Winter break is not the best time for college tours

We do not recommend scheduling campus tours over your winter holiday break. When students head back home for a month, many campus offices also close up. Dorms are locked up tightly while students are away.  The library may be on limited hours if it is open at all. Faculty leave town and go on their own vacations.

Most colleges may be completely closed from December 23rd to January 2nd. If you venture to a college right before Christmas, a few admission counselors may still be in their offices, but they will more than likely be knee-deep in reading college applications. So, unless all you want to do is see a bunch of locked and empty buildings, the winter holiday is not a great time for college tours.

What about summer for a college tour?

For many families, summer is the ideal time for a college tour. High school students are no longer wrapped up in the demands of the academic year and campus visits can often be coordinated as part of a family vacation. While summer is not a perfect time to visit a college campus, it is better than winter break of even Thanksgiving. Some colleges and universities do have summer sessions, and most will have some sort of activities going on–even if they are not set up for their regular student bodies. Offices are generally open, as are most facilities. During the summer, you may not see the campus operating as it does during the academic year, but at least the admissions office is set up to show you the best of what the campus has to offer. While you’ll find it harder to have conversations with current students, at least you’ll get a general sense of the campus vibe.

Thanksgiving is not the best time for college tours

During the week of Thanksgiving, colleges are often open, but the students have already ventured home to be with their families. College admissions officers, too, are very often out of the office entirely–finally getting a few days to spend with their families following a demanding fall travel season. Colleges rarely even offer tours and information sessions during Thanksgiving week. You may be able to meet with someone in the admissions office, but it will be difficult to get a feel for the college culture with no students around. On many campuses, all dining facilities and campus amenities will be completely shut down as staff are given a few days off for the holidays.

Schedule your college tours during February, Spring, or Fall Break

Unsurprisingly, the best time to visit a college campus is during the school year. This is when you will see the college or university in actual operation. As my wife likes to say, this is the time when you can spot ‘students in the wild!’ Streets, sidewalks and walking paths will be bustling with students going to and from class, dining halls will be packed, and the campus will be alive. This will allow you to gain a better sense of whether you can see yourself attending this college.

Try to pick a time, such as February, spring or fall break, but be careful not to overlap with the college’s own spring or fall break if possible (once again, the college just won’t look or feel the same when the students are not around). Make sure you do your research and look at the school’s campus tour calendar where you can sign up in advance.

Need help building that college list?

Let the experts at Great College Advice help you create a well balanced college list as part of your college visit plans. Book your complimentary session now and start your college admissions journey today! 

The post When is the Best Time for College Tours? first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

Thanksgiving is not the best time for college tours

During the week of Thanksgiving, colleges are often open, but the students have already ventured home to be with their families. College admissions officers, too, are very often out of the office entirely–finally getting a few days to spend with their families during a grueling travel season. Rarely do colleges even offer tours and information sessions during Thanksgiving week. You may be able to meet with someone in the admissions office, but it will be difficult to get a feel for the college culture without students present. On many campuses, all dining facilities and campus amenities will be completely shut down as staff are given a few days off for the holidays.

So we recommend you forget Thanksgiving as a viable time to visit a campus, unless all you want to do is look at a bunch of locked and empty buildings.  Not a super helpful time to get to know a school and its’ community.

The winter holiday is not the best time for college tours

Winter holiday break is just as bad, if not worse. When students leave campus, many offices also close up.  Dorms are locked up tightly while students are away.  The library may be on limited hours if it is open at all.  Faculty leave town and go on their own vacations.

Most colleges may be completely closed from December 23rd to January 2nd. If you venture to a college that third week in December, a few admission counselors may still be in their offices, but they will more than likely be knee-deep in reading applications. So here again, unless all you want to do is see a bunch of locked and empty buildings, the winter holiday is not a great time for college tours.

What about summer for a college tour?

For many families, summer is the best time for a college tour.  This is when students are no longer wrapped up in the demands of the academic year and time is a bit more flexible.  While summer is not a perfect time to visit a college campus, it is better than Thanksgiving or the winter holidays. Some colleges and universities do have summer sessions, and most will have some sort of activities going on–even if they are not set up for their regular student bodies.  Offices are generally open, as are most facilities.  During the summer, you may not see the campus operating as it does during the academic year, but at least the admissions office is set up to show you the best of what the campus has to offer.  While you’ll find it harder to have conversations with current students, at least you’ll get an idea of the what the campus feels like when there are actual humans around.

So when is the best time for a campus visit?

Unfortunately, the best time to visit a college campus is during the school year. This is when you will see the college or university in actual operation.  Students will be going to class, all the facilities will be open–and bustling–and you’ll get a better idea of not just geography of the campus, but the people who animate it.

Try to pick a time, such as a February or March break, but be careful not to overlap with the college’s spring break if possible (once again, the college just won’t look or feel the same when the students are not around). Make sure you do your research and look at the school’s campus tour calendar. Most colleges have sign-ups online.

For more tips, read our previous blog post:  Planning the Perfect Campus Visit.

The post Holiday Breaks – Not the Best Time for College Tours first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

One of the most important goals a college counselor has is to bring a little bit of their college to a student who may not have the opportunity to visit or is considering planning a visit.  The best way to do this is to have a reception or an “on the road” information session.

What is a college reception?

A college reception is different from a college fair, and different from a high school visit.  Usually receptions are put on by more than one college and are held in the evening.  They are often held at a local hotel, or sometimes at a high school.

Students often receive invitations to these events. If you have signed up for more information about a particular college, you may receive an invite.  Or colleges and universities may get your contact information from either the SAT (College Board) or ACT.  Students may receive emails or glossy invitations about the event.  They are often held at a local hotel or sometimes at a high school.

The structure of the events vary, but often times students can expect to see the same or a very similar presentation to what is offered at the on-campus information sessions. The admissions counselor will give an overview of the basic statistics of the college and the admissions process.  This is a great opportunity to learn some information about the school that may not be available on the website.

One big difference is that you may hear presentations from 2 or 3 different colleges.  In some ways, this can be less helpful than a more focused session on one school.  If you are particularly interested in one of the participants at the reception, you may have to wait patiently through the presentations by colleges that interest you less. On the other hand, you may be learning about a college or two that has not yet been on your radar screen, and you may decide to expand your list as a result of the reception.

An on-the-road college reception may also be a great time to meet with other members of the college community.  Sometimes colleges will bring current students to the reception to talk about campus life and personal experiences.  Professors may come to discuss the courses they teach and the academic goals of the college.  Alumni will often speak of life after graduation and the job searching process.

Overall, attending a college reception in your hometown is a valuable way to learn more about a school.  It can help you decide if you want to spend the money to visit a school in order to learn more.

What to expect at a college reception after the presentations are over

Usually after the presentation, you will have an opportunity to meet individually with the admissions representatives. They will set up tables in different parts of the room, and you can waIk up and ask questions. So be prepared to ask some! Research the information you want to know about majors, student life and the admissions process.  Having an audience that asks questions really helps keep an admissions officer going.  Remember that they may have been up since 5AM trying to make it to all their high school visits and are now working into the evening to showcase the college that they work for.  So show them that you’re interested, and they will feel energized!

Also don’t forget to send a follow up “thank you note” to the person who presented on the college or colleges that interest you. It’s a great way to demonstrate interest and get some more brownie points for attending the college reception.

Need more help on what to expect at a college reception? Give us a call.

We helps students prepare for every aspect of the college preparation, selection, and admissions process.  We can help you get ready for that college reception–or the campus visit or the interview or any other aspect of the process.  We have helped thousands of students make solid educational plans.  We’d love to hear from you. So give is a call or contact us on our website.

Mark Montgomery
College Admissions Expert

The post What To Expect At A College Reception first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

I’m here today on the campus of Eckerd College, which is located in St. Petersburg, Florida. They were really nice, they had a fly-in program for college counselors and they invited me to come down for a two-day visit. Fantastic place, really interesting time here.

A couple of things you should know, one of the things I joke about sometimes with colleges everywhere is they need to have a climbing wall. It’s really important to have certain kinds of amenities and behind me, you can see the climbing wall here at Eckerd College. It’s outdoors. Not many places in the country can have the weather to be able to have their climbing wall outdoors. So they do have what’s required but they have it in a unique way.

They Have Bikes

Eckerd College is a liberal arts college located in St. Petersburg with a student body of about 1,800 students. Relatively small, intimate, beautiful, enormous campus. In fact, yesterday they had us riding around on their yellow bikes. They have a group of about 200 bicycles on campus that are sprinkled throughout. Kids can jump on them and ride from their dorm to their class to the beach.

BeachFront School

Oh, and that’s one of the most important, interesting things, significant differences about Eckerd College, is that it has its own beachfront. They call it South Beach, it’s wonderful. And they also have their own waterfront facility where you can rent, or not even rent. You can just pick up a kayak or a canoe or something and go out on Tampa Bay. Gorgeous, gorgeous location. Unique, I would say, in terms of its geographical setting. It’s really nice.

Autumn Term

A couple of other things to know. Every college in America is concerned about ensuring that their students are successful while they’re here when they get onto their campus. Eckerd has developed what they call their Autumn Term, which is a three-week class for students as they’re coming in as freshmen that everyone is required to take. Everyone takes the same class which is a class on the Human Experience.

And at the same time, they also have a whole bunch of events to help orient students and to get them involved and engaged in the community. And really show them what kinds of resources exist on this campus, both physical and human, and to be able to take the best advantage of that while they’re here.

Take A Trip at Eckerd College

They have trips to St. Petersburg, into Tampa, to introduce them to the community there. You could take a beginner wakeboarding lesson, or go kayaking, or sailing is one of the big teams that they have here at Eckerd, is a sailing team. Whatever, it is that the student wants to get involved in, the campus really draws them into the community so that the students can really take advantage from day 1 of the resources that this campus provides.

Bring Your Pet

Another quirky, interesting fact about Eckerd is that it is the first campus to have an official policy to be pet-friendly. And about 30% of the dormitory space here at Eckerd is pet-friendly. So students can have their own pets as long as they’re under 40 pounds. So guinea pigs, definitely no problem, rabbits, but also small dogs, cats, can come onto campus with students and there’s a dog park.

There’s an actual office of, I forget what it is, it’s like the pet office, I forget what the name of it is, that actually helps students to care for their pets, gives them certain kinds of medications. It’s a very well-developed and interesting trend on American campuses but it started here at Eckerd.

Academic Strengths

And academically, I think I would say that it has all of the strengths of a liberal arts college, where we sat with faculty, met with them, and were able to talk to them about the benefits of this kind of education. And every single one of them was talking about that relationship. Because of the relationship, and because there are really no graduate students here. The students have amazing opportunities for research with faculty members.

I sat next to a chemistry professor at lunch, and he was talking about his lab and the kinds of grants that he gets funded here to fund his research. He has undergraduates who are the first and second authors on some of his scientific papers. And he’s happy to do that because the students really have taken the lead in that. They get the training so that they can actually produce that kind of research that will then get them into graduate school.

In graduate school, also, we’ve been talking about the 3-2 program, which is a 3-2 engineering program. Often, liberal arts colleges have these with, say, Columbia University or Washington University St. Louis. Every year, students go from Eckerd to those programs. It’s not just an on-paper thing, it is a thing that students take advantage of.

So long story short, I came away with a really great impression of this place. Like many other campuses, it’s all about the community, and Eckerd clearly has a very strong community. So if you’re looking for that kind of personalized education, this is a great place to consider.

The post College Admissions Expert on Eckerd College: A School Like no Other first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

Here are three things you should do after a college visit:

1. Jot down notes

After each visit you should write down a few notes about the college. These notes will help to trigger your memory. These might include: the dates you visited, what you liked or disliked, what you did while you were on campus, questions you still have for the school, etc.

2. Record names of the people you met with during the visit

Make sure to write down the names of the people that you interacted with during your campus visit. These names might include: coaches, deans, professors, students, or admissions officers. You may want to refer to these people later on during the application or interview process especially if they influenced your decision to apply.

3. Follow up

Make sure to follow up on any loose ends after your visit. Did you interview while you were there? Make sure to follow up by writing a thank you note. Did you have lingering questions? Follow up with an email or phone call. Unsure if you are on their mailing list? Follow up by giving them your contact information and requesting to be added to their distribution list.
Have a great college visit!
 

Great College Advice

The post Three Things To Do After You Visit A College first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

Virtual tours are a great way to scope out a school before you head out for a visit.

After doing some review of virtual tours I was particularly impressed by my alma mater Colgate University’s virtual tour . I almost felt like I was back on campus! Although these virtual tours differ across colleges. You can typically find pictures or a video of the campus, descriptions of buildings and campus locations. And sometimes conversations with students, faculty or admissions representatives. These will help give you an initial glimpse into the physical nature of the campus. The location, as well the ability to hear from select campus representatives.

Many colleges have virtual tours right on their own websites. You can typically find these by going to the admissions section of the college’s website. And then the visit section or “virtual tour”. In other cases, you may want to turn to some websites that specialize in virtual tours. Where you get to go on a virtual walk through campus with some “tour guides” in a short video. This gives you a quick glimpse of what campus looks like.

So, as you are starting to build your college list and conducting college research, don’t forget about this important resource. Again, the actual campus visit is crucial in making a decision. And getting the full picture of a college. But virtual tours can sometimes help at the start of the process to  give you a better feel than just reading words on a website.
Happy searching!

Great College Advice

The post Check Out A Virtual College Tour first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

Students may leave campus on the weekends for a variety of reasons in college. They go home to visit their family (do their laundry or eat a home cooked meal), go see friends, visit their significant other, or leave for a job. Some students may just leave for a part of a weekend. They may go skiing if mountains are nearby. Or take a road trip with their friends to go see an away football game. Whatever the case may be, when you are looking at colleges it is a good thing to ask – is your school a “suitcase school?”

Many colleges anticipate this question. And are quick to respond adamantly that no, there is plenty happening on campus to keep students engaged and wanting to stay involved and on campus. However, you might want to dig a little deeper. Ask not only the admissions office but current students and alumni about their opinion on the suitcase school issue.

Here are some questions you could try:

– Do you, or your friends, leave campus on the weekend? If so, why?
– If you stay on campus do you feel that there is enough going on?
– Are students packing up to leave for the whole weekend? Just for the day and coming back?
– Do you ever feel like you might miss something by leaving campus on a weekend?
– Are a lot of students going home on the weekend? What if I am from far away and will not be able to get home easily?
– Does the campus empty out on the weekends?
– Is the college doing anything to try and keep students on campus on the weekends?
 
Good luck to you in your college search and decision making process!

Contact Great College Advice for your complimentary consultation.

The post How To Find Out If A College Is a Suitcase School first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

However, the question that seems to stress many students and parents out is what to wear, or in this article’s case – what not to wear on a college visit.
When I worked in college admissions I would often see students (and parents) show up dressed completely unprepared for the day’s events.

To help you plan for your campus visit keep these tips in mind:

• Don’t wear uncomfortable shoes. Campus visits require a lot of walking and the last thing you want to worry about is tired feet. Leave those high heels at home.
• Don’t wear clothing from another college. There is nothing worse as an admissions counselor than to have a prospective student come up to you raving about how much they want to attend your college while wearing the sweatshirt from a peer institution.
• Don’t wear inappropriate clothing. Watch the holes, ripped clothing, and inappropriate slogans.
• Don’t wear anything too tight, low-cut or revealing.
• Don’t overdress. Unless you are doing an interview there is no reason for a suit and tie. Especially in the late spring/summer- you will just be uncomfortable.
• Don’t forget to check the weather channel. Make sure to dress for the climate and bring layers.

Whenever you are interacting with a college you want to dress to impress, but make sure you are comfortable and ready to brave the elements.
Looking for more college visit tips? Check out our recent blog post on tips for planning spring break college visits.

The post What Not To Wear: The College Visit first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

Where do you want to go? Identify the colleges you would like to visit. 

For some students, it is easy to nail down exactly which colleges they would like to visit.  You may start with one or two ideas, then research them both to determine which college you would like to see the most.  For other students, you may still be struggling with which colleges to see.  If you are in the very preliminary stages of looking into colleges, you may want to visit some local colleges over the next few weeks in order to get a better idea of what you are looking for. Visits to local colleges can help you gain prospective on size, location and overall feel of the college experience.

Is this a good time?  

The best time to visit a college campus is when classes are in session.  Take some time to research the colleges you will be visiting to determine if they will be on spring break too.  If so, you may want to consider rescheduling.

What do you want to do while you are there? Plan the details. 

Most campus visits include a guided tour and information session.  You should also determine if you will have the opportunity to interview while visiting. If you do plan on interviewing, be sure read our college interview tips.  If you are just beginning to visit colleges and do not feel quite ready to interview, you may want to wait until fall of your senior year. You may also want to consider looking into any specialized areas of interest.  Is there an athletic coach you would like to meet with?  Do you want to sit in on a class?  Would meeting with a professor help answer specific questions you have regarding a particular major?   Read our tips on planning the perfect college visit for more tips on what do while on campus.

What do you need to know before you arrive? Do your research. 

One mistake that many students make is that they visit a college just because it is close to another college that they are interested in.  Be sure to take the time to research all of the schools you are considering visiting.  You want to make sure the colleges are a good fit for you and will not be a waste of time.  Be sure to also visit schools that are within your academic and testing profile.  It is fine to go see one or two reach schools, but make sure you have some obtainable and safety school visits scheduled as well.

What do you want to learn while you are there? Think of some questions. 

Now that you have a list of schools to visit and you have researched them thoroughly, make sure you have identified the questions you would like to have answered.  You may also want to ask the same question to multiple people to compare the different answers you receive.

Can’t travel during spring break? 

Visit the colleges that are closer to home.  If you are finding that you will not be able to venture to a far away destination for your spring break college visits, don’t forget that you can visit the colleges that are closer to home.  Take day trips instead of going overnight.  As mentioned above, this can be especially helpful if you are still not sure what type of college you are interested in.

Great College Advice
 

The post Tips for Planning Spring Break College Visits first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

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