Counselor’s Corner
by ALLISON TILLOTSON
How do you choose a college? There are so many questions to ask. Do I want a public or private school? Am I looking for a large university or a small college? Would I prefer an urban or rural setting? Do I select a college from each tier of my selectivity: dream school, probable school and safety school? All of these questions can be answered with a closer look at your select colleges. I encourage students to make college visits early in the high school experience. Finding the college of your dreams will make you feel great about this important and life-changing decision in your educational career.
The only way to find out if this college is everything you perceive it to be is to put on your walking shoes and make the visit!
View books, course catalogs, website visits and guide books can provide valuable information about the college, but actually walking and touring a college campus is the best way to finalize your college choice. When planning a visit, call ahead to schedule a guided campus tour. You usually contact the admissions office to set up a campus visit. Fall and spring semesters are the best seasons to visit because the campus will be active and you will get the best look at the college environment and how things work on a normal school day. It is not always feasible to travel or affordable to visit every college of interest, so you may have to explore some online services to research colleges further. Please check out FreeCollegeVideos.com or www.college-visits.com.
Colleges are anxious to entertain prospective students. If a student wishes to visit a certain department, confer with a coach, sit in on a class, or stay overnight on campus, the Admissions Office can make these types of arrangements, with sufficient notice. The actual tour or informational session is the best time to ask questions of someone who is knowledgeable about all the workings of the campus. Campus admissions staff will also be honest about the challenges you may encounter on campus.
They will also be able to direct you to the appropriate offices for admissions, housing and financial aid.
If you are planning an interview at your college, it is best to schedule the interview time after you have attended the informational session and campus tour. You can formulate your questions based on the campus experience you had.
The number one rule for any visit is to ask lots of questions, listen attentively and take copious notes on what you see and hear! If you are interested in a site that was not on the regular tour, check it out on your own. Make sure you and your parents look at the area and neighborhood surrounding the college campus. You want to feel safe and be involved in the neighborhood you will call home for the next four years. Eat in the dining halls and sleep in a dorm room if possible. Read the campus newspaper and other student publications to hear about campus life and the thoughts of the student body. After your visit is complete, jot down your impressions of the campus, the academics, the student body and social climate, the facilities and the location.
Discuss your perceptions with your parents and listen to their feedback. Meet all the deadlines associated with your chosen college. Get ready to pack your bags and head to the college of your dreams!
Allison Tillotson is the College and Career Counselor at Lehman High School.
