VISITING AND INTERVIEWING

Visiting colleges, touring their campuses, and above all talking to students and seeing classes and activities are undoubtedly the best ways of learning where you want to spend the next four years. Some of you might begin visiting campuses this March. However, students are not excused from school for college visits during the junior year. Late August and early September before senior year can also be an excellent time to see colleges in session, as many of them begin their first semester before St. Albans does. You may also visit schools during the fall of your senior year. As soon as it is available, review the St. Albans fall calendar with your parents and take advantage of any free days for visiting colleges. A Form Six student in good standing may miss a limited number of class days to visit colleges. He must make arrangements for this in consultation with his Form Master and college advisor.

Do not be overly concerned if you can only get to colleges when few or no students are on campus. Even a relatively empty campus can give you a feel for whether or not the school appeals to you. Further, you can always re-visit when the school is in session if you still need to sharpen your impression. We strongly urge rising seniors to visit the bulk of the schools on their list before the start of their senior year. Think what a relief it would be not to have to worry a great deal about which colleges you will apply to during your stressful senior year ! Focus your list as carefully as you can during the summer, and the rest of the process will begin to fall into place.

A good way to begin your college research might be by visiting a few of the colleges that are in or close to Washington. Even if you are not considering enrolling at a college close to home, attending a group information session and campus tour can often help you begin to organize your priorities and formulate questions for future campus visits. Although you may be relatively sure that you want a particular environment, e.g. a small college in a rural or small town environment, it is a good idea to visit different types of schools to confirm your impressions.

Preparing for your campus visits:

Call the college or check its web site to find out what is available in setting up a campus visit. During the academic year you may be able to visit a class or stay overnight on campus. Avoid the drive by or drop in approach. Some colleges will want you to make an appointment for a tour or group session while others may be able to accommodate you at any regularly scheduled tour or session.

Before your visit, do some research by looking at the college's web site, reading a description in a guidebook, or perusing the school's catalog. A visit will be more meaningful if you have already learned some basic facts about the school. If you are planning an extended college trip, consider visiting no more than two schools a day and keep notes of your impressions.

If you are taking the trouble to visit a college, you should ask if an on-campus interview is offered and arrange for one if it is, especially at those smaller colleges that highly recommend them. As some colleges become booked for interviews far in advance, you would do well to make your arrangements and appointments ahead of time this spring after we have discussed your initial working college list. We will be happy to offer suggestions about organizing trips. You may also consult the Princeton Review's Visiting College Campuses.

Overview of a College Visit:

TOURS: Campus tours usually last about an hour and may range in size from as small as just your family and the student guide to as large as 50 visitors and the guide. If there is a part of the campus (athletic facilities, music practice rooms, science labs) you want to see, be sure to ask. The tour guide will usually give you an overview of the college's history, information on academic and extracurricular life, and a look at the campus resources. Be sure to ask questions; this is an opportunity to get a current student's perspective.

GROUP INFORMATION SESSIONS: A forum where a college can provide general information to an often large group of prospective students and their families, these sessions are usually run by an admissions officer and cover a wealth of information about student life as well as the application process.

INTERVIEWS: At many colleges, interviews do not strongly influence admissions decisions. Many schools no longer offer interviews, either because they do not have enough time to grant all requests for interviews or because they do not see an interview as a crucial element in making their decisions. However, some colleges see the interview as another opportunity to evaluate applicants, and the interviewer will write a summary report that is placed in the student's file. You should take your interviews seriously by dressing neatly and adequately preparing yourself to make a good impression. Be sure to read up on the college and prepare questions about aspects of it that are important to you and which are not answered in any of the literature. Also, reflect even more on yourself -- your self evaluation, your experiences in and out of school, your major interests -- so that you can talk about these things honestly and articulately if asked about them. Remember, an interview is a two-way process: the admission officer will try to learn about you, and you will try to learn more about the college. In this sense, the interview can be an excellent opportunity for both parties to determine if there is a good match between candidate and college.

If you cannot interview on campus, many colleges arrange an alumni interview for students who have applied, and these will often be scheduled here in the Washington area.

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