college visits:

Who, What, where, when, and Why

One of the most revered times for a parent is the college visit. When done properly, it can be one of the best experiences to get to know your child beyond their activities and schoolwork. Most important is that the focus of the visit is solely on the child applying for colleges. It’s not about mom or dad’s busy career(s) or about a sibling and their life. Most importantly, it is about choice—the ability to choose any academic focus at any one of hundreds of colleges. Oh, and they will likely be living somewhere else for four years. And doing (or not doing) their laundry and making (or not making) their bed.

We are approaching the time of year when parents take students on college visits. I was prompted to write this particular blog post because it seems as if college visits follow some secretive set of rules. My thoughts are to try and bring some pause and reflection to the process with the hope of making it a more productive experience for all.

Summer is at its peak with the latest heat wave! A time to soak up some sunshine, enjoy dinners from the grill, and…plan college visits? Although untraditional, a summer visit to a college can be a beneficial way to see a school in its quieter off-season. If you or your student are too busy to travel during a school’s academic year, visiting a school during the summer or during a break in that school’s calendar is still a great opportunity.

Who is on campus during the summer?

There will be less students on campus, but that can also be an ideal time to get to know the people that are present: students taking summer courses or living on campus while working at an internship. Be aware that you might also find high school students on campus taking academic or sports programs and this can give you an unusual picture of campus life that may make it appear significantly younger than it will look in September. Schools may also offer summer housing opportunities to international students or those who travel a far distance to attend their chosen school (something to keep in mind in your own college decision journey). Visiting during the summer may also give you a chance to chat with professors or department heads.

A lot of weight hangs on a college visit. Visiting a college is a chance to give the college your own in-person “interview.” Even if a school looks great on paper and a student is totally convinced, that moment a student steps foot on campus can be a swing factor. “Feel” is something that can’t be beaten out by college stats, majors offered, and highly-reputed faculty.

There are a lot of students that think they know what they want from the get-go. A legacy at Penn might think that Penn is the right choice, for example. Or a high-achieving student might think the best choice is the most competitive Ivy League school. But until there is some kind of personal interaction with the school, there will always still be an element of doubt. That’s why we’d like to help you make the most of your college visit with these tips.

YOu have heard the negatives of summer college visits, what are the positives?

SUMMER COLLEGE VISITS:

I gained a new perspective on college visits from a recent article by Nancy Griesemer of Admission Intel . For many years, I had only preached the negatives of summer college visits, that families should avoid college visits during the summer due to the lack of students and activities on campus. But, I now see the other side; the positives of seeing a school during the summer:

• More quality time with admissions representatives and professors
• Less crowded tours
• Greater chance that both parents will be available to make the trip
• Ability to assess the school's location and the off-campus environment
• Less stressful and less distractions
• No high school academic schedule to deal with, less overlap with athletic and extracurricular schedules

sprinkle some cOLLEGE PLANNING BACK INTO THE SCHEDULE :

With school out and the beach beckoning, you might be wondering how to interest your Rising Junior or Senior in anything but a towel and a bathing suit. As a parent with three college graduates, I can tell you that it doesn’t take long to wish they were back in school. Whether it is vacations, summer jobs, sports teams or hanging out at the pool, we are all on different schedules during the summer. But, there should still be time to plan some college work. Nancy Griesemer outlines a long list of productive things that a rising Junior or Senior can do over the summer.

If you have a high school student and want to get started on the right path, contact us at 914-273-2353, nschwartz@collegeplanningofwestchester.com or visit us at: www.collegeplanningofwestchester.com 

WHAT IS DEMONSTRATED INTEREST, WHY DOES IT MATTER AND HOW CAN A STUDENT SHOW THEIR INTEREST?

what is DEMONSTRATED INTEREST:

• Demonstrated interest means different things to different colleges, but it generally shows how interested a student is in attending a particular college and gauges how likely they are to enroll there.. After the transcript, SAT/ACT scores, student resume, and college application essays, the next most important student attribute is how well they have demonstrated their interest in a school.