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Apr 25, 2022 · Parents should assist their child on campus visits without micromanaging or projecting their own wishes. It is common and even expected that parents be part of visits to their...
- Tiffany Sorensen
- Contributor
Who should come with you on college visits? Although parents should take a back seat in the admissions process, they will most-likely be involved in paying for your college education. Therefore, it is important for them to attend a tour of the college’s that you are seriously considering.
Nov 2, 2022 · Regular communication between parents and school officials, such as teachers and administrators, is often encouraged at the K-12 level, especially if there's an issue regarding academics or...
- Cole Claybourn
- Staff Writer
Dec 21, 2023 · Some colleges track whether prospective students make an in-person visit and count it as "demonstrated interest," which could help admissions chances. For both students and families, campus...
- Before Your College Visit
- The Day of Your College Visit
- After Your College Visit
1. It is important to visit a college while classes are in session.
Visiting a college without students on campus is a visit to see a bunch of beautiful (or not so beautiful) buildings. The best way to get a feel for the campus vibe is to plan your visit while the current students are at school. Of course, if you need to return to the campus for an interview or second visit, you can visit over the summer, but for an initial visit, it is best to see a college during a regular semester.
2. Take a few minutes to go through your child’s high school calendar and write down all of the days that school is closed between September and May.
Although work and life schedules can be complicated, try to schedule a few visits during those weekdays. Your child should also ask a guidance counselor about the school policy and procedure for missing school to go on a college visit or interview. Most high schools allow for, at least, a few absences in the junior and senior year for college visits.
3. Make a plan.
If you have nearby schools on the list, take day trips. Use longer breaks for schools that are farther away and, obviously, group nearby schools together. If you’re planning to drive to school visits and your child has a permit, share the driving. Longer drives are great practice for new drivers and leave plenty of time for bonding and making memories.
7. Parking
When you arrive at the school, find the admissions office and figure out where you will park. Admissions parking lots can be difficult to find, and they are also sometimes full. Overflow parking lots are typically even harder to locate.
8. Then park and walk (or drive) somewhere to get a snack.
If you prefer to bring food and find a spot to eat it on campus, that works too. For my family, it was crucial to refuel before the visit started because getting “hangry” half way through the tour is definitely not productive.
9. Listen carefully to the information session.
What do they highlight? What do they leave out? Do they involve current students in the presentation? Is it casual? It is professional? Is it crowded? If this isn’t your first college visit, how does it compare to previous information sessions?
15. After the visit, Let your child share impressions first.
My husband instituted this rule for our family. As a former college dean, I was bursting with opinions after each visit. Yet letting my daughter speak first was vital. As much as I wished that I was off to college again, I occasionally needed a reminder that this was her journey.
16. Thank-you notes
During the visit, if your child met individually with a staff or faculty member, your student should be sure to get the person’s full name and email. When you return home, encourage your child to send a short thank you note. I hope these tips will help you have many successful college visits. Remember to enjoy step one of your child’s college admissions process because, for many parents, the applying, packing, and leaving is markedly less fun. You’ll Also Love Reading: Questions to ask on a C...
Jun 15, 2018 · A campus visit helps you gauge whether a college is a good fit. You’ll learn about academic and social offerings, culture, extracurriculars, and get a feel for the school. But will having parents along help or hinder your search?
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Parents also benefit from a visit to college campuses. Invite all parents to attend as chaperones, and consider holding a Parent Night just prior to the college visit to give the basic facts about the importance of college, financial aid, and how they can help their student. Use our haperone Expectations to help orient parents and
