Your College List: Researching the Academic Side

A boy writing academics word

Lately, I have been working closely with my clients who are juniors to narrow down the list of schools that they will apply to. Picking the final list can be a daunting task. One way to narrow things down a bit is to really look into the academic departments at the schools you are interested in. Since academics is one of the most important aspects of attending college. It is important that students feel connected to the curriculum and the major that they could potentially be studying.

Look at the Curriculum

There are several different types of college curriculums floating around these days. You will here words like integrated, hands-on, innovative and inter-disciplinary. But what does it all mean? Finding a school that matches your learning style is important. So do your research on how the curriculum is developed and taught.

For example, Brown University has what they call “Liberal Learning”. Students are encouraged to create their own core curriculum and have a great amount of freedom in determining what they will study. Babson College takes the integrated approach. Not only do they teach how management and other business related competencies fit together, but they also incorporate the arts and sciences.

Go Beyond What Majors Are Offered

When researching certain academic departments, look deeper into what the department is teaching by reading the course descriptions. First pick a few majors that interest you and then see if you can find what courses are required to complete that major. Then, start hunting for the actual course descriptions.

The Agriculture Economics Department at Purdue University goes beyond offering course descriptions. They provide links to actual course syllabi. This is a great way to learn what topics will be covered in a specific class and what the expectations are.

Get To Know The Faculty

Looking at the bios of your potential professors is a great way to research the academic side of a college. Look at what the professors are teaching and what they are researching outside of the classroom. The Music Department at Amherst College not only provides bios of some of their professors. But they also provide links to the course descriptions of the courses that the faculty are currently teaching.

Special Programs and Events

The Political Science Department at the University of Puget Sound has a great blog that provides information on news and events that are happening within the department.  Academic departments are also creating accounts on Facebook and Twitter in order to communicate with their students. Following these departments is great way to get inside information on what types of events the department is hosting. And other special programs (internships, scholarships, etc.).

Doing research on the academic side of a college may also help you narrow down potential majors. Reading course requirements and descriptions, may help you realize that your “dream major” may not be what you thought it was.

Katherine Price
Educational Consultant

The Campus Visit–Considering A College’s Surroundings

campus building

Previous articles in this series on visiting college campuses have focused on some general tips, practicalities, the official campus tour, and the admissions information session. When touring a campus visit, it’s important to remember that in choosing a college you are also choosing the community in which the college or university exists. So make time during your visit to investigate the town and the campus environs. You should drive into the neighborhoods that surround the campus. Be on the lookout for commercial centers near campus.

Find out if the college offers some sort of shuttle buses. Where do these go, and how regularly do they run? As you become acquainted with the area surrounding the campus.

Here are a few thing to keep in mind:

Most Students Stay on Campus Most of the Time

For some students, the primary criteria for choosing a college is it’s relative proximity to a large city. Some want to be right in the urban core. Others want the boonies. Others seek the best of both worlds. The thing I always emphasize with my students is that most students spend the overwhelming majority of their college years on the campus they have chosen. No matter whether it’s in the burg, ‘burbs, or boonies, you will spend most of your waking (and sleeping) hours in and around the campus property.

Consider Where You Will Buy Essentials

Some campuses, whether urban or suburban or rural, can be far removed from commercial centers where you might expect to do business. Where will you buy toiletries? Is there a drugstore or two nearby where you can pick up toothpaste, or do you need to drive to a shopping center? What about groceries? I used to save money by opting for a small fridge. And stocking with breakfast supplies so that I could cut down on the number of meals on my meal plan.

Think about where you’ll get your hair cut (any salons or barbershops within walking distance?). You may find ATM machines on campus, but is there a branch bank nearby? You may want to find out where are the local student haunts. Such as the local pizza joint, the Chinese take-out place, or the burger bar. You’ll normally find screenings of many films on campus. But if you want to rush out to see the latest release from Hollywood, how far will you have to travel and how will you get there?

Many campuses, whether remote or not, will have their own campus convenience stores and other amenities. So it may not be absolutely essential to have a major shopping mall right nearby. But the point of visiting the campus—and its surroundings—is to get a better picture of what your life will be like for the next four years.

Consider the Necessity of Owning a Car

The considerations above may make you think about another important life necessity in 21st century America: the car. Some campuses, no matter whether they are located in an urban, suburban, or rural setting, are oriented in a way that make it completely unnecessary to have your own, personal automobile. Mass transit options may be fantastic. Or perhaps everything you’d ever want and need is within walking distance. Other campuses may be very isolated, making it impossible to renew your toothpaste supply without a trip in the car.

Moreover, consider the activities that you plan to participate in while in college. If, for example, you choose a campus because of it’s proximity to the ski slopes, how will you actually get to those slopes? Is there a shuttle or regular bus service? It is safe to hitch a ride? Or do you need to have your own wheels? Conversely, if you want to live in the city but envision that you will want to get out and about on the weekends (to the beach, perhaps, or into the woods as an escape). How will you get there? Is public transportation available to get you where you want to go?

Keep in mind that some colleges and universities restrict which students can have cars on campus. And sometimes parking costs are prohibitive. If you think you really need to have a car, then make sure you know what the school’s policies are in this regard. Also, I’ve noticed that more campuses in urban and suburban areas becoming hubs for hourly rental car services, such as Mint or ZipCar. If you want to save a bundle on car insurance, parking fees, and car maintenance. These services will be something to check out.

Don’t Overplay Attractions That You’re Unlikely to Frequent

I hear some students (and their parents) talk about certain attractions or amenities near campuses that really don’t matter much in one’s daily life as a student. Does it really matter how far the campus is from Disneyland? If you don’t much care for museums or concerts. Does it matter that these cultural facilities are within walking distance of campus? Of course, just because you don’t have a lot of familiarity with particular cultural or physical features, doesn’t mean you won’t learn how to enjoy them.

But put the local surroundings into their proper context. How likely is it that you will take advantage of the area surrounding the campus? And please remind yourself of the first item on this list (i.e., “most students spend most of their time on campus”) before you answer that question. Once again, the campus should be the focal point of your college visit. Yet understanding the surroundings will only help you in your final determination of which college fits you best.

In our final installment on planning the perfect campus visit, we’ll wind up with some general Dos and Don’ts.

Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant and Professional College Tour Taker

Admissions Offices and the Campus Visit

The Information Session is an integral part of the campus visit experience.  In essence, this is the “dog and pony show” of the admissions office.  Each college runs these a bit differently.  Sometimes you’ll have to sit through a slick marketing video (which is probably available off the college’s website, too).  Sometimes, a student panel will offer their impressions.  Sometimes it’s more of a lecture by an admissions representative.
Whatever the format, very little of the information you receive in this information session is different or even more useful than the things you get off the college’s website.  These presentations are often heavily scripted, and admissions folks are coached to “stay on message.”  Still, most information sessions are worth an hour of your time, if only because information you already have will be reinforced and reemphasized for you in a new way.  More information is always better than less–as long as you just keep in mind that these are also sales pitches.
Here are some elements of the presentation you are likely to hear:
Student-to-faculty ratios.  These are useless statistics that supposedly prove that the educational experience is intimate and high quality.  Read this post on student-to-faculty ratios to learn how bogus these statistics really are.  Make sure they tell you about average class sizes, and the percentage of classes that enroll fewer than 25 students.  Also ask how many lecture halls on campus accommodate more than 100 students.
Chances of admission.  You may here things about “average GPA” and “average test scores” in the presentation.  Take these with a grain of salt. These are aggregate statistics and they have little or no bearing on your individual chances of admission.  Your chances may be much better…or much worse.  If you want to ask questions that may give you a better indication, ask things like, “what percentage of your acceptances go to children of alumni?” or “what percentage of your acceptances go to recruited athletes?”
Bazillions of Clubs.  Every college inflates the number of clubs, and then also tells students that if they want to start up a new one, all they have to do is ask.  These aren’t lies.  But the number of clubs is usually inflated because the admissions office never culls the list of clubs or ensures that their figures reflect the number and kinds of clubs being administered by the Student Affairs office.  Thus you will find that a bunch of the clubs on the list have been inactive on campus for five or six years.  Of course, this is not a problem, unless you are an juggler and you see that there is a juggling club, and then you matriculate to find that there is only one member of that club:  you.  Don’t be impressed by the numbers and variety of clubs.  Be impressed if they have an active group of students that cares about the things that interest you.  So inquire as to the health and strength of the clubs that attract you the most.
We are a Community. Every campus wants you to feel welcome; that you will be loved and appreciated; that you will fit in.  So they will stand up and talk about how warm and friendly the place is.  Some people are better at delivering this message than others.  I have students who return from campus tours who have been lulled into a stupor by admissions folks who do a great job of delivering the “we are a happy family” speech.  I’m not saying that this message is untrue.  I’m only pointing out that this is a part of every college’s marketing message.  And it will be incumbent upon you, the visitor, to figure out whether or not you will feel comfortable and welcome in that community.  Don’t take some admissions representative’s word for it!
In the next installment, we’ll explore the importance of visiting the area surrounding the campus.
You may also want to check out earlier posts on general considerations for campus visits, the practicalities of a college visit, and tips for taking the campus tour.
Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant
 
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The Campus Tour–the Centerpiece of the College Visit

campus tour

The campus tour and official information session are the focal point of any campus visit. But it’s important to remember that a lot of thought (and money) has gone into creating a wonderful experience for the visiting family (there are even consulting groups that do nothing but advise college admissions directors on how to improve the campus visit experience).

At the risk of sounding overly cynical, I want you to think about those sales pitches for time shares at resorts. If you’ve sat through a few of those—just as I have taken hundreds of tours and sat through hundreds of information sessions—you’ll probably have the right frame of mind as you enter the admissions office for the first time.

General Tips:

  • Arrive early. Sometimes visitor parking is not right next to the admissions office. Leave yourselves time to get lost and found again.
  • Sign in at the front desk in the admissions office. Colleges collect information about which applicants go on tours and which do not. You want to make sure your name is on the right list.
  • Confirm at the front desk any other arrangements or appointments you have made on campus, including meetings with professors, coaches, or interviews with admissions officers. Make sure you have phone numbers and email addresses of the people you plan to meet. The admissions staff can sometimes help you confirm these meetings.

The Tour

  1. Don’t base your impression of the school on your impression of the tour guide. Some guides are great. Some are not. Some guides are people with whom you will instantly click. Others will have personalities that turn you off. Remember that the guide is only one student of hundreds or thousands (or tens of thousands). This person is only your guide—a paid member of the admissions office staffl—and not an elected or official representative of the entire student body.
  2. Remember that the student tour guides are told which route to take, which buildings or programs to highlight, and are coached on how to answer certain kinds of questions. But there may be many questions that either too technical (e.g., “are chemistry exams normed or curved?”) or too specific (e.g., “what percentage of the student body majors in chemistry?”) for them to answer well. This is why you must find ways to get answers to those questions—from faculty, from admissions staff, or from other students.
  3. Keep in mind that the dorms shown on the tour may be the nicest on campus. Ask the tour guide about his or her freshman dorm and current living arrangements. Ask which is the worst freshman dorm on campus (and perhaps pay a visit to that one after the tour!).
  4. Similarly, the classrooms you will be shown may or may not be representative. Often you will be shown very nice classrooms; ask about the classrooms in which the tour guide is now taking classes. Where are those classrooms, and how do they compare with the one you are viewing? Are they larger? Smaller? More or less technologically equipped? You want to get a sense of the variety of classroom spaces on campus. Science students, especially, should be sure to see the science laboratory spaces.
  5. Take note of which buildings and facilities were not on the tour. If the library is not on the tour, I take it as a red flag and make a beeline for it as soon as the tour is over. If there are particular facilities that you want to learn about and that interest you (e.g., the dance studio, art classrooms, labs, swimming pool), either ask whether you will have time on the tour to visit, or get directions on where to find these places after your tour.
  6. After the tour, continue to wander the campus. Take your time. Sample campus food. Visit the student center. Pick up a student newspaper. Read bulletin boards. Wander the academic buildings, especially those in which you have a keen academic interest. And if you pass a professor’s office and the door is open, poke your head in, introduce yourself, and ask a couple of questions about the students on campus. You’ll be amazed at how forthright professors can be!

In the next installment, we’ll talk about how to interpret the official “information session” that either precedes or follows the official campus tour.

Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant

Planning the Visit to a College Campus: The Practicalities

Planning a good college visit takes some time and thought.  The visit is an opportunity for you to gather information that will help you in making an extraordinarily important decision:  which college will you attend?  You need to carefully consider your goals.  What questions do you want answered?  What facilities will mean the most to you?  What sorts of people do you really want to meet?
A previous post gave you some general considerations as you plan your campus visit.  What follows is a short list of practical tips to help you in your planning.

  1. Check the website to know what times tour and information sessions begin.  These are usually scheduled back-to-back, but it makes little difference which one you do first.  If requested, sign up for information session and tour in advance.
  2. Make an appointment for an interview with an admissions officer.  All but a few colleges will encourage personal interviews, so take advantage of the opportunity.  Check out this list of questions to ask an admissions counselor.
  3. Consider making an appointment to visit with a professor in a department in which you have a particular strength or interest.  Often the admissions office will help facilitate these appointments for you.  But it can be much better if you contact the professor yourself and request a brief appointment—this shows initiative and interest (two things that admissions counselors like to see).
  4. Athletes should also plan to meet with the coach or coaches.  You should contact the coach directly for an appointment.  Check out our list of questions to ask college athletic coaches.
  5. Performing arts students should also plan for an interview or audition.  The admissions office may facilitate these meetings, or you may have to call the departments directly.
  6. If your visit takes place on a weekday, try to sit in on a class.  The admissions office may be able to help you make these arrangements, so ask well in advance.
  7. Plan to take advantage of overnight stay options for students.  These are great ways for the applicant to meet a variety of students and to get a ground-level view of the campus from a student’s perspective.  You are considering spending four years on this campus, so you may as well spend a night before you apply so that you can imagine what the experience may be like.
  8. Print out and take with you several copies of your résumé, put them in a folder, and carry them with you during your visit.
  9. Plan to dress neatly.  No need for the cocktail dress or the suit and tie.  But don’t look slovenly, either:  decent slacks, decent shirt or blouse, decent shoes.  Your appearance is important, especially if you have arranged interviews or meetings with coaches or professors.

Our next installment will provide some guidance on how to get the most out of the official admissions tour and the general information session.
 
Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant
 
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Social Stereotypes and Campus Life–Carnegie Mellon University

College campuses have social stereotypes:

The geeky, intellectual campus.

The very conservative campus, both socially and politically

The earthy-crunchy campus where veganism is common

The laid-back, middle-of-the-road, “I-don’t-take-life-too-seriously” sort of place

The quirky campus full of off-beat individuals


Carnegie Mellon University has a reputation for attracting intellectually-intense math and science geeks who are studying computers, engineering, or likely both.  Students have sallow complexions from too many late nights in the lab or the library, and they think a social life is sitting next to someone while in the computer lab working on their problem sets.

Actually, CMU is more diverse than that.  It has a renown drama school and and excellent College of Fine Arts.  So there are plenty  of artsy-fartsy types, too.

Part of my job as a counselor is to visit colleges and investigate for myself the degree to which these stereotypes are true. And sometimes you just have to ask a student (or two or three or four) to get an idea of the sort of student who would be happy on that campus.

So I did.  I talked to a student about the stereotypes, and here is what he had to say.



Mark Montgomery
College Consultant



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