As you embark on planning your spring trips to college campuses, here’s some definitions you’ll want to know:
Campus Information Sessions, Tours and Financial Aid Sessions
A. Make a plan- start out visiting schools that are within easy access so that you do not need to take time away from work and school for too long. Visit schools in the small, medium and large range if possible to get a feel for each different size school environment experience. Then once the student gets a better feel for the type of school, you can plan a multi-day trip to visit multiple campuses.
B. Schedule visits. Typically on the admissions page of a school’s website, you can book your visit on their online calendar. The student’s information should be used. Make sure to use a personal email address, not your high school email address when registering.
When scheduling you will most likely have the option to attend both an information session and a campus tour. Many times, schools offer a financial aid session as well. Decide what’s best for your window of time and register for one or all of the offered events.
C. Information session usually starts off your visit and is held in the admissions office or in a large space where many can congregate to hear the presentation. Sometimes it’s a powerpoint presentation, often it’s simply a representative from admissions welcoming you to campus and providing you with an overview of life at the college or university and giving you key details about the school that they want to make sure you go home with. In other words, this is their sales pitch!
Tour: Most campus tours will cover the following:
Academic buildings
Recreational facilities
Library
First year-Residential dorm
Campus landmarks
Financial Aid Information Session:
Need based aid
FAFSA: Free Application for Student Aid
CSS Profile (if applicable)
Merit based aid
Loans
Grants
Work Study
2. Open Houses are typically offered once a month and on a weekend day. It offers the prospective student a more in-depth look at a college or university. Usually a school offers a campus tour, information session, academic and student panels, lunch or brunch and time to talk with other current and prospective students. You also have the opportunity to have a more specific tour that is geared toward what you may want to major in. For example, at an open house at Union College, they offer an engineering specific tour, led by an engineering major.
3. Virtual Tours are a great option as no one can visit every school you apply to and it gives you the same information that an in-person information session typically does.
4. Self-Guided Tour: If you are unable to register for an official tour or visit. Use a school’s self-guided tour which is usually vis podcast or on their admissions website.
5. Overnight Stays are great at any time in the college admissions journey but especially when you are deciding between acceptances, spring of your senior year. Spending time with a current student and staying on campus overnight is the best way to be exposed to campus life both in and out of the classroom.
6. Admitted student days take place in winter and spring of your senior year. After you are accepted, you will be invited to attend. They are very helpful in making the final decision on which school to choose. Typically a school provides tours, academic presentations and panel discussions, student panels, meals with current students and time to meet other accepted students as well.
Visiting colleges is essential in deciding what type of school you’d like to attend.
If you want to learn my tips and strategies on what to do while visiting, reach out to Suzanne for a free consultation