Here at SmartCollegeVisit, we've written several posts ranging from why a college visit is important, to providing recommendations on how to get the most out of each campus visit. A common thread among our college admissions experts is that it's important to talk with college students while visiting campus.
Some schools make it easy by including a student panel during the information session and hosting a Q & A session, but you don't have to limit yourself to the group of students hand-picked to be on a panel. It's OK to talk with strangers. A quick scan of activity on campus will give you a good idea about whom to approach and when.
When choosing a student to speak with, it's probably not a good idea to approach someone who appears to be heading to class, especially if he or she is walking rather quickly or appears to be in a hurry. Instead, look for students who are heading toward their dorm, the student center or the dining facility. Students sitting outside talking with friends are also likely candidates.
If you're wondering what to say or ask, college counselors, Jean Rutherford Wall and Tara Nelan, both from the Tampa Preparatory School, developed an excellent guide for their students, but even high school students who are not enrolled at Tampa Prep can benefit from the information. Below is a list of sample questions from The Tampa Preparatory School College Counseling Guide that Wall and Nelan recommend asking current college students:
- Why did you choose____________?
- What would you change about the college?
- What would you fight to keep unchanged at your college?
- What do you think makes your school distinctive?
- What are the major campus issues?
- Have you been challenged in your coursework?
- How large were your classes freshman year? How large are they now?
- What do students do on the weekend?
- How effective is the faculty advising system?
- How is the relationship between the students and the surrounding community?
- How important is the Greek system?
- Does the student body have a voice in the university?
- Have you ever met the college president?
- If you had to select a college from the start, would you make the same choice?
- How many years will it take to earn your degree?
Can you think of others? Comments are always welcome.
For more information about the Tampa Preparatory School, visit their web site at: www.tampaprep.org.
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As a former colleague of Jean Wall's at Tampa Prep, I speak with deep respect of the depth of her expertise and knowledge of colleges and the college admissions process, of her impeccable standards for accuracy and excellence, and of her genuine regard for students and her ability to help students comprehensively and creatively find just the right fit for “going beyond” after their fine years at Tampa Prep. I am thrilled that the guide from her office is available online for the benefit of all.
- Anne Giles Clelland
Posted by: Anne Giles Clelland | 01/25/2010 at 04:24 PM
It's clear that the students at Tampa Prep have access to terrific support and guidance for navigating the college admissions process. Jean was wonderful to pass the link along to the guide.
Posted by: Z. Kelly Queijo | 01/25/2010 at 05:37 PM