May 11, 2001, Newsletter Issue #37: Take Advantage of Summertime for Campus Visits

Tip of the Week

If you are a current high school sophomore or junior you might take advantage of summer vacation to check out colleges on your “long” list. Most colleges have organized campus visit times and days, but they will welcome you at your convenience, too. Let the admissions office of each college know when you are coming and what your interests are. They will plan an orientation, tour, and often invite you to visit a class in session. They may schedule a meeting with the department with which your major is associated so you can ask questions related to your proposed major.

To get the greatest benefit from your visits do your homework:

1. Take a tour of a local college to give you point of reference. You may even be surprised at what it has to offer.
2. Read the college handbooks in your library or request view books from each college before your visit. This will give you the background you need and make it easier to ask informed questions about details, which might not be covered or clear in the publications.
3. Make a list of the criteria important to you and keep it in hand when you visit each college.

After your preliminary visits, chart how each college rated on your criteria and shorten your list. You may want to visit those colleges on your short list again during the regular fall or winter session to make sure the feel you liked about the school during the summer session is still true when more students are on campus.

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