subtle differences in the language that I could never hear. She is in a culture that, as much as I try, I will never truly understand.” • A campus visit may improve a student’s chance of admission. A college visit cuts both ways. Not only do students get to see the school, but the school gets to see the student. Every contact between the two is charted in their enrollment management plan. Some schools say that a campus visit is not a factor in the admission decision; others say demonstrated interest by an applicant does affect the admissions committee’s deliberations. After several years of rising campus visits, editor Sally Reed says the annual CollegeBoundNews.com survey of colleges found fewer students visiting campus in 2009, possibly as a result of the recession. Still, schools with more applicants than space for enrollment or with more applicants for financial aid than their budgets can provide, must pick and choose. So they may be likely to look with more favor on a student who demonstrates serious interest in the school by taking the time and making the effort to visit the campus.

1. College-Visits.com offers college tours around the country.

www.college-visits.com

2. Education Unlimited arranges East Coast college tours.

www.educationunlimited.com

3. Tours focused on historically black schools.

www.blackcollegetours.org

4. CE Tours shows the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Midwest, and California.

www.cetours.com

5. College Preview offers tours of California, Arizona & the Northeast

www.college-preview.com

CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM •

TIP Visit in the afternoon. Why? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because college students do not fully wake up until noon!â&#x20AC;? says private educational consultant Mark Montgomery of Denver.

COLLEGE TOURS CAMPUS VISITS:

Plan Ahead By Marcy Black, Special Correspondent - StudentAdvisor.com

lanning a campus visit can be a logistical challenge, whether it’s a quick pass through the local community college, or a week-long tour of distant colleges and universities. Here are some questions to consider before you leave.

WHAT TYPE OF VISIT ARE YOU PLANNING? DRIVE-BY: When you don’t have much time, a drive through campus will give you a quick impression of the institution and its neighborhood. Is it in a leafy suburb or gritty urban setting? Contemporary construction, or aging Gothic stonework? Do you see smiling faces, or grim expressions? DAY VISIT: Most people try to schedule, at the minimum, a half-day visit to attend an information session and take a campus tour. A full day on campus allows time for an admissions office interview, a meal in the cafeteria, a class, impromptu conversations with students, and meetings with faculty and coaches. OVERNIGHT: Many schools will arrange for a prospective applicant to spend the night with a student in a residence hall. Your host could be a student in your major, or an athlete in your sport. You might be able to set up an overnight visit with a sibling, friend, or currently enrolled student from your town.

HOW MANY COLLEGES WILL YOU VISIT?

Pre-application: It’s a good idea to try to visit the top three schools on your application list. If you have the time and money, you can use campus visits to explore many options. Even if you don’t start out thinking you’d enjoy attending a technical institute, a single sex institution, or a giant state university, you may change your mind after a campus visit. A driving tour can cover a lot of ground, but don’t be too ambitious. Schedule visits to no more than two schools a day. Ten in five days may leave you exhausted and with blurry impressions of the schools. POST-ACCEPTANCE: If you are not certain about what school you will attend, campus visits to the schools that accepted you may help you decide. Spring open campus events for accepted

students are a great way to meet your future classmates.

WHEN WILL YOU VISIT?

It’s never too early to introduce children to higher education. Visits to colleges can easily be incorporated into family vacations, even at an early age. But for the teenager, visiting colleges takes on more immediacy. Junior year is the time to get serious about visiting schools. Federal holidays in the fall and spring vacations offer opportunities to check out college campuses. Senior year students should be zeroing in on their top picks in the fall, and visit those schools. Post-acceptance trips to visit campuses are essential if a student is still undecided about which school to attend. Most colleges offer campus programs for accepted students in the spring. Without the anxiety about getting accepted, teens can mingle with their prospective classmates to see if that school is a comfortable fit. Iowa’s Grinnell College gets the most visitors in August, when families have vacation time, and April, when accepted students visit the school. College Visits, a Charleston, S.C.based company that takes groups of students on packaged tours, does the bulk of its business February to April, during high school winter and spring breaks. Some families defer any visits until after college acceptances have been received. Visiting schools to which a student has already been admitted allows the student to CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM •

concentrate on realistic options. Though it’s tempting to tour on a holiday so you won’t miss high school classes, try to ensure that you visit while college classes are in session. An empty campus won’t give you a true picture of the place. “Classes may be in session in the morning, but you generally will not feel the buzz and bustle of any campus until about 4 p.m.”, says private educational consultant Mark Montgomery of Denver.

WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW BEFORE YOU GO?

A lot of research can be done ahead of time before you arrive on campus. The college website as well as StudentAdvisor.com, can give you information about admission requirements (average test scores and GPAs of admitted students), the size of the school, student-faculty ratios, specialized academic programs, cost, financial aid policies, etc. Carol J. DelPropost, Assistant Vice President of Admission and Financial Aid at Ohio Wesleyan University, recommends that students create a spreadsheet to organize this information, adding custom categories (like sports, or certain majors) of special importance to them. She says, “This thoughtful organization will help them to take control of their search right from the start.” Private college tour consultant Trent Gilbert with

TargetX says, “We’re shocked at the little amount of research families do prior to visiting. Seems like they research buying a TV or car more robustly.” Tip: At a minimum, find directions to the campus, where to park, and how to get to the admissions office.

WHAT ARE CAMPUS TOURS & INFO SESSIONS?

During a campus tour, college students (paid or volunteers) lead groups of prospective students and their families around campus for an hour or so. Most tours are on foot, and if the campus is large, or hilly, you may be in for a workout. Generally, you’ll walk by the library, classroom buildings, residence halls, gym, and student center. Some guides take you inside to see a dorm room, typical classroom, or library carrels (study nooks). Information sessions usually last about an hour or so as well. A staffer at the admissions office will talk about the school to groups of visitors. You may see a movie, and have an opportunity to ask questions. Depending on the size of the group and the schedule at the school, an info session may be held in a conference room, or lecture hall. Both campus tours and info sessions are valuable, in different ways. The info session lets you ask questions of an

10 • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM • CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE

COLLEGE TOURS

admissions officer, while the tour allows you to quiz students and see the campus. Check the school website for info session and tour schedules. One usually follows the other, and several are frequently offered each day. If required, sign up ahead of time. Tip: It’s always a good idea to let the admissions office know that you plan to visit. The office may send you maps, class schedules, parking passes, and other useful information before your visit.

WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO ON CAMPUS?

Interviews/meetings/classes/auditions: If you can, schedule an interview with an admissions officer. Sometimes this may not be possible during a campus visit, but it’s certainly worth doing if you are interested in the school. If you are leaning toward a particular field of study, arrange to meet with a professor in the department. Most school websites list faculty areas of expertise and research. A student makes a better impression if they contact a professor directly. If you’re uncertain who to talk to, start with the department head. Alternatively, the admissions office may be able to make these arrangements. The admissions office can also help set things up so prospective applicants can attend classes of interest to them.

Athletes should arrange to meet the coach of their sport. Performing artists may schedule an audition; visual artists may want to show a portfolio to faculty. Again, the admissions office should be able to help.

HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE A MULTI-DAY COLLEGE TOUR?

For a multi-day college tour, it’s important to lay out a detailed itinerary. Try to include more time than you think you’ll need for everything, just to allow for Murphy’s Law (Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong). Transportation: If you’re flying, make your reservations early since a tight touring schedule doesn’t allow for much wiggle room in flight times. Determine if public transportation will get you where you want to go. If necessary, reserve a car at the airport. Driving is the usual method of getting from school to school in the same geographic area. Be sure to map out your route ahead of time, noting distances and estimated transit times. Accommodations: You don’t want to get stuck without a place to stay after an exhausting day touring schools, so make reservations. If you’re going to take a morning tour and info

CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM •

COLLEGE TOURS

session, try to stay near campus the night before. School websites often have lists of nearby lodgings. Some may offer discounts to campus visitors, so ask. Does your hotel have parking? Tip: Plan to stay at similar lodgings. A night in a dive or a luxury suite may color your impressions of a particular campus.

money.” He escorts trips which “try to visit a variety of schools, large and small, public and private, rural and urban, to give students a chance to see what’s out there.” Additionally, he says, these trips are “a microcosm of the college experience, traveling with students from all over the world.”

WHAT SHOULD YOU PACK? • Parking pass and campus map.

WHO IS GOING ON THE TRIP?

FAMILY TRIPS: The prospective applicant is a given. One or both parents may accompany their teen. Younger siblings are often along for the ride. It’s a pressure-free opportunity to introduce them to the college vibe. Teens might bring along a friend or two. One of my best college tours was a mother-daughter trip with another mother-daughter pair.

• Clothes appropriate for the season. Tip: Check out the weather forecast for your visit. • Comfy shoes for the campus walking tour. • Snacks, so you don’t get famished during the info session and tour.

Tip: Try to schedule some activities that each person can enjoy as you travel, for example, a visit to an amusement park, a movie, shopping, or a hike. Organized trips: A few schools offer college tours with staff members escorting groups of students to various campuses. Some private college counselors will plan a customized trip for a family, or lead a group of students themselves. Some commercial companies run tours for groups of students. Bob Rummerfield, founder of College Visits, says, “We save families time and

• Notebook to jot down your impressions of each school. Or multiple copies of our Student Advisor Campus Visit Cheat Sheet. • Camera to take photos of the campus (or use your phone). • A tote bag for all the literature you’re going to pick up. The more work you put into preparing for a college visit, the fewer hassles you should encounter.

CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM •

COLLEGE TOURS

CAMPUS TOURS:

What to do once you arrive By Marcy Black, Special Correspondent - StudentAdvisor.com

rrive early. It’s sometimes a hike from the parking lot to the admissions office, and you may get lost on an unfamiliar campus. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive before any scheduled activity. Keep a journal: Jot down your impressions and snap photos throughout your visit. Or fill out a StudentAdvisor Campus Visit Cheat Sheet for each school you visit. SIGN IN: The admissions office keeps track of who visits the campus, and how often. Be sure to sign in every time you visit the school because that’s how they know you are interested in attending. Demonstrated interest in a school may affect admissions decisions. Tip: Augustana College’s Director of Admissions and Recruitment, Meghan Cooley, says, “When students visit ‘on their own’ such as a self tour or spending the night with friends or siblings, it is often a good idea for the student to send a short note to the admission staff to reflect on the visit. This can be important if the student is seriously considering the school in the future.” ATTEND AN INFORMATION SESSION: Admissions offices generally offer several info sessions during the day, and most info sessions are preceded or followed by a campus tour. Info sessions can be as intimate as sitting around a table in a conference room with other prospective students, their families, and current students and admissions officers, or as impersonal as a lecture by an admissions officer to a huge crowd in an auditorium. They generally last about an hour. You’ll hear about academic programs, all the clubs on campus, the diverse student body, and the chances of admission. After giving their sales pitch, most presenters allow questions from the audience. This is your opportunity to ask about issues not addressed by the speaker, or

to find out information unavailable on the school’s website. Tip: “It’s most important to make your questions personal,” says Admission Counselor Marisa Peterson at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. “Think about what your biggest concerns and fears about coming to college are... the aspects of college life that excite you the most.” Ask about them. MEET AN ADMISSIONS OFFICER: Interviews with admissions officers should be scheduled ahead of time. If you can’t get a formal interview when you check in at the admissions office, ask if the person who reads applications from your geographic area is available for a spur-of-the-moment get-together. At a minimum, try to get their name and card. Even a quick “Hello” and a handshake allows you to connect with an individual at the school, and the admissions officer to attach a face to your application. TAKE THE TOUR: College tours are changing. It used to be a student walking backwards led groups across campus, pointing at buildings, and droning on about when they were constructed. Nowadays, you may get two guides who have honed a comedy routine, take a tour on a bicycle, or score some freebies. Tour guides are current students, and as such, your best source for information about what life on campus is really like. Take advantage of the opportunity to ask why they chose to attend the school, what they like about it, what they hate. Ask to see a typical dorm room, not just a showcase set-up. Find out what the school is like on weekends. Do fraternities and sororities dominate the social life? Notice how other students react to your tour. Are they friendly? Can you talk to them? Tip: Split up. There are benefits to parents and prospective students taking separate tours. Colleen Ganjian, founder

14 • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM • CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE

“THE NO. 1 THING ANYONE LOOKING AT A COLLEGE DURING A VISIT SHOULD DO IS TALK TO STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING THERE ALREADY.” C ATH Y C OL E , AS SOCIAT E DI R E C TO R OF ADMI SSI ONS AT MIDDL E T E NNE SSEE STATE UNIVE RSIT Y

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE TOUR GUIDE 1.) What is there to do on the weekends? 2.) What kind of access is there to professors? 3.) What are the best and worst aspects of the college? 4.) Would you attend this school again if you had to re-do the college search? 5.) W hat is the community like?

Meghan Cooley Director of Admissions & Recruitment Augustana College

of DC College Counseling in Washington, D.C., says, “Since a particularly good (or bad!) tour guide can certainly sway a campus visit, it is often highly beneficial for families to have two different perspectives. In addition, students may feel more comfortable asking the tour guide questions about certain aspects of college life without their parents present, and parents may feel more comfortable asking questions without worrying about embarrassing their children!” TALK TO STUDENTS: Cathy Cole, Associate Director of Admissions at Middle Tennessee State University says, “The No. 1 thing anyone looking at a college during a visit should do is talk to students who are going there already. What do they like? What do they not like? What is the one thing they would change about the school? What is it like on game day? What do students do on weekends? What are classes like? Do professors teach the classes or do grad students? What are the residence halls REALLY like? What is the food like? Can I eat after my 5 p.m. to midnight shift? Can I eat before I work out at 5 a.m.? Where can I work out? Where can I go to just hang out? Ask, ask, ask.” CONNECT WITH YOUR AREA OF INTEREST: If you have a

16 • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM • CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE

COLLEGE TOURS MORE QUESTIONS TO ASK ON YOUR COLLEGE TOUR 1.) What do you do in your free time on campus? 2.) D escribe your relationship with your academic advisor?

Keith Quigley Director of Freshman 3.) W hat is your biggest obstacle on this campus? Recruitment Fontbonne 4.) D o you feel safe | University exercising outside of campus?

5.) W hat are the benefits of attending this university?

clear idea of the subject in which you’d like to major, meet with a professor in that department. If you are an athlete, check out the gym and playing fields and meet with a coach. If you are a performer or artist, visit the rehearsal and studio facilities and meet with faculty to show your portfolio or audition. One of my kids mentioned his interest in writing to our tour guide, who arranged on-the-spot a private tour of the school of communications. No surprise, that’s where my son chose to matriculate. CHECK OUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Drive and walk the neighborhood that abuts the campus. Do you see a grocery store, pharmacy, movie theater, bank, and office supply store nearby? Is there a campus shuttle to the mall or downtown? How about public transportation?

• EAT AT THE CAFETERIA, THE STUDENT CENTER, A RESTAURANT NEAR CAMPUS. Tip: Did you remember to take pictures (use your phone) and jot down your observations while on campus? If not, write down your impressions as soon as possible after your visit. Independent college counselor Alexis Avila, founder of the Boston-area firm Prepped & Polished, says, “These notes will serve you well when you’re back at home having to make that all important life-changing decision” about where to go to college.

OTHER THINGS TO DO

SIT IN ON A CLASS. Observe if the students participate in the give and take, or sit silently. Is it taught by a professor or teaching assistant?

SLEEP OVER: Spending the night with current students in their dorms affords an ideal opportunity for intimate exposure to life on campus. I have one son who ruled out a university after spending the night with kids who complained about the constant studying required by the heavy workload.

• ATTEND A GAME, CONCERT, OR PLAY. • READ THE CAMPUS NEWSPAPER. • NOTICE THE GRAFFITI. WHAT CAUSES ARE STUDENTS PASSIONATE ABOUT?

FOLLOW UP: Once you get home, write a hand-written thank you note, not just an email, to anyone with whom you had a personal conversation on campus. It will make an impression on professors and staff who gave you their time.

CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM •

ATTENTION PARENTS:

The NO-DRAMA College Visit Road Trip By Beth Fredericks, M.Ed. | bfredericks@studentadvisor.com

applied to one college and got accepted. On a day in early September, 1969, my mother drove me and a high school friend the 90 minutes to Ypsilanti, Michigan, and dropped us off outside the dorm. She gave me a quick hug and had to get back on the road. I had no idea it was done any other way. When I suggested to my husband in 2004 that he take our son on a “road trip” to see some colleges, he enthusiastically agreed. Why? “Because I’ll never forget the day I visited Harvard University to check it out. The Yard was covered in snow, the sky was clear blue, and the whole campus was fantastically beautiful. I thought to myself, if I got in here, how could I not go? No one in my high school had ever been accepted there. I could be the first. I was met by a football player who became my host for an overnight and I was totally carried away by all of it.” Are you ready to “road trip?” Here are some tips to help you make the most of a few days in the car with your college-bound student. • L ET YOUR STUDENT TAKE THE LEAD. As you sit at the computer plotting via Google maps, ask your child, “Where to first? Is there any order you want to see the schools? How do you think we should plan our time? ” Work together to make the plan, but give him some control. How long will it take to get from Point A to Point B? “What time is the tour at XYZ U? Oh, I saw a cool blog on a lunch spot we should check out there, too!” •C HECK YOUR EMOTIONS AT THE CAR DOOR. As a parent, you’ve been guiding your child along for many years. Even if you’ve started practicing a more “hands off” approach lately, it’s still an emotional job. On this trip, the goal is to let them take the lead a bit more (where we’re going, what I want to see, what I want to ask about). At the same time, they can be risk averse – with one foot out the door and excited to leave home, but reluctant to admit they are anxious

and scared. There are a lot of emotions jangling around here. Keep yours in check. Figure out how you will remain calm throughout the trip. Take deep breaths, count to ten, bite your tongue, bring your own iPod with “healing” songs on it, whatever it takes. The goal is to have the experience and not lose the significance in an emotional moment. •B E PREPARED FOR A MELTDOWN. Myhusband tells the story like this – “There we were, perfectly relaxed, walking around the campus. We’d taken the tour and we were just getting ready for lunch. There were some students hanging out playing hacky-sack and as we walked by them, the hacky-sack came my way and I kicked it back and then played a bit with them. He waited for me, but when we started to walk away from them, he blew up! ‘Dad!! How could you?! That was soooo stupid! They didn’t want an old guy playing with them! That was the worst!!! ’” He was blowing off steam. And your student might just do the same thing. Take the deep breath, count to ten, and ask where he wants to eat lunch. • TALK LESS, LISTEN MORE. Try to understand where your teen is coming from. If she says, “This place sucks. Let’s go,” you need to go. Even if you’ve only just parked the car. Acknowledge his feelings – “I hear ya, you don’t like it.” Then zip your lips and drive on. That’s not to say you might not be back there sometime if she decides to apply anyway, but in the moment, just listen. •P RACTICE EMPATHY. Visiting schools for the first time is a little like dating as a teenager. You might get your feelings hurt if you like the school too much and then in the end they don’t want you. It’s hard to love a place that hasn’t accepted you yet, so you don’t want to get your hopes up. Don’t ask too many questions; don’t try to get them to reveal too much emotion because it’s a loaded issue.

18 • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM • CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE

COLLEGE TOURS

• BE OBSERVANT. One mom noticed that after aboutthree schools, when her daughter liked a school she wanted to head to the bookstore and buy some “swag” – a t-shirt, a keychain, a mug. After visiting the first school or two, you may pick up on cues like this that let you know if your child likes a campus or not. The more patient you can be about this, and let your kid take the lead, the better. She’ll take more ownership of the experience that way. •B E REALISTIC. These visits are only a small part of the college application process. You won’t accomplish all that you think you should, but you’ll definitely narrow the list and weed out what he doesn’t like. Students often approach the visit thinking they’re cool, but when they see lots of other students in the same position, they’re humbled. They are finally faced with the urgent reality of making a choice, and if you can stand to let them wrestle a bit with that, they will own the process and the choices. The road trip helps

“THERE ARE A LOT OF EMOTIONS JANGLING AROUND HERE. KEEP YOURS IN CHECK.TAKE DEEP BREATHS, COUNT TO TEN, WHATEVER IT TAKES.” them take responsibility for making a choice and that’s an important piece of learning how to make decisions – no buyer’s remorse! •H AVE FUN. You can be sure that physical beauty will win the day – blue skies, frisbees flying, students laughing and looking happy all work to the college’s advantage. Enjoy the opportunity to laugh and sing in the car, reminisce about good times, and enjoy each other’s company. Don’t forget there are not too many more bonding times like this left!

CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM •

MAKING A DECISION:

Having THE College

AHA

“

”

Moment By Beth Fredericks, M.Ed bfredericks@studentadvisor.com

MAKING A DECISION

atherine Price, Senior Associate for Montgomery Educational Consulting, tells a story about her own parents who attended their local state school without ever questioning if there was another school for them. Consequently, when she was ready to apply to schools, the family was – in her words – “clueless.” “My Dad and I drove up and down the coast, saw eight schools in three days, wandered through bookstores, and – well, we had no idea what we were looking for.” Today’s families are more savvy, taking road trips to visit schools they have read about, watched on video, and joined on Facebook. But at the end of the day, when you’ve taken the tours, met the professors, seen the dorm and even bought a t-shirt at the bookstore, is it realistic to think that you will have an “aha” moment knowing that a certain school is right for you? How do you recognize the elusive answer to the question, “Do I belong here? ”. Price goes on to say, “For some students, they just get lucky to have an “aha” moment. The moment is clear and they can picture themselve s , re ally envision th e m s e l ve s j oi ni ng c lub s , e at i n g i n t h e c afe te r i a , walking to class, but some students just don’t get that, and instead, they have to flip a coin. Sometimes the coin flip is telling… if you flip the coin (Heads, I’m not going here!) and you’re devastated by the answer (What?? Heads! Oh, no!) THAT is your ‘aha’ moment.”

worth the unpleasantness of riding the fence until the senior identifies a preference.” • It’s probably likely you’ll have even a mild “aha” moment the more schools you see. Craig Westman, Associate Provost for Enrollment Services at the University of Texas at El Paso says, “Do a lot of campus visits. After doing several, the first visit that may not have felt ‘right’ might feel a little better now. If so, GO BACK!!! Try the campus visit again to see how it now feels. A four year degree is a big investment, and I encourage all potential students and parents to treat it as such!” On the other hand, Westman says, “The most important thing is ‘how you feel’ when visiting a campus. I cannot say enough about that. Do you as a potential student feel comfortable when you are visiting the campus? Nothing can replace that sense of ‘belonging’ to a place. And, if a little voice is telling you it does not feel right, there may be a good reason.”

“DO A LOT OF CAMPUS VISITS. AFTER DOING SEVERAL, THE FIRST VISIT THAT MAY NOT HAVE FELT ‘RIGHT’ MIGHT FEEL A LITTLE BETTER NOW. IF SO, GO BACK!!!”

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT A SCHOOL IS THE ONE FOR YOU? HERE ARE SOME IDEAS ABOUT MAKING THE FINAL CHOICE: • If you visit a college with a parent, friend, or relative, ask for their impressions, too. They may have noticed something you missed. However, stop short of asking, “Do you think this is where I should go?” In The Launching Years: Strategies for Parenting from Senior Year to College Life (Three Rivers Press, 2002), Laura Kastner and Jennifer Wyatt write, “No matter how tempted parents might be to tell an undecided senior where they think she should go, it’s a risk. If it doesn’t work out, the pressure is back on the parents. It’s

• Make a list of the schools you really liked. Iris Schrey, a former college admissions officer who provides student guidance for iAdmissions, says, “Believe it or not, a student knows within 90 seconds if he/she likes a school. It is amazing. Students make decisions on points that parents do not.”

• Make your basic, old school pros and cons list. List your top five colleges down one side of the paper and then create some categories across the top. They would include factors that are important to you, for example: good food, club volleyball, Gastronomy major, green environment, substance free dorm, school spirit. You could assign a number between one to three to rate each factor, and then add them up. The highest numbers should be the highest schools on your list. • Use the Search for Schools function on StudentAdvisor. com to see what matches come up for you. Trust your teen if they have an “aha” moment, and reassure them if they don’t. It’s probably the biggest decision your teen has ever had to make, and that alone can be intimidating and stressful. Whatever choice they make is likely to work; students can be happy and get a great education at many institutions. And if it doesn’t work out, the alternative choices are endless.

CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM •

TRANSFORMATIVE TOURS:

Grinnell is Swell

By Molly Rideout. A lovely story of a girl truly finding where she belongs in a very unexpected place. ÂŠ copyright Grinnell College.

MAKING A DECISION

rinnell and Carleton. Those were my top two college choices when I applied. I’ll be truthful — Carleton was my top choice. I had a friend going there, and he sounded like he was having a lot of fun. “Oh man!” I thought. “I wanna have fun too!” I hadn’t figured out by this point that most people have fun at their school; that’s why they chose it. I’ll be truthful again: I got wait listed at Carleton. So while I hung around to hear back from them, I went to go check out Grinnell. I drove down for an overnight stay and was 100 percent terrified. I’m not a big fan of stepping out of my comfort box, and I considered sleeping on a stranger’s floor in a state I’d never even stepped foot in before as definitely outside the box. My host picked me up at the admission office and took me over to her dorm. We made small talk, and by small talk, I mean I’m-really-outside-of-my-element-here-someone-pleasetake-me-back-to-high-school nervous talk. Then I noticed this giant paper clock on the wall next to her room, divided into 12 sections, each with a different location on it. There were several hands on this clock, each with — as I soon learned — the name of one of my host’s roommates on it. That’s right, they had built themselves a Weasley family clock from the Harry Potter books. It took me about five more minutes of small not-so-nervous-anymore-because-you-guysare-awesome talk for me to realize that, forget Carleton, this was the place for me. Actually, the clock was just one of many little tip-offs I got as a prospective student at Grinnell. There was also a shirt. Specifically a T-shirt worn by a rather attractive friend of my host, a shirt that came from the same webcomic as the one I was wearing. It was the connection to the webcomic that

gave me the clue: maybe I was in the right place. It wasn’t the attractiveness of the guy wearing it (but while that didn’t influence my decision, it was nice that Grinnell students turned out to be about 41 times more attractive than any possible prospects I had at my high school). After that initial awkward walk, I felt more at

ease, as if I was with people who could understand me. I hung out with a handful of

Grinnellians and one other prospective student who was visiting at the same time (whom I forgot all about, only to later re-meet in my American Lit class three semesters later). We played Loggia Frisbee, which meant I got to run around on the roof of our first-floor walkways catching Frisbees thrown from the ground. Wicked fun, even if my catching skills matched that of, say, a T-rex. But a T-rex who was thoroughly enjoying herself! Some people talk about a sign they received in the final decision-making moments — a sign that somehow told them they needed to go to Grinnell. Someone got cut off in traffic by a car with a bumper sticker from her other top school. Another met a Grinnellian in their as-far-away-fromIowa-as-possible hometown. While I was still deciding,

I learned that my own hometown was like a Grinnellian super-magnet or something, because Grinnell people were popping up

out of the woodwork. My across-the-street neighbor’s mother was a librarian at Grinnell; the mother of the family I baby-sat for was an alum; the son of a woman in my mother’s exercise class had just been hired by Grinnell’s English department.

GRINNELL JUST WOULDN’T LEAVE ME ALONE!

I never regretted choosing Grinnell over Carleton. And often, such as when I’m running off to the Star Wars trivia contest where I’m maybe only the 34th most knowledgeable person there, I’m thankful I decided to go here. “Your father and I didn’t want to say anything to influence your decision,” my mom said to me after I’d sent in my housing application to Grinnell, “but we never thought Carleton would have worked for you.” And as parents usually are (much to our disgruntlement), they were totally right. Molly Rideout ‘10, is an English major, from Madison, Wisconsin. This article first appeared in the spring 2008 issue of Grinnell’s Ins & Outs http://www.grinnell.edu/admission/explore/insandouts/ insouts-spr08/grinnell-swell.

Go To StudentAdvisor.com

to Read MOLLY RIDEOUT

& Write reviews for Grinnell College

TRANSFORMATIVE TOURS:

Visiting Colleges

By Scott White, Director of Guidance at Montclair High School in New Jersey

t was fascinating visiting colleges this fall with my daughter after having visited hundreds of colleges myself as a college counselor. I read the student newspapers, looked at the graffiti in the bathrooms, the comments on the student doors. I looked throughout the lunchroom and made a mental note of how many students had their baseball hats on backwards or what groups of students seemed to be sitting together. I looked to see whether trash was picked up, weeds were pulled and routine repairs were made. Did buildings have water stains on the ceilings that seemed to have been there for a long time? I listened carefully to the students speak…did they say “like” every other word? Could they express themselves? What did they wear? How many students were at the gym, in the library, in the pub? I thought I had this nuanced view of the colleges I visited.

Soon after beginning each visit with my daughter to these same schools, I looked over at my daughter and saw by her expression that she had made up her mind. She saw things from the view point of a 17-year-old, not 51-year-old. She picked up on things like, the purses girls carried or the brand of jeans the students wore. Things I was completely oblivious to. She was able to interpret subtle differences in the language that I never picked up on. As much as I try, I will never truly understand the culture filled world she lives in. I was disappointed when, at one school that I thought she would love, she said immediately after the tour began that she thought the students were snotty. Snotty, what do you mean? The tour guide seemed articulate, friendly and interesting. We hadn’t talked to a single other student. “Let’s go to the dining hall

e College

arthmor h Hall, Sw

Parris

24 • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM • CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE

MAKING A DECISION SHE SAW THINGS FROM THE VIEW POINT OF A 17-YEAR-OLD, NOT 51-YEAR-OLD. – Scott White, Director of Guidance at Montclair High School in New Jersey

for lunch,” I suggested. “No, dad, let’s leave.” At another college, we stayed overnight in the town and ended up playing ping pong in the basement of the campus center building. She met this boy who lived in the town next to ours who my daughter thought was on the same page. This college suddenly moved to the top of her list. Being in the business, I probably went overboard trying to stay out of the process with her. She decided where to apply and I never saw any part of her applications. But I think her process was sound and thoughtful. Were her decisions overly affected by initial impressions? Of course, but they were valid. She could see things (like the kid in the Sixth Sense). In the end, she was choosing between a highly selective liberal arts college and the honors program at our state university. She was

leaning toward the state university, because she had heard that the reputation of the small school (Swarthmore) was that students were always working and she did not know how she would handle that pressure. She also knew she would have to take out loans at the smaller school and, due to a merit scholarship, would have money for graduate school if she went to the honors college. She visited both colleges overnight and sat in on classes. When she came back home, she had made up her mind and decided to attend Swarthmore. “Dad,” she said about the other school, “they didn’t talk in class. It was the teacher and one or two students talking.” How could I argue with that logic? She wanted to participate in her class discussions, not just with the teacher but with the other students in class. Without a moment’s hesitation, I wrote the deposit check and mailed it in.

Scott Wh

ite & his D

aughter

CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM •

COLLEGE INTERVIEW NEED-TO KNOW INFO:

All About Your College Interview By Beth Fredericks, M.Ed

ow do you prepare for the college interview today? Lloyd Peterson, Vice President of Education at CollegeCoach, says that students should spend less time being nervous and trying to second-guess what the admissions officer will ask, and more time thinking about the contributions they will make to a campus community. Lloyd suggests you practice answering these questions: “What will you study? What are your passions, priorities, and interests?” When students are comfortable with the answers to those questions about themselves, then they are ready for the college interviews. Why? Because within the answers to those questions lie both what the student wants to know about the college and what the college wants to know about the student. Are we a good match? Some colleges want to meet you in person so they can get a sense of your real self -- not just your test scores, grades and recommendations from others. The interviewer will be listening carefully for your passions, priorities, and your values. Peterson says, “Unfortunately, a percentage of admission offices have suspended granting interviews because they cannot keep up with the demand. Keep in mind there are still lots of students applying to colleges, and they are applying to more colleges than in years past. So requests for interviews are also at all-time highs. Best advice? Never pass up the chance to interview – even if the interview is optional.

STUDENTS SHOULD INTERVIEW TO...

• Attach their personality (outgoing or shy – does not matter) to an application. • Provide personal information about them. Marisa Peterson, Admission Counselor at St. Edward’s University says, “If you have a complicated academic or personal history, you might feel more comfortable explaining it in person than writing about it in your application.” • Demonstrate interest in the institution. Demonstrating interest is important to college admission offices today with so many wellqualified students applying. Those applicants that express no interest are weakening their chances of being admitted. Can an interview tip the scales in favor of an applicant? Or for that matter, against one? Peterson says, “It doesn’t happen often where a student’s vivacious personality moved her from wait list to admit. Nor has a student said something so disturbing in an interview where I automatically felt the need to reject him regardless of grades.” Typically, an interview is just one more piece of the admissions decision, but any college that takes the time to conduct an interview considers it an important part of the selection process. continued on page 28.

“WHAT WILL YOU STUDY? WHAT ARE YOUR PASSIONS, PRIORITIES, AND INTERESTS? WHEN STUDENTS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEMSELVES, THEN THEY ARE READY FOR THE COLLEGE INTERVIEWS.”

CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM •

Planning ahead and preparing for the interview are the best ways to ensure success. Here are some tips to get you started: • Call ahead for an interview. When you schedule your visit to a college, ask if you can arrange an interview on the same day. This way, you save time and get even more information during your campus stay. • Meet a local alum at home. If you can’t arrange an on-campus interview, ask if and when a representative from the college will be visiting your high school or town. Some colleges will also arrange for you to be interviewed near your home by a local alum. • Do your homework. You don’t want to ask questions that you can answer yourself by reading the college catalog or guidebook. Spend time on the college’s website. Take the virtual tour, listen to a current student’s podcast or read student’s blogs. This is where demonstrating your interest shines! • Do more homework. Review your transcripts, essay, and “brag sheet” so that you feel comfortable talking about yourself and your accomplishments. This is where the interviewer and you will find common ground. “Oh, you play Ultimate Frisbee? We have a new club that is looking for members!”

“DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS INTERVIEW IS NOT MEANT TO BE AN INTERROGATION. A GREAT INTERVIEW SHOULD PROCEED LIKE A GOOD CONVERSATION.” • Practice for the interview. Every expert on interviewing offers up this critical piece of advice. Have a parent or a friend ask you questions so that you can practice your answers. If you feel confident evaluating yourself, use a video camera and critique your own performance. For a list of sample questions you might be asked in an interview, visit the Web site About.com and read 12 Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer in Your College Interview by Allen Grove. • Don’t worry, be happy. The bottom line is that the college admissions interview is not meant to be an interrogation. A great interview should proceed like a good conversation. In fact, your interview may even be fun. According to Dodge Johnson of College Planning in Malvern, PA, “Admissions folks want to like you, have you like them, and their school.”

on this point. Many articles will tell you to wear a suit and tie, remove your piercings, polish your shoes. The truth is probably somewhere in between. Wear comfortable clothes. If you feel comfortable, it will be easier to concentrate on what you have to say. You shouldn’t totally remake yourself. Your dyed pink hair or tie-dyed look is distinctive, and says exactly who you are.

YOUR TURN TO ASK THE QUESTIONS

Iris Schrey, a former officer providing guidance for iAdmissions says, “I have always told my students to change the direction of an interview by turning the question around and asking the interviewer for an answer. For example, the interviewer has asked you if you will continue in a sport or in student government. After you have answered, ask the interviewer what activities they did in high school and continued on in college and if it was difficult to accomplish. Interviewers think that these interviews are the best because they wind up talking about themselves.”

•B e yourself. Interview experts tend to be more conservative

28 • STU DE NTADVISOR.COM • CAM PUS VI S ITS G U I DE

COLLEGE INTERVIEW of the people you meet, so collect their business cards or write down their names, phone numbers, and email addresses. • Set your Facebook privacy settings. If you have a Facebook page, make sure your privacy settings are set to “friends only”. Take down the inappropriate photos and ask your friends to do the same. An interviewer may try to friend you or find loopholes to see your information via another friend. Become a fan of the college you’re visiting and stay up to date with their status updates, posts, and events. • Write a short thank-you note. In addition to being common courtesy, it will reinforce the fact that you are interested in the school and may help the interviewer remember you. Thank the interviewer for his or her time and state that you are looking forward to hearing from the college soon. TWO MORE OPTIONS What do you do if you already visited a school, but did not have a chance to interview with an admissions officer? Katherine Price, Senior Associate for Montgomery Educational Consulting says, “Ask for a virtual interview! Many colleges are now offering virtual interviews to candidates who can’t make it to campus.” Using programs like Skype, Google Talk, and iChat, students are now able to interview with an admissions officer without ever leaving home. There are also companies like mycollegei.com that are specifically designed to facilitate a virtual college admission interview. Interested in an over-the-phone or virtual interview? Read more about Katherine’s tips HERE.