10 Tips for Tackling a College/University Visit
1. First, do your research and find out when and where the college visits are scheduled. (Tip: Many are virtual or have a virtual tour option!)
2. Pay attention to the weather if it's an in-person visit. If you visit in winter and the temp is sub-zero, this is pretty much an indication of what the majority of the school year will be like temperature-wise.
3. Visit a local restaurant, coffee shop, or other business frequented by students. Don’t be afraid to ask a student or two a couple questions about their pros and cons.
4. Speak with a professor, meet with a coach or attend a class that interests you and your teen. (Sometimes this can be done virtually.)
5. Read the student newspaper or other student publications, such as literary journals. Check out the school's social media accounts and groups, too.
6. If possible, spend the night in a dorm or participate in a social event, but by all means visit the dorms and find out about other living arrangements.
7. On an in-person visit, take a walk around the campus and its surroundings, observe the student body in its daily life.
8. Attend an on-campus event, sports game, play, concert or poetry reading.
9. Visit the Career Office. The goal is to go from college to a job, and you want to make sure that the school provides resources to help with the job placement process.
10. Have your teen envision him or herself attending the college/university for four years!
Preparing for college is exciting, but can also be nerve wracking. If your teen could benefit from test prep or college/university readiness programs, Sylvan is here to help! Our tutors are amazing at getting scores, grades and confidence up. For more information, please contact your local Sylvan center today!