Do You Know the Three Key Elements to Focus on During a College Visit?

Parents of 11th Graders,

As an educator and parent,  I understand the importance of researching and visiting colleges with your soon-to-be-senior-in-high-school. With spring break just around the corner, I assume many of you are starting to plan your college visits.

GREAT!

But, did you know that some colleges may have spring break at the same time as yours? Visiting colleges when students are not on campus is not ideal.  It can impact your teen’s initial college visit experience in a negative way. 

Given this, I recommend that you check out each school’s website and find out when they’re on spring break and make sure information sessions and tours are being offered when you intend to be there. 

Be sure to watch the video below about choosing a college major.

Allow me to share a few nuggets that we provide our clients to assist them on their college visits. 

When going on college tours, it's crucial to focus on three key elements:

#1 Academics

• What majors are offered there?
• Do the majors align with your teen’s gifts and talents? 
• What careers do some of these majors lead to?

#2 Activities

• How will your teen stay engaged outside of their college classroom?
• Will they be involved in sports?
• Will they be involved in the arts?
• Are they going to get a job or an internship?

#3 Admissions Requirements 

• Is the college test-optional or do they require standardized testing?
• What’s the score and GPA range of admitted students?
• What are the supplemental essay questions?
• Do they offer interviews? Evaluative or informative?

If you ask these questions, you’ll leave the college visit informed and it will help you and your teen during the college admissions process. 

Just last week, we had a student from the East Coast who was considering colleges in California, but after looking at the academics, activities, and admissions requirements, they were uncertain about attending a school so far from home. There was so much to consider (Cost. Location, Major and Career) and she recognized that as beautiful as California was, she could achieve her academic goals in other places as well. This is just one example of how visiting the campus can help your teen make a more informed application decision.

So, if you're planning to visit colleges during spring break, make sure to visit during a time when the school is in session and please gather information about the academics, activities, and admissions requirements.

To learn more about how we can help, click here to schedule a complimentary Discovery Call today.