In the midst of application work, essay revisions, and maintaining high grades in challenging courses, prospective secondary students from around the world are invited back to in-person campus visits and tours at institutions across North America. This staple of the college research and admissions process was on hold for a couple of years due to the coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions. Thankfully, students and families are once again able to set foot on campus. Below are some reminders for how to prepare for and make the most of an in-person campus visit.
If you’re looking for a more in-depth resource, check out a previous blog posts here and here.
Also, I was recently interviewed for the Calgary Herald on this exact topic. You can check out the article, Touring Montreal through a potential students’ eyes, at their website.
Before: Preparing for Your Campus Visit
- Choose WHEN to visit (consider your schedule and when the university classes are in session)
- PLAN your trip (aim to visit no more than 2 campuses per day)
- REGISTER for your visits (admissions websites usually have registration links)
- PREPARE your questions to ask and what you hope to gain from being in-person on campus
During: What To Do On Your Campus Visit
- Ask QUESTIONS (to your tour guide, admissions staff, and students you run into)
- PAY ATTENTION (be observant, listen for what’s said and unsaid, take note of bulletin boards, look for student interaction and signs of community)
- Be FLEXIBLE and GRACIOUS with admissions and college staff (this is one of their many responsibilities and changes in plans or what’s available are often outside of their control)
After: Following-up and Processing Your Visit
- REFLECT on your experience on campus (jot some notes down and talk with your family about your reaction to campus before seeing another school. You’ll have a hard time separating what was where, trust me!)
- REACH OUT to the admissions office (thank them for their time, ask genuine follow-up questions if you have them)
