If you're a junior or senior in high school, you're probably more concerned with getting into college rather than getting out of college. The questions you ask during your college visit are most likely focused on admissions application requirements and deadlines rather than graduation rates and what it takes to complete a degree in a four years. However, once you do get in, understanding what's involved in meeting the academic degree requirements to graduate become a priority. It may be worthwhile to ask a few questions about course offerings, availability, and academic planning when you visit. In other words, "What does it take to graduate in four years and how many students do so?" is a great question to ask.
Here's Christina McIntyre talking about how an online academic planning tool like BecomeAlum helps students know exactly what's required by their major and when the necessary courses are offered giving the student control over his or her future.
For more information about BecomeAlum, please visit: www.becomealum.com.
Video Applications: The Next Trend in College Admissions?Do you accept application videos?
Is this question on your list of things to ask on a college visit? Maybe it should be.
It's not uncommon for students to voluntarily submit videos to supplement their admissions application portfolio in an attempt put a stamp on their person brand as a college applicant, but in the last year at least two schools are encouraging the submission of application or college essay videos.
You can read the buzz below and even watch some the videos on YouTube:
- From The Answer Sheet (Washington Post) by Valerie Strauss: College application videos: Good or bad idea?
- MasonMetro (George Mason University) call for videos: Videos.MasonMetro.com
- A fresh pitch on ‘U’ tube: Tufts, in a first, invited applicants to submit one-minute videos. A creative flood followed. (Boston.com on Tufts University)
- YouTube college essays: The best Tufts application videos (Christian Science Monitor)
As a parent of two kids who attended college, I learned a very valuable lesson: never pick a college sight unseen. The rules that apply to any major purchase are even more important when making the decision to invest thousands of dollars on a college education. You would never buy a car without test-driving it, or move into a home without taking a walk through and getting a home inspection. Based on my experience with both my kids, I can tell you that your teen should never accept admission to a college without getting a feel for the campus and campus life.
My daughter had her heart set on attending a university in Boston. It was inexplicable to her father and me because she had never visited the city. But from the time she was a child she dreamed of going to college there. She worked hard in school and had the grades and the high school resume to assure her acceptance to just about any top-tiered college. She was indeed accepted to several colleges in the Boston area, receiving a full-ride scholarship to one of them. But, before signing on the dotted line, I suggested we plan a trip to all the schools, just to be sure she was happy with the college that offered her a 4-year scholarship. Needless to say, it’s a good thing we did. The minute we set foot on the campus she knew it was not for her. It was too small, there was no Greek life, and she did not seem to fit in with the student population. On the other hand, there was another college that had offered her a nice financial aid package and when she met with admissions, financial aid, and some students, felt completely at home. If she had opted to attend the university that gave her a full scholarship, she would have been home in a semester—there is no doubt in my mind. It was the college visit that sealed the deal and she spent four fabulous years in Boston, and two more as a graduate student.My son attended college after a four-year tour of duty in the Marine Corps. He chose a university based on the recommendations of his fellow marines. He never set foot on the campus or took the time to speak with any of the students or faculty before showing up for his first day of class. He found out that the college that he thought would be “social” on the weekends was a graveyard. Most of the students were local and went home to their families. Most of the freshman class was straight out of high school. He did not have a connection with the students, professors or faculty and my son failed his first semester of college. He learned a valuable lesson and when he opted to re-enter college two years later, he chose a campus that was in a large city, with tons of activity, even on the weekends, and an older student population. He graduated magna cum laude; and it was the campus, the students and the professors that made all the difference.
The moral of this story is that you can’t choose a college without visiting the campus and getting to know the administration, the faculty and the student population. A positive college experience and the value of that degree are worth a trip and some fact gathering. Give those visits with your kids as much attention as you would a major purchase because the cost of a college education today warrants a thoughtful, educated decision. You can’t make the purchase without first sitting in the driver’s seat!
***
Suzanne Shaffer is founder of Parents Countdown to College Coach and developer of a unique toolkit to help parents and students build inroads throughout the college admissions process. This and other great advice from parents can be found in the Parent-to-Parent category on this site.
Top 10 SmartCollegeVisit Blog PostsIn the three-plus months we've been creating content on the topic of college visits for you to read here on SmartCollegeVisit, it's been a pleasure to draw attention to some of the exceptional opportunities and people we've found involved with the colleges and universities we've been fortunate enough to get to know.
Based on our site's web analytics, here are the top 10 most popular posts on the SmartCollegeVisit blog:
- Smart See, Smart Do: Grinnell College
- Smart See, Smart Do: Barnard College
- Student Panel Highlight of Radford Open House
- Smart See, Smart Do: Goucher College
- Where'd They Go to School? -- The Presidents
- Dos and Don'ts on a College Visit
- Ready to Explore
- The Personal Touch at Seton Hall University
- Top 10 Tips for Dressing Smart for your College Admissions Interview
- Yes, Visit (Advice from St. Catherine University)
A Seller's Market
From Manisha Singal for First College Visit, a series of first college visit stories by business professionals sponsored by SmartCollegeVisit.
Would you believe it, but I never did have a college visit for myself!
In India, during my time, colleges chose you, and only if you had really high marks (GPA) and if you went there early enough to stand in line and get the right form filled up!
The reputation of the college was a good enough proxy for a "visit"...there was no recruiting and no incentives to attend....it was purely a seller's market. Nevertheless, I got admitted to St. Xavier's College in Bombay (Mumbai now) which was a feat and a source of considerable pride for my parents.
This story is the second post offering insight on the college visit experience written by people coming from countries outside of the U.S. All posts related to travel to the U.S. and college admissions for international students can be accessed by clicking on the word "International" in the category cloud in the sidebar.
Smart See, Smart Do: Saint Joseph's College of MaineOur Campus by the Lake.
The clean, clear waters of Sebago Lake border Saint Joseph's College of Maine. Whether you take in its beauty from the lake front shores or from the 4th floor of the main academic building, the view is stunning year-round. From our private beach just a short walk from the main quad, to the school’s close proximity to Portland and Boston, Saint Joseph's provides an ideal location for engagement in a quality education on this lovely campus by the lake.
Students of all ages and faiths are welcome at Saint Joseph's, a Catholic, coeducational liberal arts college. There are more than 1000 students studying on campus pursuing degrees from the 33 majors offered. The college also sports 15-varsity Division III athletic teams known as "The Monks." Check out the GoMonks web site for more information.
The admissions office hosts student-led campus tours throughout the year. To schedule your visit, please call 800-338-7057. You can also make arrangements to visit a class or meet with a professor as well as an admissions counselor. High school seniors are invited to schedule interviews each fall and winter.
To see more stunning campus photos, check out Saint Joseph's page in SmartCollegeVisit Photo Album. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Location: Standish, Maine 04084
Telephone: 800-338-7057
http://www.sjcme.edu
Planning a visit to Saint Joseph's? Use our Find the Perfect Hotel search to find the right hotel in nearby Portland, Maine or Boston, Massachusetts for your college visit.
