Time for Serious College Visits

With fall comes college football games and other sporting events, cultural offerings, guest speakers and other activities at college campuses across the nation. If possible, combine these events with an official visit to a college campus. Be sure to first check the school’s website for their current visit policies.

Why It Matters

Get real information early.
By the end of this academic year, your student should have a good idea of where college applications will be submitted. This is a good opportunity to work in some official college visits and talk with admission and financial aid representatives before final decisions have to be made.
Get the actual student experience.
By combining a fun event with an official visit that will likely involve an informative session, campus tour and more, your student will get a more authentic idea of what it may be like to be a student at this particular institution.

What Your Student Can Do Now

Get serious about ideas.
As a high school junior, your student should start narrowing down possible college or training options for after high school. College visits will help determine not only the most appealing type of program but also whether the location, size, available facilities, weather, local community and more are desired.
Take your own tour of campus.
Spend some time walking about the campus on your own. If buildings are open to the public, check out the interiors. Hang out near the student union or other obvious gathering places to observe the overall atmosphere. Also walk around the surrounding community to see what retailers, entertainment options and other venues are convenient.
Talk to current students.
If your student is willing, encourage questions with the campus tour guide and other students. Your student should try to avoid questions that are easily answered by the admission staff or website and focus on students’ experiences, likes and dislikes. If there is an opportunity to sit in on a class, that can provide additional insight.

What Your Student Can Do Later

Update the list.
Using information from the official visits, your student can continue exploring programs online and refining the list of possibilities for after high school. The overall cost of attendance should be carefully considered along with other factors at this time. Future articles will address college costs and other considerations.
Look into scholarship opportunities.
If your student is likely to apply to a particular program, it’s not too early to investigate the availability of and qualifications for scholarships. Knowing the eligibility requirements early will give your student the opportunity to increase required grades or test scores or to take particular classes in high school.
Consider earning college credit.
Your student can work with the school counselor on dual enrollment, Advanced Placement and other opportunities to earn college credit now that will transfer easily to those schools he or she is most interested in applying to. Earning the credit now may allow your student to progress more quickly to college graduation later, saving on the overall cost of attendance.

What You Can Do

Create a joint email account.
A new email account that both you and your student have access to can help streamline the college planning process. Your student can provide this email to colleges and programs and on standardized tests and other documents to ensure that all information comes to a single place. Together, you can sign up for ICAN’s Tip of the Week and other subscription information to come to that email as well. Remind your student to check it often, and check it yourself so you can remind your student of to-do items and updates. Establish a workable pattern before application season gets underway senior year.
Guide without judgment.
You likely know your student better than anyone else. You can provide an objective idea of whether your student is likely to feel comfortable too close or too far from home, enjoy particular facilities or programs, or become frustrated by crowded classes and registration difficulties.
Be honest about finances.
If a particular institution starts to surge to the top of the list but seems like it may be unaffordable for your family, discuss options with your student. Encourage exploration of similar, but less expensive, programs and campuses and discuss possible ways to make up the cost difference without going too deeply into debt.

Next Steps

Be sure to complete the survey questions at the end of this article to be entered into the 529 deposit giveaway!

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