College Visits: The Power of Personal Experience

College visits are an essential part of the college selection process. They offer prospective students the opportunity to experience a college firsthand and get a feel for what life would be like there. While it may be tempting to rely solely on information found online or through other sources, nothing can replace the value of a college visit.

College visits allow students to explore the campus and its surroundings. They can see the dormitories, classrooms, libraries, and other important facilities. Students can also observe the campus culture and get a sense of how they would fit in. It’s important to remember that not all colleges are the same, and each one has its unique characteristics that cannot be conveyed through a website.

Additionally, college visits provide the opportunity to meet with admissions counselors and faculty members. These individuals can offer valuable insights into the college’s academic programs, extracurricular activities, and other resources that can help students succeed. Meeting with current students and alumni can also provide a sense of what life after college is like.

Another advantage of college visits is the ability to attend classes or events on campus. This can give students a glimpse into the academic and social atmosphere of the college. They can see how students interact with each other, what the class sizes are like, and how engaging the professors are.

Finally, college visits can help students make an informed decision about where to apply and ultimately attend. By visiting several colleges, students can compare and contrast their options and determine which college is the best fit for them.

While the internet can provide some information about colleges, nothing can replace the value of a firsthand experience.

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HECA College Conference and School Tours

Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee

Why Hire a Private College Counselor to Help with College Planning?

Many families believe that high school counselors provide their students with the college planning they need in order to choose the appropriate schools and create the strongest college applications and essays.  They often don’t realize that high school counselors work with 450 students. Most have an average of 38 minutes to provide individual assistance to college-bound students.  Tight school budgets make it difficult for high school counselors to visit colleges and participate in professional development

As a private college counselor, I just returned from a HECA (Higher Education Consultants Association) conference on the East coast.  Not only did more than 200 of us hear inspiring speakers discuss the college admissions changes taking place, but we participated in discussions about helping students find the best colleges for their academic and social needs, understanding how college admission decisions are made, and helping learning disabled students transition to college.

Many of us took the opportunity to visit colleges and universities in the area and attended information sessions in order to find out about changes at these schools and what they are looking for in prospective applications. 

This is one of a number of conferences we attend every year to make sure as private college counselors we have the expertise to help families make the best college decisions.

http://www.collegedirection.org

The College Road Trip

There is nothing like a college visit to help students decide whether a school is the right one for them.  Most students enjoy this experience and are able to weigh up the pros and cons of the colleges they tour and whether they could see themselves on this particular campus as a student.  Most times at least one parent accompanies their student on some of these tours.  It is important for both students and parents to know what to expect on a college visit and also what is expected of them.  Read the following article for some useful suggestions.  http://collegeadmissionbook.com/the-college-road-trip/