As February rolls to a close, there is one word on everyone’s minds: spring.
Spring and fall are the best times to make prospective campus visits. It’s when campus comes alive.
With that in mind, here are some tips to consider while planning your college visits.
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Savor the Experience – Years of watching colleges romanticized in movies and T.V. shows can make stepping onto campus feel like a magical experience. This is why it’s important to keep in mind that your first time seeing a school may be through rose-tinted glasses. That’s what makes it exciting. But when you become a student, the novelty will eventually wear off – and that’s okay. Familiarity takes its place, and before you know it, a new campus has become a new home. But that initial buzz of discovering a school for the first time is a special thing. Enjoy it.
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Prepare Questions – While you should let yourself enjoy the experience, preparing a list of questions you’d like to ask in advance avoids the risk of coming up empty on the spot. Having questions on hand ensures that you’re screening the school based on criteria that will matter everyday after the honeymoon period. Not sure what questions to ask? For ideas of questions to consider and tips to keep in mind, check out these 5 Tips for Your Official or Unofficial Visit.
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Wander On Your Own – On a campus tour, your attention will be focused on your guide. That will yield a lot of information to process at once. As a result, you might miss the opportunity to make observations and absorb the atmosphere at your own pace. Be sure to allow time for solitary exploration. Imagine navigating the environment as a student. Can you see yourself walking these grounds day after day? Are you excited by this prospect?
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Socialize – Summon the courage to strike up conversations with current students. Campus tour guides are great resources for prospective students. They’re informative – and inclined to show the school in the best light. Chatting informally with current students may give you a more accurate understanding of the campus culture.
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Talk to the Athletes – Do they spend all their time together, or do they have their own social groups outside the team? Team camaraderie is important, but so is the opportunity to meet new people.
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Don’t
Focus Only On Athletics – Get familiar with the athletic environment at the school, but don’t stop there. Sit in on a class and explore how students spend their weekends. A great fit school is one that fits athletically, academically, and socially. Don’t settle for two out of three.
Don’t
Ignore Red Flags – You find a school that checks all of your boxes and think, this is the one. That is until you step foot on campus and experience that unmistakable sinking feeling. You can’t place it, but something just feels off. Though a school may seem perfect for you on paper, there is no guarantee that you will feel fulfilled when you visit in the flesh. When it comes to choosing a school, trust your intuition.
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Stress – Finding the perfect fit takes time, but the school for you is out there. Trust that you’ll find it, and enjoy the journey.
