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I didn't visit my school before attendingJul 13 '04 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line The campus visit can be a very valuable tool in helping you make a very important decision. Even if only to find out where everything is, just go. However, I eventually adjusted. Looking back, I think I should have visited, although it would have been a major inconvenience. Here's a list of things that hopefully prospective students will find helpful: Find out about the types of campus visits the school offers My school offered quite a few. They include: 1) Campus tour, where the highlights of the university are presented. Prospective frosh are shown the nicest part of the campus (despite the fact that they'll be living in a prison, most likely) 2) There's also an overnight stay, where the prospective student stays overnight with a host student in the dorm, and goes with the host around to class, the dining hall, elsewhere on campus, etc. 3) There's also the lunch, where prospective students get a voucher to eat in the student union or dining hall to get a taste of college food and college life. 4)Then for the accepted freshmen there's an Open House, where they are introduced to their school of entrance and they learn about the school, it's procedures and the university as a whole. How to get to the school Your family and other friends may want to visit you when you come. Is the school easy to get to? Do there seem to be roadways to avoid? Is the school located in the city or out in the middle of nowhere? The layout of the university When I got to my school, I was shocked to see that it was not what I envisioned. It was not a college campus per se, but rather college buildings located in the city. There were blocks dedicated to the university, but the city wove through it, so there really wasn't any 'campus'. Do you want a campus within the city? Or do you prefer an actual college campus setting? Weather If you're from California or Florida and plan to go to school on the East Coast, find out about the weather. Does it snow? How badly? How cold does it get? What are appropriate types of clothing and where can I get it? Try to see the campus on your own Although the tour guides are excellent for showing you the strengths of the school (that's what they're there for...), they are highly likely to downplay negative aspects of the school. Try to find a few students to talk to on your own. Are they happy with the school? Is the workload unreasonable? Do they seem to be under enormous amounts of pressure? Do they like the faculty? Do they feel like *a student*, rather than *a number*? I suggest a little caution, because at my school people have been known to purposely tell prospective students "not to go to this school because it sucks." However, the tour guides will tell you the strengths of the school. Watch how they present the information. Are they just going through the motions? Or are they truly enthusiastic about the school? (This one is a little iffy though, the guide just might be a in a bad mood) Try talking to another tour guide to get another perspective. Try to observe a class This might be harder to do, but professors and students are usually willing to allow observers, barring the fact they aren't taking an exam. Take a look around. Are the students attentive? Do they seem to like the class? Have they done the work? Is the professor into what he/she is teaching? Does the room seem like it's in good condition? If not, try to find out this condition is typical around campus. Or the weather may have mitigated extreme circumstances. What is the student/professor ratio? Find out what people do for fun Where are the local hangouts? Do they have time to have fun? Are there local movie theaters, hangouts, tourist attractions, etc? Or do people spend time getting drunk or partying? Try talking to a professor or two in your prospective major Or talk to any professor if you're undecided! My school gives its faculty a list of accepted students to call and welcome to the university. See if you can get contact info or perhaps a few minutes with a professor in any department that you're interested in. Does the professor seem happy? Does he/she like the school? Do they have recommendations/advice for freshmen? See if there are local alumni in your area Universities usually have some sort of alumni department. See if you can get contact information for local alumni for you to talk to if you want more information. Hopefully this information was helpful. Some last thoughts: -Take notes! You'll have to do it in college anyway, might as well start practicing. Get names, addresses, contact info, etc. -Look at yourself. Do you still like the school even after the visit? Could you adapt if the school didn't meet your expectations? Can you see yourself at this school?  |
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